Bishops as Evangelists "to lead by example"

Speaking to a group of 50 Diocesan Evangelism and Training Officers, the Bishop of Pontefract, the Rt Rev David James, declared: "I personally will take away from this conference a renewed sense of the calling of every Bishop to be an evangelist, and to lead by example." 

The occasion was a Church Army sponsored consultation at the Wilson Carlile College of Evangelism in Sheffield (29th -30th November 2000) which sought to help the Church in its response to the House of Bishops report "Good News People", and to stimulate further developments in the training of lay evangelists. Much encouragement was shared as Rochester had a team of 50 lay evangelists already working and personal stories from those trained in Sheffield and Wakefield Dioceses also stimulated delegates. 

Principal of the College, the Rev David Jeans, said there was much excitement and commitment by participating dioceses to release evangelistic ministries, and to seek how other lay ministries could be given a "mission edge". Church Army's College personnel were congratulated by delegates on the thorough going evangelistic emphasis of theological training delivered there, and commended its mission centred approach to theological education to other theological colleges.

One of the organisers, the Rev Mark Smith, said: "This conference has been long overdue. Mission and evangelism need to be at the centre of the training strategy of every diocese. We need evangelists and educators to come together to ensure that this happens."

A report on the consultation is available at www.evangelism.uk.net/papers/trainingconsult.htm