The Rev David Lewis is set to leave the Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership in October, after seven years as Baptist minister at Christ Church, Stantonbury.

David who, in more recent years has also assisted at St Andrew’s Church, Great Linford, is to retire

In a letter to all congregations he wrote: “It is with very mixed emotions that I write to tell you that I will be retiring as Baptist Minister in the Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership at the beginning of October.

“I reach my 66th birthday at the beginning of February next year, but after prayerful consideration I have decided to take early retirement. My last Sunday in the Partnership will be on the second of October.

“Margie and I will be moving to Hampshire to live with our daughter Hannah, her husband Tim, and their family, on the edge of the New Forest. “We will be living in a self-contained annexe adjacent to their property.

“We are looking forward to our retirement there, and to being much closer to the family.

“But, as I say, it is with mixed emotions that I write to you, because I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as minister in the partnership, and Margie and I realise that we will be leaving behind many friends that we have made, at Christ Church and St Andrew’s, and in the wider partnership.

“Thank you for your friendship and support over the last seven years. The last couple of years or so have been particularly difficult ones, with the Covid pandemic affecting much of life.

“But I am so glad that we have taken the opportunities presented to us to worship and get involved in mission in some very creative ways.

“We don’t know what the future holds for us, as individuals, as congregations and as a partnership.

“But I am reminded that God tells us, through the prophet Jeremiah, that he knows the plans that he has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us a future and a hope. So we can hold on to that promise and put our trust in him.

“No doubt we will find ways of saying ‘Goodbye’ properly in the weeks to come.”

God bless you all,

David Lewis

The Rev Mary Moody of Bovingdon Baptist church is to be a full-time Regional Minister serving the churches of Central Baptist Association, covering Milton Keynes and the surrounding counties.

After having given notice to her church which is near Hemel Hempstead, Mary will start in September 2022, where she will join the Rev Lisa Kerry, who is the incoming Regional Minister Team Leader.

Mary comments, “As minister of a small but big-hearted church within the CBA, I have valued relationships within our association enormously. I am delighted to join Lisa Kerry on the Regional Ministry team, and look forward to journeying alongside our churches and ministers in this role.

More details about Mary will be forthcoming shortly and an occasion for an induction in the Autumn will be fixed and advertised to churches in due course.

As the process continues to identify the remaining posts to cover the responsibilities of the Regional Ministry Team, please pray for those involved in the process.