Church of England appoints Representative to the EU Institutions

The Revd Dr Gary Wilton has been appointed to the newly created post of Church of England’s Representative to the EU Institutions. He will take up his post in Brussels in mid April 2008.

Since 2005 Gary has been a member of the Theology Department at York St John University where he is currently Head of the Postgraduate Programme in Theology and Religious Studies. He has a long-standing interest in the relationship between the Church and contemporary society and teaches Christian Ethics and Christian Mission and Ministry. Ordained deacon in 1988 and priest in 1989 in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, he was Director of Studies and then Associate Principal at the Church Army’s Wilson Carlile College from 1998-2005.

As the Church of England’s Representative to the EU, Gary Wilton will be responsible to the Europe Bishops’ Panel for promoting the Church of England’s engagement on European social, political and environment issues. Gary will be an Associate Staff Member of the Conference of European Churches’ Church and Society Commission and a Canon to the Pro-Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity Brussels.

Commenting on his appointment, Gary Wilton said: “The creation of this new post marks a significant development in the Church of England’s relationship with the European Union The Church has important things to contribute to the life of the European Union - important things to say about how we should develop community, how we should relate to the wider world and how we should care for the planet. I am very excited about representing the Church of England to the EU Institutions and working alongside colleagues at the Conference of European Churches.

“The move from Yorkshire to Belgium will be an ‘adventure of faith’ for my family, and the move from academia to the rough and tumble of European policy development will be immensely challenging. We are greatly looking forward to joining and contributing to the life of Holy Trinity. The welcome we have received already has been very warm indeed.”

The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, who chairs the House of Bishops Europe Panel welcomed the appointment, saying: “It is really good to have been able to appoint Gary Wilton to this new post. The Church of England must continue to increase its role in Europe in partnership with other churches so that together we can play our part in helping to shape the Europe of the future.”