In one of his first acts as the new Bishop of Bath and Wells, Bishop Michael has licensed the Revd Rich Miles as a Missional Priest for Youth and Young Adults to work across the whole of Bath and Wells with the aim of supporting the church's vision of growing the church younger and more diverse. The licensing took place at a Movement worship night at Clevedon on 13 November, the day after his installation as Bishop of Bath and Wells at a service in Wells Cathedral.
Bishop Michael said, “It was such a privilege to be with Movement, to meet the young people taking part and to commission Rich for his new role working with young people across our diocese.”
The role of Missional Priest for Youth and Young Adults is the first of its kind in Bath and Wells and has been created to enable Rich to continue building on the work of Movement, which offers worship nights for young people all over the diocese.
Part of Rich’s new role will be to help support the development of young leaders in the diocese. This will build on the work of Movement which has raised up a number of young adults to serve as Youth Workers, Worship Pastors, members of their PCC and even elected onto General Synod, where they are a voice for youth and young adults. Some were also part of the Crown Nominations Commission who appointed Bishop Michael.
Rich said, “I'm excited to be given the opportunity to continue the work of Movement but also working to create new partnerships and opportunities with others across the diocese in helping youth and young adults live and tell the story of Jesus.”
Adrian Youings, Archdeacon of Bath, who also attended the licensing said, “Movement has been a vital part of our diocesan response to the call to grow the church younger. It has sought to create worship events across Bath and Wells to enable young people, who are often in churches where there are small numbers of other young people, to come together to be encouraged, to respond to Jesus and to grow in faith.”
You can find out more about the work of Movement at wearemovement.net
