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<p>The Reverend Dave Male, Director of Evangelism and Discipleship for the Church
of England, addressed the inaccuracies in The Spectator and subsequent articles, in
a statement issued on 8th July: “I am very aware that some recent commentary in media
and social media purporting to set out the future direction of Church of England has
caused real anxiety, hurt and pain to many. Some of this has been based on a fundamental
confusion between the Church of England’s own emerging Vision and Strategy for the
2020s and beyond, which we will be discussing at the upcoming meeting of General Synod,
and a separate initiative called Myriad to create 10,000 new lay-led churches - which
is not a national Church of England project. It has been claimed in some places that
there is a plan to dissolve the parish system, sideline or even replace trained clergy,
especially paid clergy, or to get rid of our beautiful, historic church buildings.
So I want to make it abundantly clear that the Church of England is committed, now
as always, to the ministry of the whole people of God including to ordained ministry
in our parishes.” The full statement can be read here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/news-releases/clergy-and-parishes-heart-church-england-now-and-future"
target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/news-releases/clergy-and-parishes-heart-church-england-now-and-future</a></p><p>In
his presidential address and in the subsequent debate on Vision and Strategy at the
July General Synod, the Archbishop of York said that the Church needed more, not fewer
vocations to ordination and that the limiting factor was the lack of vocations, not
the valuable work of serving clergy across the country, of all forms of ministry.</p><p>The
Archbishop of York’s presidential address can be read at <a href="https://www.archbishopofyork.org/news/latest-news/presidential-address-general-synod-july-2021"
target="_blank">https://www.archbishopofyork.org/news/latest-news/presidential-address-general-synod-july-2021</a>
and his presentation on the Vision and Strategy is here: <a href="https://www.archbishopofyork.org/news/latest-news/vision-and-strategy-address-general-synod-july-2021"
target="_blank">https://www.archbishopofyork.org/news/latest-news/vision-and-strategy-address-general-synod-july-2021</a></p><p>More
information about Vision and Strategy itself can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/emerging-church-england/vision-church-england-2020s"
target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/emerging-church-england/vision-church-england-2020s</a></p><p>Parishes
remain at the heart of the Church of England's mission and ministry to the nation
and the Church is delighted that growing numbers of people are answering the call
to the priesthood. This year 591 clergy have committed themselves to ordained ministry
within the Church, the largest number in over thirteen years. More information about
vocations can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/news-releases/recommendations-stipendiary-ordained-ministry-training-highest"
target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/news-releases/recommendations-stipendiary-ordained-ministry-training-highest</a></p><p>
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