Belonging in, praying for, and caring for people and parishes in Stepney Area is the core of Bishop Joanne’s role. She is also the lead bishop for safeguarding on behalf of Bishop Sarah; works alongside Bishop Graham in supporting the work of the Compassionate Communities team; and, with Monica Bolley, chairs the Racial Justice Priority Group. Here are some of the key events and commitments in Bishop Joanne’s diary over the last couple of months:
- Taking part in the licencing and welcome of Ven Peter Farley-Moore as Archdeacon of Hackney
- Taking part in the clergy Lent study day
- Being together with licenced Stepney clergy at our area clergy conference at High Leigh.
- Leading Holy Week services at All Saints Poplar
- Attending a prayer vigil at the Ukrainian Embassy, at the invitation of Christian Aid and benefit concert for Ukraine at St Peter de Beauvoir
- Confirmations at St Paul’s West Hackney, St Mary’s Hornsey Rise, St Paul’s Bow Common.
- Licencing the Revd Alice Smith as priest-in-charge of St Thomas Finsbury Park
- Attending and speaking at the opening of King’s House, KXC
- Attending the funeral of much-loved, much-missed Revd Stuart Lee, at St John on Bethnal Green
- Meeting around 20 potential ordinands to agree to sponsor them for selection for training for ordained ministry
- Meeting individually, and then ordaining 13 Stepney and Two Cities priests at Holy Sepulchre
- Attending Iftars and speaking at the invitation of Finsbury Park Mosque and Arsenal in the Community, the Naz Legacy Foundation, and the Marble Arch Synagogue
- Regular meetings together and sometimes individually with colleagues in the College of Bishops, the London Diocese Senior Staff, the Stepney staff team, and other Stepney colleagues
- Hosting a meeting of church leaders to welcome Bishop Lynne Cullens, Bishop of Barking, and explore joint working with our neighbours
- Chairing the Joint Operations Team (JOT), the body that includes all the archdeacons and heads of department in the Diocese
- Continuing as part of the steering group working to support the work of the independent reviewer who is looking into the circumstances leading to the death of Fr Alan Griffin
- Working with +Pete Broadbent on protocols and training around file keeping in Bishops’ offices
- Celebrating the 50-year anniversary of St Paul’s School Bow and writing a new prayer in response to the unveiling of a bird mural designed by some of their children
- Visiting Stepney All Saints Church of England Academy at their invitation of the Principal and meeting staff and students to talk about faith and leadership
- Taking part in the Islington y6 church schools Leavers’ Service at St Mary’s Islington
- Attending a solidarity rally at Hackney Town Hall about Child Q
- Continuing to meet with the Racial Justice Priority Group, co-chaired with Monica Bolley, and supported by consultant Steph Ajayi, on matters of racial justice. This quarter our emphasis has been on data gathering, HR and recruitment, and responding well with the LDBS to the Child Q and related matters in London schools
- Leading prayers at Compassionate Communities’ Refugee Week event
- Attending Trust for London board, grants, social enterprise, and governance meetings as one of their Trustees, and in particular working with them on safeguarding
- Updating my Safeguarding training
- Speaking to the National Deaneries Network, at the invitation of Elizabeth Marshall, on Safeguarding: everyone’s wellbeing, everyone’s responsibility?
- Attending my first meeting of the National Safeguarding Steering Group, having recently been appointed to this body
- Supporting the Bishop of Truro by leading a review team looking at safeguarding, leadership, governance, and culture in Truro Cathedral
- And finally, but also importantly, taking two blocks of annual leave: one to visit Norwegian friends and the Lutheran Bishop of Oslo for their Constitution Day national holiday, and the other to stay at home and celebrate a significant birthday (21 again!) with friends and family
Bishop Joanne is grateful for your prayers for these different aspects of her ministry, which she shares with you and with other colleagues in the Diocese of London.
You can follow Bishop Joanne on Twitter as @joannegrenfell where you can see posts about various events and parish visits. If you’d like her to retweet something that you’re involved in, just tag her or send her a message. See also our own @StepneyLives feed on Twitter and Instagram.
