Cymraeg
CY
Dictionary

Words on this page

Bishop

‘Bishop’ comes from the Greek word for ‘overseer’. So a bishop is a senior Christian minister authorised to have oversight for God’s people. As well as duties given to deacons and priests, bishops confirm and ordain.

Deacon

‘Deacon’ comes the Greek word for ‘servant’. Deacons in the Church in Wales have special roles within worship such as proclaiming the gospel. Traditionally, deacons have had responsibility for social care. Deacons often go on to be ordained priest.

Diocese

‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight. The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’).

Home Pobl Dewi: December 2023 Strength in Numbers

Strength in Numbers

After ten years of Non-Stipendiary Local Ministry (NSM(L)) in the Diocese and what have we learnt? Director ol Ministry Rhiannon Johnson offers some suggestions

From the beginning, an ongoing research project collected statistical data on those who offered for this ministry. Recently data has also been collected from a control group of those offering for stipendiary ministry. The figures are now large enough to begin to draw some conclusions.

First of all, we have learnt that NSM(L) ministry works. Our scheme, in partnership with St Padarn’s, has trained 61 priests and one distinctive deacon. Of these, five were for other dioceses, one was intended to be NSM from the start and three have a strongly pioneer feel to their ‘local’. 21% of our diocesan clergy are NSM(L), but if you include those who trained NSM(L) but have transferred to stipendiary the figure goes up to 32%.

Under Bishop Joanna, a significant proportion of those who trained NSM(L) were asked to consider becoming stipendiary, particularly those who were younger and could offer ministry through the medium of Welsh which our Diocese desperately needs. About 20% of those have transferred. Crucially, these are largely people who would not or could not go through the more traditional route but have grown in confidence and proved their ability in ministry over time.

People offering for NSM(L) are far more likely to be Welsh-speaking than those offering for stipendiary ministry. They come from all over the diocese. The age range is much wider than for those offering for stipendiary ministry, as might be expected, but this greater range of experience is also seen in previous jobs, previous experience in the church, educational background and churchmanship. They are more likely to own property than the control group, but this may have more to do with relative age than anything else. Many, but not all, have previously been churchwardens, Readers or Worship Leaders.

NSM(L) candidates are far more likely to be in employment than the control group and, as a whole, they bring experience of shop work and dye chemistry, archaeology and architecture, tattoo shop ownership and catering, nursing, teaching, farming and forestry- the range is vast. They have brought a great deal of expertise that the whole diocese benefits from.

One interesting feature is that many NSM(L)s come with a broken educational history, leaving school early but returning later to gain academic and professional qualifications. They are people who have shown resilience and responded well to life changes.

Our statistics show that, overwhelmingly, they are local, having lived or worshipped in the place they hope to serve for more than ten years. Among those who do not show in the figures are a number who have moved away for a time and then come home. The control group were far less strongly rooted.