- Photo credit: Liberty Pearl, 2019
- Jon will take up his new role on 1 October
The Reverend Jon Marlow has been appointed to the role of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½Ò•îl of Ordinands and Vocations Officer for the Diocese of Canterbury, with effect from 1 October, 2020.
Jon will be taking up this post from 1 October, although, given the Coronavirus restrictions, he will be largely working from home for the short term. He joins the Mission and Ministry team which, with his appointment, is looking to further develop vocations through greater engagement with parishes, schools, and community partners across the Diocese.
Jon says, “I see my role as DDO and Vocations Officer as a midwife, rather than a gatekeeper, and I’m looking forward to hearing the stories of how different people have responded to God’s call on their lives. I’m looking forward to moving from Devon to Kent to join the team in Canterbury, partly because I recently got a new personal-best for a 10 kilometre run on your flat streets, but more so because we are entering a new phase of church life living alongside COVID-19. At this time, collaborative ministry between all the people of God is more important than ever and the work of the vocations team is crucial in this.”
After completing theological training at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford, Jon moved to Plymouth in 2006 to start his curacy at St. Matthew’s Church, Elburton. He became vicar of St. Pancras, Pennycross in 2010 and in 2018 moved to his current role as Mission Community Development Team Leader for the Diocese of Exeter. In this role Jon has worked closely with Deaneries and Mission Communities to develop strategic Mission Action Plans which help them to use the gifts and resources which God has given them as they fulfil His call to be “the people of God, in this place, at this time”.
Jon is studying part-time for a doctorate in Practical Theology at Durham University in which he’ll be researching how visitors to English cathedrals experience and understand works of contemporary art. This focus on the creative and visual underpins his approach to his wider work and has led to his developing and using a range of visual research tools such as the diocesan-wide 'Answers on a Postcard' exercise and also a missional discussion tool called '1000 Words'.
Jon is married to Tanya, a writer, broadcaster and theologian who regularly contributes to the public debate around disability, inclusion and the spirituality of suffering. They have a ten year old son.
For more information, contact Anna Drew or Nadine Miller:
Anna Drew: adrew@diocant.org / 07753454586
Nadine Miller: nmiller@diocant.org / 07850 774620