The Diocesan Director of Ordinands, the Revd Magdalen Smith, is to leave the Diocese of Chester to take up a national Church role. She will leave her position as DDO in early February 2019 to work as a National Adviser for Selection at Ministry Division.
She says: "It’s been a privilege and delight to journey with so many quality candidates over the last four and a half years and with some wonderful colleagues too. I will miss the Diocese of Chester a great deal and hope that we continue to grow our own vocational life. Thank you to everyone who has enabled and supported my own vocation as DDO.
"This news has come a little earlier than expected but I felt the National Adviser role was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down, building on my experience at a diocesan level rather than replicating it. I am delighted (if not a little surprised!) to have secured this post."
Plans are in place to appoint her successor and to ensure that candidates currently training for ordination and those still in the discernment process, are well supported.