Offering pastoral support to ordained clergy and licensed lay ministers
The UKME Chapter offers pastoral support to ordained clergy and licensed lay ministers (LLMs) with a license to officiate within the Diocese of Oxford. We do this by making space for corporate prayer; seeking to hold ourselves and our ministries before God.
The Chapter is not a campaigning forum; however, it will seek to advocate for the UKME community in matters that concern us and/or the communities we represent, particularly on issues of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
We seek to:
- rectify a situation where UKME clergy and LLMs are largely unaware of each other’s presence in the Diocese of Oxford;
- advance UKME vocations within the Diocese of Oxford by, in addition to other initiatives; offering visible representation in public fora;
- become a nexus where the UKME and the global majority (GMH) heritages meet. We believe we have much to offer. We hope that our unique perspectives will be considered, and our voices heard within the Diocese of Oxford, whether related to policy, mission, theological reflection, or the life of the Church;
- spotlight UKME clergy and LLMs within the Diocese of Oxford, highlighting our contribution and value, in turn leading to a healthier and more diverse Church that better reflects the Body of Christ;
- Members of the UKME Chapter are actively encouraged to also attend their deanery chapters.
Alongside the work above, members of the UKME Chapter are willing to preach at churches across the diocese.
We believe we have much to offer, and we hope that our unique perspectives will be considered, and our voices heard within the Diocese of Oxford, whether related to policy, mission, theological reflection or the life of the Church.
The chapter meets every two months. Membership is open to UKME ordained clergy and licensed lay ministers holding a license to officiate within the Diocese of Oxford.
In April 2025, it was announced that the Dean of the Chapter would be the Revd Serena Tajima. As the chapter has grown in size and diversity, two Associate Deans have also been appointed to support the Dean. They are the Revd Ayo Audu and the Revd Mark Nam.
The Revd Serena Tajima
The Revd Polly Falconer