The Church of England is pleased to announce that Rev Canon Nicholas McKee is to be the new Director for Ministry, succeeding the Rt Rev Chris Goldsmith who retires at the end of July.
Nick is currently Diocesan Director for Vocations (DDV) and Acting Diocesan Director of Education in the Diocese of Blackburn.
As DDV, he heads the Diocesan ‘Growing Leaders’ team and oversees lay and ordained vocational discernment, the start of ministry development for clergy, and all lay ministry, including the innovative M:Power urban leadership and church planting project.
He also led the formation of Emmanuel Theological College on behalf of the North West bishops.
Nick grew up on an outer estate in Northern Ireland and undertook an engineering degree in Nottingham before embarking on an international business career for ten years.
He left the world of business to pursue a call to priestly ministry, training at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, followed by ten years of parish ministry in the Diocese of Manchester, including a period as an Area Dean.
He said: “I am looking forward to becoming Director for Ministry and working in partnership with colleagues across the country, so that together we can share our faith in Jesus Christ with renewed simplicity, humility and boldness.
“I am passionate about developing the support we offer to people from all backgrounds and traditions to explore God’s call on their lives, together with how we form, deploy and resource them for life-long mission and ministry.”
The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Rev Mark Tanner, Chair of Ministry Council, said: “I am delighted that Nick is willing to serve this role.
“He has a great breadth of experience spanning the full remit of the Ministry Development Team. He is a servant hearted, deeply practical man of infectious energy and profound Christ-like faith.”
William Nye, Secretary General to the Archbishops’ Council, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the work of Bishop Chris Goldsmith – we have been very fortunate indeed to have someone of his calibre as Director of Ministry Development through what has been a challenging period for the Church during the Covid pandemic.
“I am very pleased that we are able to announce today that Nick has been appointed as his successor. He brings strong leadership gifts which have been developed through his rich ministry experience inside the Church, and in his pre-ordination career.
“I look forward to working with him as he leads the Ministry Development Team, joins the leadership of the Archbishops’ Council, and contributes to the wider life of the Church.”
Nick is married to Rev Jo McKee, a parish priest in the Diocese of Manchester and the Country Director of the international Arrow church leadership development programme.
