The Revd Dr Roger Latham has been appointed as the new Director of Mission and Ministry for the Diocese. Roger will be responsible for leading and developing the team which will oversee our underpinning priority of equipping ministers for mission. He replaces Jonathan Kimber who left as Director of Ministry and Discipleship earlier this month.
Roger comes to the Diocese from his role as Director of Cuddesdon Gloucester and Hereford, where he was responsible for ordination and licensed lay training for the two dioceses. He has worked in theological education since 2009, previously in the Lancashire and Cumbria Theological Partnership and Cumbria Christian Learning. Before moving to the Diocese of Carlisle, Roger served his curacy in the Diocese of Peterborough where he was ordained (having previously been a secondary school drama and English teacher). Roger lived in the Diocese of Worcester for ten years from age 10 where he was a member of the choir at St John’s Church in Bromsgrove.
He said: “I am really excited by the diocesan strategy as well as the vision for this role, which brings together a lot of the strands from my previous experience. I love it when people realise what it is that God wants them to be, and then helping them to get there. As a teacher I get very excited when I see a ‘lightbulb’ moment happen and things changing as a result. I’m looking forward to getting to know the Diocese again, spending time listening to people’s stories and hearing what’s happening on the ground. I know that there will be much for me to learn as I start.”
Bishop John said: “Roger is a very gifted priest who will bring an enormous amount of relevant ministerial experience to this crucial role. I am delighted he has been called here and pray for God’s rich blessing on him.”
Roger will be moving closer to the Diocese with his wife Rachel, who works at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. He has two grown up daughters and in his spare time, he enjoys walking, a range of music, and playing historical tabletop war games. He will be starting as diocesan Director of Mission and Ministry in the summer.
