The Revd Canon Dr Ian McIntosh has announced that he will be stepping down from his role as Director of Mission and Ministry on 3rd October 2025.
Ian joined the diocese in the summer of 2021, having previously served as Head of Formation for the National Ministry Team. Ordained in 1990 alongside his wife, Nicola, Ian has held positions in the Dioceses of London, Leicester, St Alban’s, Ely, St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, and York.
In the Diocese of York, Ian has drawn together the work of the Lifelong Learning Team, the Vocations Team, and the Multiply and Mustard Seed Teams. He has developed new work with Growing Healthy Churches, Discipleship, Start of Lay and Ordained Ministries and more recently with Racial Justice. He has also built a wider Mission and Ministry network to include the work of Wydale, Social Justice and our work with Children and Young People. In the last year, he has also been acting Director of Ordinands.
Ian said, “After a season of growing a Mission and Ministry team who work well both together and with our bishops, we are about to enter a new season which will need different impetus and leadership. I have noticed within myself a level of weariness that suggests that this is a good moment to step back and to allow others to take this work on. I am also at that stage of life where I would like to step into paid work that is part-time in order to have space for family and for hobbies. I am definitely not retiring and will be actively looking for work which might be a bit more hands-on in terms of the nurturing and formation of individuals and communities.
“Whilst I have nothing formally to move onto yet, I would value your prayers for all that is to come. I am very grateful to many people across our diocese with whom it has been a privilege to share this work over the last 4 years.”
Peter Warry, Diocesan Secretary, said, “Ian’s quiet and unassuming approach to his work has had a huge impact not just on the Mission & Ministry Team but on all that we have been doing as part of Living Christ’s Story. His commitment to supporting all those in lay and ordained ministries has been unwavering, as has his advocacy for Mustard Seed, Multiply and Revitalise. We will miss the richness of his input to the leadership team of the diocese as well as his deep pastoral concern for all those with whom he has worked – although sad to see him go, we wish him well and will always be grateful for his time amongst us.”
Ian will be preaching at the Celebration of Lay Ministries Service at York Minster on Saturday 27th September which will be his final diocesan event – all are welcome.
