Following the appointment of Charlie Peer as the Archdeacon of Bath, Julia Hill has been appointed as the new Head of Mission Support and Ministry Development. Julia has been leading the team for the last 20 months, while Charlie stepped in to be acting Archdeacon of Wells.
Bishop Michael says, “During the last twenty months, Julia Hill has made an outstanding contribution as our acting Head of Mission Support and Ministry Development. Julia is strategic, wise, hardworking and wonderfully competent. I’m therefore delighted that we have been able to confirm Julia in her position and look forward to her continuing to be a key member of our team as we support people all around our diocese as we seek to grow our churches and transform our communities.”
Mission Support and Ministry Development is made up of people based in parishes, chaplaincies, archdeaconries and in Flourish House; ordained and lay; paid and unpaid; part time and full time. It includes the Mission Development, Deanery and Parish Support, and Ministry Training and Vocations teams.
Julia says, “It is an exciting time to be in the Diocese of Bath and Wells and I am really delighted and somewhat surprised to be taking on this post at this point in my life. It is a wonderful team to lead - they have an amazing range of skills and a passion to serve and to learn from and support ministry and mission around our diocese. My hope is that we can continue to work together, across our diocese, drawing on the gifts that God has given us all, and serve God and each other with joy.”
Julia joined the Support Services’ vocations team as Lay Ministries Developer in 2018. She’s experienced in training, teaching, and volunteer management in organisations, including the SS Great Britain and Church Urban Fund.
Further changes to the team will be shared in due course, following the news that Mike Haslam, Chaplaincy Development Adviser / Acting Mission Development Team Leader will be leaving to become the Director of Transforming Ministry in the Diocese of St Asaph in the Church in Wales.