Joseph Diwakar was appointed as the diocesan Director of Mission and Ministry earlier this year, taking up his new role in June. We caught up with him to find out how his first few months have been and his plans for the Equipping Ministers for Mission underpinning diocesan priority.
“It has been a really good first few months,” said Joseph. “It’s been inspiring to see all the great things happening throughout the Diocese in a variety of different contexts and it’s also been good to get to know the work being done by the Mission and Ministry Team. They are already equipping people in the present for the future, and we are going to build on and develop that work.”
Joseph has spent time understanding the challenges being faced by our clergy and feels his background in history provides a useful context.
“In many ways, this is a hard time to be a disciple, and an even harder time to be a minister. The world is changing rapidly, and everything feels in flux. However, the church has been through periods of change, fright and opportunity before and, although it doesn’t make it any less difficult for those who are in it, that grounds our faith and hope for the future. The Gospel stays the same and the basics of Priestly vocation stay the same, even if church, politics, finance and culture change. I hope that we can help equip ministers effectively to thrive in this changing world.”
As the diocesan transformation journey moves into phase two, the Equipping Ministers for Mission underpinning priority will be developed and strengthened with three different strands reflecting and building on the current work of the Mission and Ministry Team:
- Accompany: walking with our ministers in the cure of souls, bearing their burdens and supporting the bishops' role as pastors to the pastors.
- Equip: promoting formation in wisdom and virtue, offering access to the qualities and competencies needed for ministry in the 21st century.
- Develop: raising up disciples and leaders for the next generation.
Joseph said: “We want to develop a coaching culture throughout the Diocese, offering a toolkit of best coaching practices for our lay and ordained ministers to develop mutually encouraging relationships and build a culture of accompaniment. Alongside this we will be enhancing the training offer for all across the Diocese, identifying the right people to deliver 'best in class’ contextual training, as well as linking with regional and national opportunities. And we will ramp up our investment in the development of future leaders, enabling enquirers and explorers’ courses to run in each parish and supporting a focus on both discipleship and vocation, with different pathways into leadership – whether that’s children’s & youth ministry or stipendiary curacy. Watch this space!”
After spending a few months understanding the role of Director of Mission and Ministry, Joseph is now looking forward to getting out and about and meeting more people across the Diocese.
“You can definitely expect to see me around,” he said: “Equipping Ministers for Mission is all about enabling every minister, whether lay or ordained, to do God’s work. I want to hear what would help our leaders in that, as well as giving them access to the best resources and support. I want our leaders and people to feel that Worcester is the most supportive, best equipping and liveliest diocese in which to minister in the Church of England!”
