The vocation to public ministry as an ordained minister of the Church demands much of those who serve in its public representative ministry as deacons, priests and bishops. For those who are married or in a civil partnership, the role has significant implications for family life, for spouses, partners and children, which can be both joyful but also stressful.
Given the demands of ministry, the Church, and its bishops, as its chief pastors, bear a responsibility to support clergy families. Sometimes however, clergy marriages and civil partnerships will irrevocably break down and lead to separation. It is the responsibility of the diocesan bishop to appoint and deploy Bishop’s Visitors to support the spouses and partners of separated and divorcing clergy.
The Bishop’s Visitor’s role is to support spouses and partners, to help identify needs e.g. housing, spiritual, worship, independent financial advice, therapeutic, and provide signposting to ensure those needs are met. If appropriate, the Bishop’s Visitor would encourage any spouse or partner who has not advised the bishop of their circumstances of their marriage to do so, but they will not themselves disclose this to the bishop unless agreed in writing. The Bishop’s Visitor is available to meet with the spouse/partner as often as the spouse/partner wants in the short term and agree a plan with them for immediate, medium-term and longer-term needs.
The Bishop’s Visitors for Newcastle Diocese are:
Bishop’s Visitor for Northumberland Archdeaconry for the city and North Tyneside
Mrs Elisabeth Bryant Elisabeth.Bryant@newcastle.anglican.org
Bishop’s Visitor for Lindisfarne Archdeaconry in the north and west of the diocese
Mrs Janice Robinson Janice.robinson@newcastle.anglican.org
Click here to read the Church of England Policy and Guidance for the Church of England in the care of the spouses and partners of divorced and separated clergy.