Supporting Ministers

Supporting Ministers are a team of specialists who offer advice and action in their field to parishes.

Some are full time; some are part-time. Some are ordained; some are lay. They can be advisers to bishops and expert fellow workers in the vineyard. All are at your service to help build up areas of your parish's life, ministry and witness.

Please contact them by email or telephone – you can have as many Supporting Ministers come to your parish as you’d like!

	Sandra Doore Children's Work Development Officer Sandra is a Church Army Sister with many years’ experience of working in churches with children. She can offer support and training for those working with children, as well as advice and resources aimed at catching the imagination of younger congregation members and keeping them interested. 0191 270 4151 s.doore@newcastle.anglican.org
	Andrew Shipton, Simon White and Bar Nash-Williams Youth Development Team Andrew, Simon and Bar enable and support churches to initiate and develop an appropriate ministry to young people. They encourage an approach of listening to young people while taking practical steps to address their needs. The team helps churches welcome and nurture young people, but although it offers no magic solution or blueprint. They believe young people have much to teach the Church and that relationship building is the way forward. The team is ready to listen, to share insights and experience, and to suggest resources. Andrew Shipton 0191 236 3788 andrewshipton085@aol.com Simon White 01670 787263 rev.simonjhwhite@gmail.com Bar Nash-Williams 01661 886853 bar@stamfordhamwithmatfen.org.uk


	Richard Gascoyne Parish Funding Officer Richard can offer advice about running a funding campaign in your parish, and suggest which particular model might be best suited to your needs. He’ll come to your parish and speak at one of your services, if requested, and kick start your stewardship drive. 0191 270 4136 r.gascoyne@newcastle.anglican.org
	Dagmar Winter Rural Affairs Officer Dagmar is involved in rural community, church and education matters. Examples of her activities: member of the national church’s Rural Affairs Group through membership of General Synod, vice-chair of the Northumberland Upland LEADER Action Group, trustee of a rural community partnership, teaching and writing on rural church matters. Dagmar is happy to be made aware of any particular rural issues cropping up, to visit rural parishes, learn of good practice, offer support and discuss new ideas. 01830 540260 dagmar.winter@btinternet.com
	Nicholas Buxton Church and Society Advisor Nicholas works with church and secular partners engaging with a wide range of social and cultural issues at the interface between church and society. His task is to help bring cohesion at every level to the way in which the Diocese engages with society, from national initiatives to local projects. 07941 319805 buxton.nicholas@gmail.com
	Martin Sheppard Development Officer for Communication Martin is here to advise and support your parish in any or all of its communication activities from magazines and newsletters to web sites and media relations - in good times and bad. He's also responsible for the diocesan web site and media relations, working across the diocese to promote and protect the Church and its mission. Direct: 0191 270 4139 Mobile: 07544 803160 m.sheppard@newcastle.anglican.org
	Revd Alastair Macnaughton Developing Discipleship Officer Alastair’s aim is to make Christian learning and growth accessible to as wide as possible a range of people across the region. The courses he promotes are not about learning how to do particular jobs in church. Rather, they help people grow in faith in everyday, practical ways. He is happy to explain the range of courses available at any given time, and also to act as a sounding-board for parishes wondering what to do locally in the way of learning. 0191 276 5005. macnaughton@btinternet.com
	Revd Rick Simpson Director, Initial Ministerial Training (Years 4 - 7) 0191 3800440 ricksimpson300@btinternet.com
	Canon Peter Kenney Director, Pastoral Care and Counselling A confidential Counselling Service can be accessed by clergy, clergy spouses and families in Newcastle Diocese, offering a safe space in which to reflect on issues that concern them, with a professionally trained counsellor over a number of sessions in complete privacy. 0191 257 9512 peter.kenney5@btinternet.com
	Lesley Carson Interfaith and Ethnic Relations Advisor Lesley serves the Committee for Interfaith and Ethnic Relations (CIFER), promoting respect for all people and faith cultures, increasing awareness of religious, ethnic and cultural differences, encouraging recognition of the contribution to national and local life of those from other faith traditions, and developing strategies for action on matters of common concern and social justice. 0191 270 4148 l.carson@newcastle.anglican.org
	John Sinclair Adviser in Local Evangelism & Mission John's job is to help parishes fulfil the Great Commission [Matt 28:16-20] by becoming thriving communities of faith aiming to be always Generous, Engaged and Open, thereby sustaining local Christian presence. John seeks to help by advising and supporting parishes in the study of the theology and practical expressions of Evangelism. 0774 674 3857 johnsinclair247@aol.com
	Steve Forster Development Worker for Together Newcastle (a partnership between the Diocese and Church Urban Fund) Together Newcastle works with churches and community groups to help tackle poverty more effectively in the Diocese by Encouraging and Developing community activities Helping to find resources and Giving a voice to concerns about poverty 07791 369625 steve.forster@together-newcastle.org
	Jean Skinner Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor If you are concerned that a child or vulnerable adult has been harmed or is at risk of harm, do not hesitate to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor for advice and support. 0191 236 3474. Mobile 07731 683500 safeguarding@newcastle.anglican.org
	Revd Rachel Wood Local Ministry Development Officer Rachel supports and encourages parishes in working collaboratively, helping congregations identify and develop their skills and gifts, and encouraging partnerships between lay and ordained, congregations and communities, as they seek to live out their mission and ministry. She is happy to visit any parish to offer ways of enabling and supporting working together and to share good practice in the diocese and nationally. 0191 257 3901 r.wood@newcastle.anglican.org