Diocese’s unique gathering of bishops from across the world

Next month, senior bishops from seven countries with partnership links to the Diocese of Leeds will meet together for the first time.

Bishop Nick has invited the church leaders from Sri Lanka, Sudan, the USA, Tanzania, Sweden, Pakistan and Germany to spend 31 March-9 April in the diocese.

He says, “It will be a unique international conference - I’m not aware that any other diocese has done this before. We’ll be celebrating the strength of global Christianity -  a hugely positive message that runs counter to the current narrative of anti-globalisation”.

Along with two diocesan events at Wakefield Cathedral and Leeds Minster, the Bishops will spend five days together on retreat at Parcevall Hall, as well as meeting with parishes and link supporters. 

Bishop Nick adds, “The bishops will pray, study and talk together, learning more about the diversity of our missional contexts and considering how we might optimize the potential for the development of multilateral links. In essence, we will be asking what are our links for, and how might we renew them?

There’ll be a big diocesan welcome at Wakefield Cathedral on Sunday 2 April (3.30pm) and link events the following weekend, including a forum with the Bishops at Leeds Minster on Sunday 9 April (3.30 for 4pm followed by Evensong at 5pm).

On Monday 10 April the Bishops will travel to Canterbury to visit the Cathedral and meet with Archbishop Justin Welby.