Archdeacon of Italy and Malta

The office of Archdeacon of Italy and Malta has been vacant since the Revd Canon Gordon Reid, now a canon emeritus of the Diocese, took up an appointment at St Clement's Philadephia in time for Christmas 2003. During the same period there have been a number of vacancies in chaplaincies in the archdeaconry. These and other pastoral issues have been administered from the Bishop's Office and the Diocesan Office as required. Only when all the currently vacant posts have been filled will it be possible to decide how to fill the vacant archdeaconry. The Bishop is grateful for the responses he received during the consultation process concerning the needs and resources of the archdeaconry in filling the vacancy.

As a temporary measure the Bishop has asked Bishop David Hamid, as suffragan bishop, to serve as Acting Archdeacon of Italy and Malta until a more long-term view can be taken. He will undertake all the responsibilities of archdeacon, delegating particular tasks as necessary. The Bishop asks the prayers of the Diocese - and especially of the clergy and church officers of the archdeaconry of Italy and Malta - as Bishop David takes on these additional tasks.

As soon as it is possible to do so the Bishop will proceed to appoint an archdeacon.

Note:
All of the archdeacons of the Diocese in Europe (seven in number at present of a permitted total of eight) are ex officio members of the Bishop's Staff Meeting, the Diocesan Synod, and the Bishop's Council, and are directors of the Diocesan Board of Finance; each is president of their Archdeaconry Synod. [See Canon C22 of the Canons of the Church of England and see Section C2 of the Diocesan Handbook] Bishop David is already a member of these bodies ex officio as suffragan bishop