Following a competitive selection process, the trustees of Modern Church are pleased to announce the appointment of the Very Revd Dr Jonathan Draper as General Secretary of Modern Church.
A former Canon of York Minster, Jonathan Draper will take up his new post with Modern Church in September following his retirement as Dean of Exeter.
This is a new opportunity for Modern Church as this will be a paid part-time post for the first time in Modern Church’s 119 year history.
Modern Church encourages open, respectful debate and discussion of matters relating to Christian faith. Originally a Church of England society, it now welcomes all who share its ethos. Trustees were looking for someone with vision to help Modern Church support an open and undogmatic approach to Christianity which can face the challenges of faith for a changing world.
Chair of Modern Church, Revd Dr Jan van der Lely, said:
‘We are very grateful for the committed work of the Revd Dr Lorraine Cavanagh, as acting General Secretary since October 2016 after our former General Secretary, the Venerable Guy Elsmore, was appointed Archdeacon of Buckingham in May 2016. “We now want to build on the excellent work of Guy and Lorraine through this new venture in order to develop and broaden the reach of Modern Church. We are very much looking forward to working with Jonathan Draper who will bring many gifts to this role.’
Very Revd Dr Jonathan Draper said:
‘I am completely delighted to have been appointed General Secretary of Modern Church as it approaches its 120th anniversary. Working together with the members, Trustees and Council I want to work to help Modern Church widen its reach and deepen its impact. As we try to navigate turbulent waters in both church and society, there is more need than ever for Modern Church’s open, enquiring, non-dogmatic approaches to faith to provide the tools for critical thinking to engage new audiences and contribute to debate. It will an enormous privilege to be a part of that work.’
Jonathan will attend the Modern Church annual conference and AGM at High Leigh Conference Centre, Hertfordshire on 10th-12th July 2017 to meet Modern Church members and other delegates.