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.

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’).

Evangelism

‘Evangelion’ means ‘good news’. Evangelism is about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection in the hope that others may come to believe in and follow Jesus.

Priest

‘Priest’ comes from the Greek word for ‘elder’. Priests in the Church in Wales are those authorised specifically to proclaim forgiveness of sins, preside at the Eucharist and bless God’s people, as well as other responsibilities.

Home Pobl Dewi: September 2024 Back to school

Back to school

Four months into his new role as a Tutor in Mission, Alun Evans is relishing the move from pulpit to St Padarn’s as the new academic year beckons.

It’s a change from being a priest ministering in an LMA in our diocese, but I am enjoying the challenge of ministry in a different sort of way.

Just like being a parish priest, I get to do lots of different things. Part of my role involves supporting those who are preparing for ordained and licensed lay ministries in the Church in Wales.

St Padarns Apprenticeships 1

It’s such a privilege to be journeying alongside those who are preparing for different ministries in our diocese and beyond. Another related part of my role is teaching missiology (the study of mission) on the range of programmes that St Padarn’s runs. And this is something that I love! I was a schoolteacher before responding to the call to be a priest. And for me the calling to learn and teach has always been a huge part of my sense of vocation.

Another part of my role is to wrestle with some of the big questions about mission in the Church in Wales. There is arguably nothing more important for the Church today than to be sharing Christ’s gospel of love with the communities that we serve. But as many of us are aware, mission is a challenge for lots of reasons, and so it is exciting to be able to grapple with some of these important questions.

One of the highlights so far has been being part of a Spirituality Week for the full-time ordinands at Nant Gwrtheyrn on the Llŷn peninsula. The ordinands had the chance to reflect on their faith journeys, to think about the importance of place and pilgrimage, as well as to learn about ministry and mission in this part of the world where there are a high percentage of Welsh speakers. Bishop David Morris (Bishop of Bardsey) joined us for some of the week.

Overall, the ordinands had a wonderful time, and learned a great deal. For me though, one of the things that I have come to appreciate more deeply through the Spirituality Week, and through involvement in teaching on a postgraduate evangelism module has been the huge significance of our Celtic saints. So many of our churches and place names in Wales have a Christian legacy that goes back to the actions of those Celtic missionaries. I wonder what their stories and their legacies can teach us about the mission of Christ in our communities today.