In a joint initiative between CMS and Chelmsford Diocese, the Bishop of Chelmsford, Stephen Cottrell, has launched the first ever local Centre for Pioneer Mission at a special commissioning service in Romford.
The St Cedd Centre for Pioneer Mission, which takes its name from St Cedd, a 7th century missionary to the East Saxon people, will act as a focal point for locally based mission pioneers and entrepreneurs seeking to reach out into their local communities.
The Centre will be based at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Collier Row as an overflow of the local mission taking place there. The vision for it has emerged from Chelmsford Diocesan Synod’s decision that every Mission and Ministry Unit should have at least one fresh expression of church.
In a service also attended by the Bishops of Barking and Bradwell, Bishop Stephen commissioned the Rev Vernon Ross, the Rev Canon David Hague, David Harrigan, Julie Clay and the Rev Canon Martin Wood alongside the Rev Johnny Sertin and Debbie James from CMS, to implement this new initiative.
Bishop Stephen said that there was a need to shift more resources towards mission pioneers whose focus was 'the world as it could be' rather than 'the church as it is'. The Centre aims to provide an environment that identifies, equips and supports Christians across the Chelmsford Diocese to serve as pioneer missionaries.
Celebrating the launch of the new centre are (left to right):
- Debbie James, CMS Director of Church and Community Mission;
- Rt Rev John Wraw, Area Bishop of Bradwell (hidden);
- Rev Vernon Ross, Mission and Ministry Adviser for Barking area;
- Rev David Hague, vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd and Area Dean of Havering;
- Rt Rev Peter Hill, Area Bishop of Barking;
- Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford;
- Julie Clay, St Cedd Centre coordinator and integration leader for the Church of the Good Shepherd;
- Rev Canon Martin Wood, Mission and Ministry Adviser for Bradwell area;
- Rev Johnny Sertin, CMS Pioneering Mission Adviser;
- David Harrigan, resident pioneer at the Church of the Good Shepherd and currently on the CMS Pioneer Mission Leadership Training course preparing for ordination.
Good start.
I hope in time this work will be able to engage followers of Jesus from other denominations and races in the area and also the non-Church ministry groups for the Kingdom.