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Pioneer English woman priest appointed Bishop in Wales

Posted on: April 27, 2017 4:28 PM
Photo Credit: ChurchinWales
Related Categories: iawn, Llandaff, Wales, women bishops

The Dean of Salisbury, June Osborne, has been announced as the new Bishop of Llandaff, a diocese which serves most of Cardiff, the South Wales Valleys and the Vale of Glamorgan. A ground-breaking figure in the Church of England, Dean June was the first female Dean to be appointed to a medieval cathedral, a role she has filled for the last thirteen years.

Welcoming her appointment, the Church’s senior bishop, the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Davies, said, “In June Osborne, both the Church in Wales and the Diocese of Llandaff will find themselves to be richly blessed. June’s track record admirably demonstrates her passion for Christian ministry modelled on the Gospel imperatives of love, justice, inclusivity and openness. All of these are qualities which I and my fellow bishops warmly support and welcome. She is known as a leader with clear vision, a pastoral heart and a strategic mind.”

Dean June, said, “Leading a diocese that is so diverse, in an area that is both historic and beautiful, will be challenging but I have an enormous appetite for the task and am deeply honoured to have the opportunity to join a diocesan team which is strong and imaginative. These are turbulent times across the world and the need for faith, and for the confident, distinctive leadership of the Church has never been more important.

Ordained as a priest in England in 1994, Dean June’s ministry has been characterised by her passion for equality and diversity and she was a founder of the Church’s Leading Women programme. She is also deeply concerned about global poverty and has worked with the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan on health, theological education and advocacy. She continues to play a key role in the Anglican Communion’s commitment to implementing the Millennium Development Goals, and is a member of the Government’s Advisory Panel for the Commemoration of WW1.

Bishops of the Church in Wales became responsible for the Bishop of Llandaff appointment when no candidate nominated at the Electoral College in February secured enough votes for election.