Ordination Profile: Josephine Dean

JOSEPHINE DEAN

Born in Surrey, I moved to Wales when I was 9 and grew up on the family farm in Ceredigion. In my twenties I worked abroad as a nanny in Paris before returning home and meeting my husband, Mike.

We moved to Derbyshire for a few years where both our children were born before returning to Wales to be closer to our respective families. I returned to full-time education in my thirties, completing my degree in Sociology at UWTSD. Immediately prior to being accepted for ministerial training, I worked in Carmarthen foodbank exploring the root causes of food poverty in the local area.

Raised an Anglican, my relationship with God has always been integral to my life but the birth of my children was a catalyst for me to explore both my faith and my calling to ministry more widely.

Furthermore, my experiences of attending church with young children ignited in me a passion for a ministry that is both accessible and supportive to the diversity of families in our communities, whilst also embracing the potential that this holds for welcoming them into the family of Christ.

My greatest wish is the opportunity to walk alongside children and their families on their own faith journeys and to be able to help nurture and sustain them in their discipleship. However, as a farmer's daughter, I am also committed to the importance of rural ministry and look forward to being able to develop this side of my ministry further.

I enjoy reading, walking with my dog, exploring the countryside and spending time with my husband Mike and my children Jemima and Jack.