The Revd Canon Peter Kerr, vicar of Ombersley with Doverdale, has been appointed Rural Dean of Droitwich. Peter will be responsible for seven benefices in Droitwich and the surrounding villages, and his appointment is for three years.

Peter has been a parish priest in the Droitwich deanery for twenty years, so brings a considerable amount of experience to the post. He said: “This will be a challenging role, but having new responsibilities is all energising and will be very good for me! My main job will be to support the clergy and the churchwardens in the Droitwich area and to help manage the business of Deanery Synod.

The Rural Dean’s role is one of pastoral care and co-ordination. Peter will chair regular meetings of the clergy chapter and will support them in their ministry of hope and reconciliation to the people and institutions of the Droitwich area. He will also represent the deanery at regular meetings with the Bishop and pass information back to the parishes.

 “The most pressing issue and challenge for my term of office is the diminishing supply of stipendiary clergy available for parish ministry,” said Peter. My hope is that we can work together to broaden the ministerial base so that we gradually become less dependent on full-time clergy. This will involve a radical change in parochial life and culture so it will be a long haul.  However, I am confident that in this process of change we will discover that God will go before us, faithful to his promise of abundant strength and grace for the task in hand”.

“Although as Rural Dean I will be the primary contact for the deanery, I anticipate that this will be a collaborative job with some of the roles shared amongst my other colleagues “

Peter will be installed as Rural Dean at a special service at 7.30pm on Thursday 4 October at St. Andrew’s Church in Ombersley. He replaces the Revd Alistair Fuller.

ENDS

The Diocese of Worcester is one of 44 dioceses in the Church of England. It covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in the County of Worcestershire, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south east Wolverhampton and Sandwell.