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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Thursday, 18 October 2018. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
Bishop Steven outside the Cathedral THE beginning of Bishop Steven's ministry as Bishop of Oxford has been marked in a series of services, starting with the formal inauguration at the Cathedral. Around 700 guests formed the congregation at the Cathedral with more than a thousand tuning into the service via Facebook Live. Among the congregation were representatives of the civic life of the three counties, as well as Bishop Steven's friends, family and colleagues from the Sheffield Diocese.
Bishop Pushpa presented the Oxford bishops with shawls Senior clergy from each of the three overseas dioceses linked to the Diocese of Oxford took part in the service.
The Rt Revd Pushpalalitha Eggoni, the Bishop of Nandyal in India, the Rt Revd Fredrik Modeus, the Bishop of Vaxjo in Sweden and the Very Revd Reginald Leeuw, the Dean of Kimberley in the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman in South Africa, gave their blessing to Bishop Steven. The service combines the traditional with the modern, and includes music led by the Cathedral choir and also the Worship Band from St Andrew's, Linton Road.
The new Bishop of Oxford blesses the City of Oxford (photos: ) During the service Bishop Steven took a formal oath to the Archbishop of Canterbury, represented on the day by the Acting Archdeacon of Canterbury. It ended with Bishop Steven pronouncing a blessing over the city of Oxford and the Diocese as a whole.
Services of welcome follow in each of the four Episcopal Areas.
Leaflets handed out at Bishop's inauguration
Some of those who attended Bishop Steven's inauguration at the Cathedral were greeted by two men handing out leaflets at the entrance to Christ Church with the aim of raising awareness of sexual abuse within the Church of England.
The leaflet - which has also been posted to some clergy in the diocese - refers to a safeguarding issue.
The complainant suggests that senior clergy mishandled a case in Sheffield. Bishop Steven said: "I am not able to comment on the details, as some aspects of the cases are still subject to police investigation and church disciplinary procedure. The situation is complex.
"However, child sexual abuse and exploitation are serious crimes and I recognise the profound and long-lasting impact such abuse has on survivors. There are always lessons to be learned about how we respond to survivors and I am committed to working with the National Safeguarding Team and House of Bishops to strengthen policy and practice."
As he arrived at Tom Tower, Bishop Steven stepped out of the procession to shake hands with one of the pair, 'Joe'. He praised Joe for his courage and said he would pray for all survivors of abuse. Before the service, the Dean of Christ Church, the Very Revd Professor Martyn Percy, said that he had been in close conversation with the protesters and would continue to engage with them "with seriousness, empathy and compassion". Afterwards, 'Joe' wrote to thank those from the Cathedral and the Diocese who made the men welcome.
"I hope we matched your courtesy with our own," he said.