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New Bishop’s Adviser for Self-Supporting Ministry

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Carol was ordained deacon in Norwich Cathedral in 1999 and priested in 2000, having trained on what is now the Eastern Region Ministry Course. She considers her calling as being “to preach good news to the poor”.  Whilst exercising her priestly ministry Carol was a secondary school English teacher, becoming head of faculty. She is currently part-time associate tutor at the UEA in the School of Education helping to train secondary teachers.

Carol has recently been licensed to Earlham Parish and, as part of her role there, is a governor at the local secondary school. As a self-supporting minister (SSM) she considers it a privilege to be a priestly presence in the workplace and a challenge to be a representative of God and the church whilst remaining a fallible human being like everyone else. She believes that SSMs, in all their many and varied roles and callings, are a rich part of the diverse ways this diocese can serve its people.

Speaking about the appointment, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich said:

“I am delighted that the Revd Carol Pritchard has agreed to be my adviser for self-supporting ministry. She brings much experience with her and I know will bring a helpful listening ear to colleagues who give so much to sustaining the ministry of Word and Sacrament within parishes, institutions and workplaces in the Diocese of Norwich.”

A self-supporting minister is someone who is ordained a priest in the Church of England but is not paid a stipend. For many people this is because they already have a full-time job in another profession, or they choose to be more flexible in their lifestyle for example they may work shorter hours for the church than a full-time minister might do. They are often ‘front line’ ministers with a foot in the secular world.