Paul Williams (bishop)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

David Hope (deacon)
Consecration25 March 2009
by Rowan Williams
Personal details
Born (1968-01-16) 16 January 1968 (age 56)
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglican
ResidenceBishop's Manor, Southwell[1]
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1997)​
Children3
Member of the House of Lords
(Lord Spiritual)
Assumed office
13 June 2022

Paul Gavin Williams (born 16 January 1968) is a

area bishop in the Diocese of London.[3]

Early life

Paul Williams was born to Bryan and Heather Williams on 16 January 1968 in

evangelical Anglican theological college.[2]
Paul Williams’s mother, Heather, was one of the first women to be ordained priest at Wells Cathedral in 1994. His father was an electrical engineer.

Ordained ministry

Paul Williams was ordained a deacon at

Christ Church, Clifton in Bristol (1995–1999) before becoming the rector of St James's Gerrards Cross with Fulmer (1999–2009).[2] During this time the church saw considerable growth, with six Sunday services spanning contemporary to traditional choral; also a pioneering children’s ministry with creative arts. Paul Williams was an honorary canon of Christ Church, Oxford
from 2007-09.

Episcopal ministry

Paul Williams was ordained (consecrated) to the

Lord Spiritual) on 13 June 2022.[10]

Views

In 2023, following the news that the House of Bishop's of the Church of England was to introduce proposals for blessing same-sex relationships, he signed an open letter which stated:[11]

many Christians in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, together with Christians from across the churches of world Christianity, continue to believe that marriage is given by God for the union of a man and woman and that it cannot be extended to those who are of the same sex. [...] Without seeking to diminish the value of many committed same-sex relationships, for which there is much to give thanks, we find ourselves constrained by what we sincerely believe the Scriptures teach which cannot be set aside.[11]

During the Church of England's February 2023 General Synod meeting, Williams was one of four bishops in the house to vote against the successful proposal to introduce blessings and prayers for same-sex relationships.[12] He also voted against introducing "standalone services for same-sex couples" on a trial basis during a meeting of the General Synod in November 2023; the motion passed.[13][14]

Personal life

Paul married Sarah (nee Cossham) at

Christ Church, Clifton in February 1997; they have three sons. [15]

Styles

  • The Reverend Paul Williams (1993–2007)
  • The Reverend
    Canon
    Paul Williams (2007–2009)
  • The
    Right Reverend
     Paul Williams (2009–present)

References

  1. ^ a b "Paul Gavin Williams". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Williams, Paul Gavin". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 30 June 2017. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ^ "Paul Gavin Williams". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  4. ISSN 0009-658X
    . Retrieved 3 July 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
  5. ^ Consecration details
  6. Daily Telegraph
    , 20 December 2008, p. 26.
  7. ^ Official notification of appointment Archived 2009-12-07 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham — "Election of new Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham confirmed", Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham website, accessed 24 May 2015.
  9. ^ Page, Jemma (27 June 2015). "New Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham officially inaugurated". Nottingham Post. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham becomes a Member of the House of Lords". Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham. 13 June 2022. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b "LLF: a paper on the Doctrine of Marriage". Thinking Anglicans. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  12. ^ "General Synod 9 TH February 2023 – Item 11" (PDF). Church of England. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  13. ^ "GENERAL SYNOD NOVEMBER 2023 GROUP OF SESSIONS BUSINESS DONE AT 5 P.M." (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023. 7. The motion (as amended) 'That this Synod, conscious that the Church is not of one mind on the issues raised by Living in Love and Faith, that we are in a period of uncertainty, and that many in the Church on all sides are being deeply hurt at this time, recognise the progress made by the House of Bishops towards implementing the motion on Living in Love and Faith passed by this Synod in February 2023, as reported in GS 2328, encourage the House to continue its work of implementation, and ask the House to consider whether some standalone services for same-sex couples could be made available for use, possibly on a trial basis, on the timescale envisaged by the motion passed by the Synod in February 2023.' was carried following a counted vote by Houses.
  14. ^ "General Synod 15th November 2023 – Item 007" (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  15. ^ Diocesan Profile Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
Church of England titles
Preceded by Bishop of Kensington
2009–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham

2015–present 		Incumbent
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