Revd. Paul Wilkinson:"Rector? Priest in Charge? Vicar? Team Vicar? Team Rector?".
The May meeting of Christians at Work
was our first meeting of the year to be held in the newly refurbished cottages.
It was appropriate that our speaker at
this meeting was our own Revd Paul Wilkinson. We were also very pleased to
welcome members from other churches within the South Cheltenham Churches area
for which Paul is the team rector.
Roy Crompton opened the meeting with a
reading and prayers.
Paul outlined the proposed way ahead for
the Church of England and about the existing rights of Clergy which will be
placed on a more secure basis by the introduction of Common Tenure from 2011.
He also explained exactly what the
“posts” within the church meant these posts included, Arch Bishops, Diocesan
Bishops, Suffragan, Area and Auxillary Bishops, Archdean, Dean (Provost).
The staff in cathedrals which include, Canon, Residentiary Canon,
Prebendary, Precentor, Treasurer, Emeritus. The Area Dean, Curate, Incumbent,
Stipend, Vicar, Rector, Assistant Curate, Team Rector, Priest in Charge,
Assistant Curate, Non- Ordained Local Minister, Associate Minister and Chaplain.
So many!
Paul referred to the following bible
readings (well worth reading) which referred to the posts of:
Deacon - [Phil 1.1. 1Tim 3.8f]
Priest -[1 Tim 4.14]
Bishop - [Phil 1.1., 1 Tim 3.1f, Titus
1.7, 1 Peter 2.25].
The talk and the questions which
followed made for a very enlightening evening and I am sure many of us went away
with a little more information regarding the Church of England than we came
with.
Mary Beckford