Parish Consultation

Taken from the letter Bishop Andrew's letter dated February/March 2026

"What happens now that your Vicar is leaving?"

With the announcement of your Vicar’s resignation, we now look ahead to the process by which the Parish will support the Diocesan Bishop in the appointment of a new priest to be Vicar. The steps below outline what takes place and describe the important part parishioners play in this journey.

Preparation for Parish Consultation

Preparation for the Consultation is led by the Parish Wardens and Vestry, working alongside the Diocesan Bishop, Diocesan Registrar, and the Bishop’s Leadership Team. Key steps include:

• The Diocesan Registrar meets with the Wardens and Vestry to confirm the parish’s financial capacity to sustain a stipended Vicar. When satisfied, the Registrar issues a Certificate of Means to the Bishop.

• The Wardens and Vestry prepare a Parish Profile, which will be shared with prospective candidates.

• The Wardens review and update the Electoral Roll.

• The Diocesan Bishop arranges a Parish Consultation – Sunday 12 April 2026

The Parish Consultation

The Consultation will take place on Sunday 12 April after the 9am Eucharist and lasts around two hours. On that day we will hold one service at 10am so the whole parish can gather as one prior to the Parish Consultation.

Parishioners will work together in prayerful reflection—considering both the parish’s story and its future needs. This conversation informs the selection of the next Vicar and contributes to the Parish Profile.

Appointment process

Following the Parish Consultation the position will be advertised and the work of the Board of Nominations commences. This confidential process is expected to take several weeks to provide opportunities for prospective candidates to submit applications and be considered. Once an appointment is made the Diocesan Bishop will make an announcement to the Parish.

Parish Representation on the Board of Nominations

The Diocesan Bishop convenes a Board of Nominations to assist in discerning a suitable priest for appointment as Vicar. The Board reviews applications, interviews candidates, and offers counsel to the Bishop. Although not identical to an employment process, it draws on similar good practices.

The Board of Nominations includes:

• The Diocesan Bishop

• The People’s Warden of the Parish

• 3 parishioners of the Parish, who are elected at the Parish Consultation

• 2 clergy and 2 laity from within the Diocese, normally within the same general area as the Parish being considered

During the Parish Consultation there will be an opportunity for Parishioners who are on the electoral roll to select three parishioners to join the People’s Warden as members of the Board of Nomination.

The Electoral Roll consists of Parishioners who are on the Parish Roll and who have been active in the life of the Parish regularly during the preceeding four months.

To be elected to the Board of Nominations parishioners must:

• Be baptised Christians

• Be 16 years or older

• Be registered on the Parish Electoral Roll (parishioners active during the previous four months)

• Attend the Parish Consultation

When considering who to elect, the following qualities may be helpful (this list is a guide, not exhaustive):

• Ability to represent the whole Parish and its future needs

• Recognised leadership within the community

• Skills in careful listening and wise discernment

• A mature Christian faith

• Ability to articulate passion and care for parish life

• Self-awareness, particularly the ability to set aside personal preferences for the good of the parish

Interim Ministry in the Parish

The Diocesan Bishop appoints experienced clergy as Priest-in-Charge of the Parish to support the Wardens, Vestry and the Ministry Team to ensure ministry flourishes in the Parish during the interregnum.

Bishop Andrew has appointed these experienced priests to be Priest-in-Charge of the Parish.

• The Rev’d Christine Scott: 2 March through to the middle of June.

• The Rev’d Alister Hendery: Middle of June onwards throughout the remainder of the vacancy