Issue 18 | Summer 2026 | southwark.anglican.org
Archdeacons’ Visitation News The Vocations Team Aside from the full-time members of the Diocesan Vocations and Lay Ministries teams, we have a fantastic team of Vocations Advisers (VAs). These VAs walk alongside those who are exploring licensed ministries (both lay and ordained ministries) and are key members of the wider Vocations team.
Vocations to lay and ordained ministry
Our VAs themselves are both lay and ordained. What draws them together is their commitment to encouraging those who are stepping forward to explore ministry in the Church. The feedback I receive so often from VAs is how much they enjoy their role and what a privilege it is. If you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a Vocations Adviser I would be very glad to hear from them. For more information, please contact Raymond Baudon, Assistant DDO and Deputy Director of Vocations raymond.baudon@southwark.anglican.org
We are each called to serve God and God’s people, what that service looks like is as unique as each one of us. Some of us are called to serve as lay ministers, while others are called to ordination. Whatever our calling is, it is an expression of our discipleship, our hope in the Vocations team is that by exploring vocation this discipleship is enriched and deepened.
Ministries There are a number of lay ministry options, affirmed ministries, which are publicly recognised in the parish such as Children and Youth leaders or pastoral visitors, and many other ministries that keep parish communities thriving. However, it is commissioned and licensed lay ministries that are selected and trained through the Diocesan lay discernment process.
The Ven Greg Prior Archdeacon of Croydon
The Ven Simon Gates Archdeacon of Lambeth
The Ven Dr Chigor Chike Archdeacon of Lewisham & Greenwich
The Ven Dr Geoff Dumbreck Archdeacon of Reigate
The Ven Jonathan Sedgwick Archdeacon of Southwark
The Ven Bridget Shepherd Archdeacon of Wandsworth
The Diocesan discernment process also works with those who are exploring ordained ministry as a Priest or as a Distinctive Deacon. Information about each of the Diocesan discernment processes and each of these ministries is available on the Exploring your Call pages of the Diocesan website, which includes contact details for further information. We encourage all Incumbents and Churchwardens to consider who in the congregation has the potential to be either a lay minister or to be ordained as a Deacon or Priest. Lay ministers might be exercising their ministry already, whether in a pastoral role, as a home group leader, working with young people involved in a Fresh Expression or in many other ways. The discernment process could encourage them in their ministry and unlock their potential further through fully funded lay ministry training, leading to a formally recognised ministry. For those who are called to ordained ministry, the Diocesan process leads to the national selection panels.