Rod Thomas (bishop)
| The Right Reverend Rod Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Maidstone (AEO) | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Canterbury |
| In office | 2015–present |
| Other posts | Vicar of Elburton, Diocese of Exeter (1999–2015) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination |
1993 (deacon) 1994 (priest) |
| Consecration |
23 September 2015 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Roderick Charles Howell Thomas |
| Born | 1954 (age 61–62) |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Spouse | Lesley |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater |
London School of Economics Wycliffe Hall, Oxford |
Roderick Charles Howell "Rod" Thomas (born 1954) is a Church of England bishop. Since September 2015, he has been the Bishop of Maidstone, a provincial episcopal visitor for conservative evangelical members and parishes of the church.
Early life
Thomas was born in 1954 in London, England.[1][2] He was educated in Ealing, West London.[2] He studied economics at the London School of Economics,[3] and graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.[1]
Having completed his degree, Thomas joined Her Majesty's Civil Service. He left the Civil Service to become a researcher for the Institute of Directors.[2] He ended his business career as Director of Employment and Environmental Affairs at the Confederation of British Industry, before leaving in 1991 to train for ordained ministry.[4]
His early years were spent as a member of the Exclusive Plymouth Brethren.[5] At the age of 12, under the influence of Billy Graham, John Stott, Maurice Wood and having attended Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon, he became an Anglican.[2] In 1991, he entered Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, a Church of England theological college, to train for ordained ministry.[1]
Ordained ministry
Having completed his training, Thomas was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1993 and as a priest in 1994.[1] He served his curacy at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth. He remained at St Andrew's Church as a curate from 1995 to 1999.[3] From 1999 to 2005, he was priest-in-charge of St Matthew's Church, Elburton.[1] From 2005 to 2015, he was vicar of Elburton.[3] In 2012, he was additionally appointed a Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral.[6]
Outside his parish ministry, Thomas holds a number of appointments. He has been a member of the General Synod of the Church of England since 2000.[6] He has been a member of the Reform organisation for nearly two decades and chairman since 2007. Reform is a conservative evangelical Anglican organisation that opposes the ordination of women to the priesthood and promotes conservative attitudes to homosexuality.[7] He has served as chairman of the organisation since 2007.[6] He is a member of the executive committee of the Anglican Mission in England (AMiE), a missionary society set up by the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans.[8]
Episcopal ministry
On 5 May 2015, he was announced as the next Bishop of Maidstone, a provincial episcopal visitor for conservative evangelical members and parishes of the church.[3][9] On 23 September 2015, he was consecrated a bishop at Canterbury Cathedral by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.[10][11]
Views
Thomas has been described as a complementarian evangelical.[12]
In 2006, it was announced that Jeffrey John (Dean of St Albans) had entered into a civil partnership with his male partner. Thomas replied to this news: "It is something that will only serve to deepen the crisis that the Church of England faces over the whole issue of human sexuality."[13]
Personal life
Thomas is married to Lesley. They have three children.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "R C H Thomas". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 5 May 2015. (subscription required)
- 1 2 3 4 "Order of Service: Ordination and Consecration of the new Bishops of Maidstone, Kensington and Edmonton" (pdf). Canterbury Cathedral. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Suffragan Bishop of Maidstone: Roderick Charles Howell Thomas". Press release. Prime Minister's Office. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ↑ "Suffragan Bishop of Maidstone announced". Articles. Archbishop of Canterbury. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ↑ Handley MacMath, Terence (24 December 2008). "Interview: Rod Thomas chairman of Reform". Church Times. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Rod Thomas announced Bishop of Maidstone". Latest Diocesan News. Diocese of Exeter. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ↑ "Reform Chairman made Bishop of Maidstone". Media statement. Reform. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ↑ "Executive Committee". About. Anglican Mission in England. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ↑ "Suffragan See of Maidstone". News releases. Church of England. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ↑ "Two new bishops and new archdeacon for London announced". Diocese of London. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ↑ "Ordination and Consecration of the new Bishops of Maidstone, Kensington and Edmonton". Canterbury Cathedral. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ↑ Gatiss, Lee (5 May 2015). "Topical Tuesday: Bishop Rod Thomas". Church Society. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ↑ "Gay cleric's 'wedding' to partner". BBC News. 1 August 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
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