At All Saints Church in Sedgley on Sunday, Diane Cooksey was installed as Team Rector of Gornal and Sedgley and Renewal Leader at All Saints.
Diane will head up the Renewal Church in Sedgley which is one of our churches to receive national funding with the aim of growing a congregation of at least 150 people. As Team Rector, Diane will also work with the other churches in the team to help them to become healthier and more sustainable.
Assistant Bishop Robert Paterson led the service at All Saints and Archdeacon Nikki preached on the Parable of the Sower, the reading chosen by Diane for the service.
Nikki said: “Today is the culmination of many years of planning and prayer and is an exciting moment as Diane joins the benefice. Over the coming months and years, seeds will be sown, with the freedom to sow those seeds in new places and with abundance. Some will bear fruit, and some won’t, and that’s OK. You will need to be bold and generous in trying new things to see what will work, which might mean leaving your comfort zone and meeting people where they are. Reaching out beyond the walls of your churches to share the God News so more people can come to faith and become part of the family.
“God has called Diane back to the Black Country for such a time like this and I’m excited to see what happens. However, for this renewal to be fruitful and extend right across the team it will need everyone to join the adventure and play their part. But it is God who makes things grow, so please also commit to praying – for Diane, for each other and for your community, and I’m sure you will see God grow something beautiful here.”
Diane was a member of Netherton Church before training for ordination and over recent years has felt a call back to the Black Country.
She said: “It’s exciting to have a brief to get out into the local community and work with children, young people and families to help our churches to grow. The benefice has also recently developed a new vision – ‘worshipping God, welcoming all and serving our community’ – and I’m keen to work with and develop that. I’ve had a lovely welcome so far and I’m looking forward to getting to know people and journeying with them to find out what God has in store.”
Diane has already set up opportunities to visit the local Rainbow and Scout groups and will be spending the first few months listening to find out where people are and what their hopes are, as well as helping people catch the vision of what the churches could be. The national funding will also increase the capacity at All Saints and recruitment will start soon for a full-time Children and Youth Minister and a part-time, fixed-term Operations Manager.
“My prayer is that all three churches will be at the heart of their communities and I’m looking forward to seeing growth both spiritually and numerically, as well as in our fellowship and unity as a team. This might mean new forms of worship alongside our traditional services, and I hope people will feel energised to come on this journey with me as we focus on giving God the glory,” said Diane.
