"Surprised and delighted": The Rev Canon Tim Dakin, community leader of CMS
(Photo: © Jeremy Woodham/CMS) CMS wishes to congratulate Community Leader Tim Dakin on his appointment as Bishop of Winchester, announced today, after 11 years’ service with CMS
The chair of CMS trustees, John Ripley, introduces a personal message to CMS members and supporters from Tim Dakin:
“It is great news for Tim and the family and we wish them every blessing in their new move with God.
"The time will come to reflect on Tim’s contribution to CMS as he has led us through many changes and has played an important part in setting out a path and foundation for where God will lead us next.
"Meanwhile we thank him for his dedication and know that ‘Sharing Jesus, Changing Lives’ will continue to inspire and motivate us all.”
Related links
Diocese of Winchester website
Downing Street website
Reaction on Twitter
Tim's address to the diocese
Interview on BBC Berkshire
Tim will be with CMS for a few months yet and we can arrange for an orderly transition. We have a clear strategic plan in place and a talented leadership team. Do pray for them as they will face some uncertainty and bear a heavier load.
The trustees would also value your prayers as they seek God for the next leader.
Personal message from Tim Dakin
Dear Friends
I want to share with you with some important personal news which is both exciting and sad. Exciting because I am to become to the new Bishop of Winchester and sad because it means that I will be leaving my role in CMS (sometime in the Spring). The appointment was a great surprise, and although I am delighted, I’m still getting used to it!
Over the last year or so I’ve become aware that CMS may require someone else to lead its ongoing development. We know that it is only the Lord who makes things grow, but sometimes new people are needed to build on what others have done.
Once my name had been proposed for Winchester I had to decide whether I should continue with the process. After taking a number of weeks to pray and think through the role, I decided that I should seek the Lord’s guidance and discern whether this was his call, through the appointment process.
To be asked to be Bishop of Winchester is an amazing privilege and a wonderful opportunity to serve God’s mission in a new way. I’ve lived in southern England for a lot of my life. The diocese is an ancient one, and can trace its roots to the mission of St Birinus in the 7th century. Winchester has been the seat of Saxon Kings, notably Alfred, and was a focus for Anglo-Saxon Christianity. Later it became one of the centres for the flowering of Norman Christianity. Today, the diocese includes a number of cities and towns (Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton and Bournemouth) and is a mixture of rural, commuter and locally based economies. The diocese has strong links across the Anglican Communion and works closely with its neighbouring dioceses: Chichester, Guildford, Oxford, Portsmouth and Salisbury.
Later on I will be able to say more about the details of the move to Winchester. At this stage I want to thank all those who have encouraged me and prayed for me during my time at CMS. I shall take with me a passion for the mission of Jesus, a commitment to mission-shaped church, including mission societies, and a love of the Anglican Communion.
The senior management of CMS is an extraordinary team to lead and be part of. I’ve learnt a lot and grown with them as we’ve changed and developed over the last 11 years. Working with this team and serving CMS members and God’s mission around the world has been a tremendous experience and privilege. And looking forward, I’m confident that the Lord will bring the person of his choice to lead the CMS community. Do please continue to pray for Sally, Anna, Johnny and me in the move to Winchester; and do pray too for the right person to be appointed in my place.
Tim Dakin
CMS Community Leader