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The Archdeacon of Portsdown, the Ven Christopher Lowson, is to be the next Director of Ministry for the Archbishops’ Council. He will lead a team responsible for developing policy and delivering support to those in lay and ordained ministry throughout the Church. The Ministry Division is responsible for the training of more than 900 new clergy, lay Readers and others admitted to ministry each year. He will succeed the Ven Gordon Kuhrt, who has led the Ministry team since 1996, in February next year.

Christopher, 52, has been Archdeacon of Portsdown since 1999 and chairs the Diocese of Portsmouth’s Board of Ministry. He also chaired the Kairos Executive Group, which encouraged parishes and diocesan bodies in Portsmouth to take part in an 18-month process of study, prayer and reflection before producing five-year plans for mission and ministry.

“I am delighted with the appointment of Christopher Lowson as the next Director of the Ministry Division,” said the Rt Rev John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford, who chairs the Church’s Ministry Division. “He will bring proven pastoral and theological skills to bear on the next chapter of the Division’s service to ministry in the Church of England. I commend him to everyone's prayers as he prepares to take on this role.”

Christopher Lowson helped devise and teach an MA course in Church and Community Studies at the University of Portsmouth for clergy, Readers, teachers and other professionals. In 2003 he completed a Master of Laws degree in Canon Law at Cardiff Law School, and a Master of Theology from Heythrop College in the University of London in 1996. He was member of the General Synod from 2000-05. Previously the vicar of St Peter’s, Petersfield, and rector at St Mary’s, Buriton, for eight years, he was rural dean of Petersfield from 1995-1999.