Items filtered by date: December 2015
Chris says God called him to being a churchwarden because of his love of helping other people.
All of us are invited to follow Jesus and to serve God faithfully in our everyday lives, and some people are called to serve God in a specific ministry or role.
- Five things you need to know about being a churchwarden
- The role and responsibilities of being a churchwarden
If you feel a sense of calling, a nagging voice inside your head, see our Vocations page for information about how to explore what God is calling you to do.
Chris, a church foundation governor at a Derbyshire primary school, tells us about his calling and his involvement with the school.
All of us are invited to follow Jesus and to serve God faithfully in our everyday lives, and some people are called to serve God in a specific ministry or role.
If you feel a sense of calling, a nagging voice inside your head, see our Vocations page for information about how to explore what God is calling you to do.
Ian, a vicar in the north of Derbyshire, shares his faith journey and reveals that he never thought he 'had what it takes' to become ordained!
All of us are invited to follow Jesus and to serve God faithfully in our everyday lives, and some people are called to serve God in a specific ministry or role.
If you feel a sense of calling, a nagging voice inside your head, see our Vocations page for information about how to explore what God is calling you to do.
Mina, a priest in Derby, reveals that she had a couple of false starts before understanding what she was being called to do.
All of us are invited to follow Jesus and to serve God faithfully in our everyday lives, and some people are called to serve God in a specific ministry or role.
If you feel a sense of calling, a nagging voice inside your head, see our Vocations page for information about how to explore what God is calling you to do.
29 February 2024
16 February 2024
14 February 2024
9 February 2024
The Revd John (Jack) Archer, NSM at Derby St Thomas (Derby) 1980-1986, Vicar of Edlington (Sheffield) 1987-1998, who retired in 1998 and held the Bishop of Lichfield’s Permission to Officate until 2010, and more recently lived in the Diocese of Derby, died on 31st January 2024. In respect of his family’s wishes, funeral details will not be published.
5 February 2024
The Revd Michael Gowdey, Curate of Ashbourne with Mapleton and Clifton (Derby) 1958-1963, Vicar of Chellaston 1963-1969, Assistant Chaplain Ellesmere College Shropshire (Lichfield) 1969-1974, Chaplain Trent College Nottingham (Derby) 1974-1981, Chaplain King Edward’s Worcester (Worcester) 1981-1997, who retired in 1997 and was appointed Honorary Priest-in-Charge Beeley and Edensor (Derby) 1997-2002 and held the Bishop of Derby’s Permission to Officate in retirement, died on Tuesday, 23 January 2024. The funeral will take place on Friday, 23 February at 11 am at St Peter's Edensor.
The Diocese of Derby has created a template policy for the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders which may be downloaded and completed by Benefices and Parishes. It can be downloaded here.
Head out into Derby on a Friday or Saturday night and you’re more than likely to run into a group of volunteers looking out for revellers in need.
They are Derby’s Street Pastors - trained volunteers from a variety of local churches who provide a visible, reassuring presence for everyone in the city centre. They work in teams of three or four and are out and about, prayerfully patrolling, from 10pm – 4am.
Street Pastors has been operating in Derby since 2009 and the volunteers have become a well-respected and greatly appreciated part of Derby's nightlife.
They work together with the police, door staff and Derby CCTV, responding to calls to offer non-judgmental, understanding support through listening, assisting and, where necessary, putting their first-aid training into action.
And on other occasions, the help they give can be as straight forward as making sure someone has water to drink and a way of getting home.
One such volunteer is Steve Johnson.
As someone who did his fair share of over-induging in his youth, Steve said: “Being a Street Pastor is insane and yet unbelievably rewarding - the nervous anticipation of wondering what you will encounter during the night really gets the adrenaline going.
“Committing to putting my faith into action, it is a privilege taking God’s love and grace into our city streets, meeting and talking to people their own context.”
Now, the organisation is looking to recruit some new faces to ensure it can continue to provide the level of service needed in the city.
Steve’s take on being a volunteer is that when a great night out turns into a time of distress and vulnerability, Street Pastors make sure those who have perhaps allowed themselves one too many, get home to their families safe and well.
He said: “To be a Street Pastor, I think you have to love your city, the people, the buildings and the culture.
“In my youth, we never had these kinds of organisations around, but there is a new generation who enjoy our night-time economy that only know Street Pastors, and the warmth and love towards us is awesome.
“Together with lollies, bottles of water, flip flops and spikies we go out into town having put on the full armour of God, offering up our prayers for our fantastic city.”
If you are interested in learning more about being a Street Pastor, pop along to the open night being held at Derby City Church, Curzon Street, Derby on Monday, 5 February 2024 at 7pm, or contact them at streetpastors@derbycitymission.org.uk.
Derby’s Street Pastors operates as a franchise of the national Street Pastor scheme that is run by the Ascension Trust under the management of Derby City Mission.
For details of Street Pastor teams at other locations across the Diocese of Derby, visit the Street Pastors website.
Easing out of the pandemic
A number of resources that might help you and your congregations
>> Compassion Fatigue – Recognise and Recover [PDF]
CPAS ‘Emerging from Pandemic’ resources
Lament: a few suggestions encouraging us personally and collectively to take the need for lament seriously as a healthy response to all that we are still going through.
St. Luke’s Virtual Wellbeing Papers
The St. Luke’s papers were issued on a regular basis through the first lockdown in 2020. In one sense they therefore relate closely to that time, but they are still relevant, containing much wisdom, advice and insight. Although written for September 2020 the paper entitled ‘Easing out of Lockdown’ is still current in its advice.
They are helpful at a personal level, but could also be used in a range of other settings.
Covid 19 crisis fatigue and you [PDF]
Making a start on long-term recovery from a crisis [PDF]
Prayer, wellbeing and our rootedness in God [PDF]
Response to stress during Covid-19 [PDF]
Self-care at a time of loss [PDF]
Thoughts from a trauma-informed perspective [PDF]
Meditation on lament [PDF]
Here be dragons [PDF]
Understanding the body [PDF]
Use of the scriptures [PDF]
Creating a safe space (PDF)
Easing out of lockdown (PDF)
Liminality in a time of Covid (PDF)
Ministering to Uncertainity (PDF)
Clergy Support Trust
Clergy Support Trust offers grants, including wellbeing grants, financial support grants, and health grants.
>> More information on the Clergy Support Trust
St Luke’s
As of the 1 June 2022, St Luke’s has recently changed its focus with resources on improving the mental health and wellbeing of clergy and their families.
This marks a significant shift in its remit and focus.
As a diocese, we have recently offered ‘Trauma informed ministry’ training and have offered resilience training in the past (both bought in from St Luke’s).
Alongside this, St Luke’s also offers one-to-one support.
>> More information on St Luke's
Further sources of support
The following CofE document offers information and contact details for a range of organisations offering support and advice across a range of wellbeing scenarios and situations.
>> Living Ministry: Sources of support for Clergy and Ordinands
The Clergy Household Grant (formerly known as the Clergy Spouse Grant) is one-off amount of £90 available each year, either to pay for or to subsidise a retreat, or a course which offers the same relaxation and respite element as a retreat.
Clergy simply need to be in touch, preferably before the event, and provide some supporting paperwork. Please contact office@bishopofderby.org.
