We are delighted to confirm the appointment of The Revd Steve Hollinghurst who will be joining the team in Hereford Diocese. He will take up his role as Mission Enabler (Environment) in May
This is a significant appointment for the team in the Diocese which serves the Church of England in Herefordshire and South Shropshire.
“I am excited by this appointment because how we as Christians and as a church respond to creation care is a key issue today. Too often I think this can be seen as ‘something good to do’ but not central to our faith, whereas I believe the story of faith culminates in the renewed creation as the final arrival of the Kingdom of God. My new role is firmly rooted in the Anglican ‘Five Marks of Mission’, which importantly link care for creation with evangelism, discipleship and community transformation, and a significant part of my new role will be about enabling that joined up mission thinking in the minds and actions of the people of Hereford Diocese”.
Steve is presently Evangelism Enabler – Environmental Focus in the diocese of Lichfield. He came to faith in his late teens after reading Luke’s Gospel in one sitting.
“Much of my ministry has been in contemporary culture and mission, drawing on my background in theology and social science, but my current three-year role has enabled me to explore my passion for the environment and really get stuck into Christian theology in this area. This is something I am really looking forward to bringing into my new role in Hereford Diocese”.
Steve was ordained in the diocese of Southwell (now Southwell and Nottingham) along with his wife Anne in 1996. Previously they had both been youth evangelists in inner city Nottingham where they returned to share in a joint curacy. Anne and Steve met at Hull University in the 1980s. She is currently Bishop of Aston in Birmingham Diocese and currently also acting Bishop of Birmingham.
Revd Dr Elizabeth Wild, Local Ministry lead said: “We are all looking forward to Steve joining the team in Hereford.”
“Steve will be the new lead on environmental issues and will be working with churches, schools and our central team to help us achieve our ambition of becoming Carbon Net Zero by 2030. He is a key part of supporting our mission and ministry, working alongside some highly experienced colleagues.”