One of the most powerful ways in which I understand my vocation as Bishop - to be Chief Shepherd and Teacher in the diocese - is by believing passionately I have been called by Christ to this particular work. I believe that all of us who are priests or deacons share that same experience.

We know that we have a crucial part to play in the life of the diocese and I am certain that everyone recognises that we are called by Christ to this special ministry.

I have been much concerned in the last year to put before you a vision of the diocese as a Christ-centred community alive with the Holy Spirit to face the challenge to proclaim the Gospel. We cannot be such a community without the ministry of our clergy because, without them, we have no Eucharist. sacraments or the pastoral care we associate with them. My ministry too as Bishop can only be really effective when it is combined with wholehearted partnership with the clergy. They are my closest collaborators.

Our priests to-day face great demands which are both personal and structural and which flow from the enormous variety of work they are called upon to do. As you know, their response and their dedication is almost always unfailingly generous and that is how "they provide the seedbed from which so many good things grow in the life of the diocese. "¹ But such work is always challenging and seldom easy.

One of the great strengths which sustains all of us who are ordained is the knowledge that we have your generous support and encouragement. I am very conscious of the affection and respect you have for your clergy. You are ready to forgive our faults and you affirm us in the efforts we make to grow and develop into the ministry to which Christ has called us.

I am writing this letter to ask you for that support and encouragement in a very special way at this time.

I have asked all our clergy who work in parishes - priests and deacons - to gather with me for three days in October in Bournemouth. We have been "called by Christ" and this meeting is a very important moment for us to affirm one another in that call. At the same time, it is a vital opportunity for us to renew our sense of vision and purpose for ministry in to-day’s Church.

It is a significant landmark in the life of the diocese, which is why I have personally invested a great deal of myself in both its preparation and, hopefully, in its eventual success. You need to know this because I want the "Called by Christ" gathering to be in the centre of your prayers now, at the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Aylesford on July 4th and throughout the months up till October.

I feel sure that you will all be delighted that this meeting is taking place because I know how deeply concerned you are for your priests, we matter to you and I am very aware of the love end affection that you have for us all.

For our part, we need to discover how we can better serve you and respond to your needs in the constantly changing world in which we live. This conference will help us to do that and that is why we need your prayerful support.

I know that you, as much as any of us, will want this enterprise to be successful because success cam only be good for us all. We will not solve all our problems at a stroke but, hopefully, we will come away from Bournemouth renewed in our commitment to Christ and to the service of His people, and a little clearer about the next steps that we need to take on our journey of renewal.

We go to Bournemouth very dependent on your prayers and confident that you are with us. We all need to be held before the Lord in prayer and communion if we are to begin to be equal to the mission that the Lord has entrusted to us. There is no greater prayer than that of our Diocesan family, united in faith and in the love of the Lord and we place great confidence in that.

May God bless you all.

Please read this letter and make it available to your peoplee on the weekend of June 20th/21st 1998.

¹Fr Tony Philpot - "The Priesthood in Reality"