New Job for Bishop Graham

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Church Mission Society and Durham University have become partners in creating an innovative seven year post: Mission Theologian in the Anglican Communion. The first postholder will be our own Bishop of Sherborne, the Right Revd Dr Graham Kings.

The purpose is to research, stimulate, connect and publish works of theology in the Anglican Communion, with particular focus on insights from Africa, Asia and Latin America, in their ecumenical contexts.

Bishop Graham has been appointed and will take up this new post in July 2015. He will be based in London, visiting Durham University, as an Honorary Fellow, and will travel in the Communion. He will convene a series of seminars in Anglican Communion Studies for theologians, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. A new web site, launched today, MissionTheologyAngCom.org, will publish the papers.

Bishop Graham has been Bishop of Sherborne for six years during which time he has contributed enormously to the Diocese. As well as being on the Bishop’s Senior Staff, he is Warden of LLMs (Readers), chairs the Mission Council, the Sudan Committee and the Communications Group, as well as being a Canon of the Cathedral.

Bishop Graham will be missed by the clergy in Dorset whom he has visited and prayed with individually. We wish him and Alison well in this new phase of ministry and will be saying good-bye to Bishop Graham at Evensong in the Cathedral on Sunday 19 April at 4.30 pm to which all are invited.

Bishop Nicholas said, "I am very grateful for all that Bishop Graham has contributed to the Diocese of Salisbury as Bishop of Sherborne. This new post makes very good use of his experience, knowledge and skills. We give thanks for him and Alison and ask God’s blessing on all that lies ahead.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury said, "I am delighted that this strong partnership has developed with CMS and Durham University. It is very gratifying that the concept of a Mission Theologian in the Anglican Communion has attracted the necessary support to get to this stage where the post can be established. I know that the Anglican Communion has many gifted theologians and it is so important that their voice is heard more widely. I am glad that Bishop Graham’s experience and knowledge of the Communion is being made so generously available and I shall encourage the development of this project with a keen interest.”

If anyone wishes to contribute a leaving gift for Bishop Graham, please send cheques made payable to ‘Salisbury DBF’ (marked ‘Bishop of Sherborne’ on the back) to Phil Musselwhite at the Diocesan Office, 99 Crane Street, Salisbury SP1 2QB.