From the Revd. Nansi Davies, Curate.

My dear friends,

OUR NEW BISHOP

The Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS was born in 1948 and brought up in Devon. His mother was born in Abertillery, and now lives in Monmouth, worshipping at the Priory Church.

After leaving school, he tested his vocation with the Community of the Glorious Ascension, to which he belonged for sixteen years. During that time he worked on the factory bench and as a truck driver, and later in a parish, before going to King's College, London, where he read Theology.

He gained an MA in Pastoral Studies at Heythrop College, run by the Jesuits, and he is currently completing the Master of Laws degree in Canon Law at Cardiff University.

He has read post-graduate studies in Psychology of Religion and Religion and Mental Health Issues, and was a member of the Church of England House of Bishops Working Party on healing, contributing to the report "A Time to Heal" (2000)

Bishop Dominic is a member of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd and was the Superior between 1990 and 1996. He has spent over twenty years in parochial ministry in contrasting parishes in the dioceses of Southwark and Chichester. For the past five years as Area Bishop of Reading, he has had pastoral oversight of clergy and laity in urban, sub-urban and rural parishes in Berkshire and Oxfordshire south of the Thames.

Bishop Dominic has been a sensitive pastor to his clergy, and much of his time has been spent in encouraging and enabling the clergy to face the challenges that lie ahead. In his own words he has written that "Perhaps the biggest challenge is to stop managing decline, and start promoting growth".

In his present diocese (Oxford) he has provided a programme for leadership training for the clergy and has established a Vocations Fellowship. He is keen on the development of local lay ministry, and has been involved in setting up a pilot scheme for lay and ordained local ministry training.

We believe we have found in him a bishop who will have prayer for the clergy and people, hospitality and a good sense of humour as important features of his ministry. We look forward to welcoming him to the diocese in the Spring. The Service of Welcome, which will include his Enthronement, will take place on the Feast of Saint Woolos, Saturday, 29th March, 2003.

He has asked me to include this brief personal message of greeting:

"I feel very humbled at being elected as your new bishop. I know that I shall have much to learn about the diocese. I look forward to joining you as a brother in Christ and a servant leader. I pray that together we shall continue to explore the ways of Jesus and grow in friendship with God and love for his people. Please pray for me".

With good wishes for a happy and peaceful 2003,

Nansi Davies

Curate