[Magdalen] prayerr request

[Lynn Ronkainen]

How is this Roger? Are these people somehow "connected" as we say here ( not necessarily in church circles) so that they are always intended for bigger things? Or personal zeal for higher office? Or something similar that takes their ministry in a different path to "higher leadership"? 
Lynn

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 16, 2015, at 3:07 AM, Roger Stokes <roger.stokes65 at btinternet.com> wrote:

> On 16/04/2015 02:20, Grace Cangialosi wrote:
> Roger, if your bishops actually have no parish experience, what have they been doing as priests before becoming bishop? And how does that qualify them for the role···?

Grace, I said  a *typical* parish.  The median Sunday attendance is under 50 per church, certainly not much more thsan that by benefice which may have more than one church in it.  A proportion are larger, therir parish priests better known to the bishop and so more likely to be identified for possible preferment either directly or via a specialist ministry. If a bishop has had charge of a parish then it is almost certainly an eclectic one and/or some years before.

I have just been checking our Glerical Directory to see if I can get some examples.  ++Justin Welby had 7 years in a charge of a benefice, leaving there in 2002 to become a Residentiary Canin at Coventry Cathedra.  ++Sentamu left his one incumbency ti head up a Missionary Society in 1996.

The next three most important bishoprics in England are London (+Richard Chartres, other responsibilities while also Vicar of a parish in Werstminster), Winchester (+Timothy Dakin, missionary and then heading up another Missionary Society) and Durham (+Paul Butler, 10 years in charge of Walthamstow until 2004).

My own diocesan, +Alan Smith, also has no experience in charge of a parish.  Most (but not all) of them did serve a curacy in a parish for a few years before moving on to other responsibilities.  When a bishop does venture out for a confirmation that is likely to be in one of a relatively few churches as it has to be booked over a year in advance so you need a parish where candidates can be guaranteed. Generally they will be there just for the service and so not get chance to see the parish.  There are, or have been, a few exceptions  who do proper visitations but they are unusual.

Roger