Today (Sunday 25th) Steve is ordained Bishop in York Minster. All our prayers are with him as he prepares to take up his ministry as Bishop of Sheffield in a few weeks.
To all Missioners and Evangelism Enablers
Dear Colleague
As I prepare for my ordination as bishop today and for our move to Sheffield in March I want to say a heartfelt thanks to all missioners and Evangelism Enablers for your support for and partnership in the Fresh Expressions initiative over the last four and a half years.
One of the real delights of the role has been travelling to and working with the majority of Dioceses and Districts and rejoicing at the variety and diversity of new forms of church. My work would not have been possible without your own fellowship and support. It has been very good to be part of the wider mission community across the two churches and a particular delight to work closely with Paul Bayes and Graham Horsley from the beginning of the journey to the end.
I will be continuing to do a small amount of work behind the scenes for Fresh Expressions until we move from Oxford to Sheffield in March. Norman Ivison has been appointed Acting Team Leader in the weeks before Bishop Graham Cray takes up the role as Team Leader on 1st May.
I am very conscious that I leave Fresh Expressions in the hands of a very strong team and a gifted and experienced successor. Thank you again for your partnership in the gospel which I hope will continue in new ways.
With kind regards
Yours sincerely
The Revd. Dr. Steven Croft