June 24th - The New Ministry Team in Place!

At St Andrews on June 24th 2007 Jon Morgan was inducted into the Pastorate of the United Reformed Church in Cheltenham. With his arrival our new Ministry Team is in place and we are extremely grateful that our Vacancy has been so short. Maz and Jon will work together to give us new ideas and fresh perspectives. We will be challenged and refreshed, but we can be sure that we are building on the firm foundations that Joan and Glyn helped to lay.

Jon studied at the Royal College of Music and had a career as a professional musician before studying for the ministry at Westminster College, Cambridge . Whilst there he was awarded the Westminster College Prize for pastoral studies and theological ethics. He was ordained in 2001.

His previous church was at Blundell Sands URC and whilst there Jon undertook a major redevelopment project, set up a youth club, and youth bible study group. The youth group went on camps, led worship and helped set up over-60’s computer classes and internet café. There have been retreat days, house groups and Iona style services. Whilst writing liturgies, hymns and songs he also encouraged members of the congregation to write their own. He strongly encourages others to share their gifts in leading worship.

Jon believes that sometimes we are so busy in running the Church that we forget to seek God’s direction for the Church. He believes that we are all called by God to minister for him albeit in different roles – we could be Ministers, teachers, elders or even coffee makers and flower arrangers.

He is deeply involved in Commitment for Life and Human Rights Movements. He supported the local District in Liverpool and was chair of the local Churches Together. Jon was a chaplain in a hospital and a retirement home and, as well as taking assemblies in local schools, he was chaplain to a local private school.

Jon states that Ministry is about pastoral care – it is not something done by a few to those outside the Church but a part of everyday Christian living. He believes that worship should be something that should be able to take place at any time of the day or week and not just in the traditional Sunday morning slot.

Jon has a great interest in theology and bible study. He loves to be involved and is very ‘hands-on’. He is a believer in ecumenism; not in order to lose our identity but to share and celebrate diversities. Jon believes in leading the church into the community and encouraging youth and all members of the congregation in being involved in the outreach of the church.

He feels he is a good communicator and a positive person, nearly always trying to find the good outcome even when there only seems to be a negative. Jon believes he is called and adores preaching and proclaiming the word of God, which should then inspire us to go out and proclaim through the examples of our lives.

We welcome Jon, Jo, Matthew and Anna-Marie to Cheltenham.

Induction Pictures