Jonathan Robert Gibbs (born 6 May 1961), is an Anglican prelate.
Jonathan Gibbs | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rochester | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Diocese | Diocese of Rochester |
| In office | 2022–present |
| Predecessor | James Langstaff |
| Successor | in office |
| Other post(s) | Area Bishop of Huddersfield (2014–2022) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1989 (deacon) 1990 (priest) |
| Consecration | 17 October 2014 by Archbishop John Sentamu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jonathan Robert Gibbs 6 May 1961 |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Parents | Phillip Gibbs |
| Spouse | Toni née Millsted |
| Children | 2 sons; 1 dau. |
| Education | The King's School, Chester |
| Alma mater | Jesus College, Oxford Ridley Hall, Cambridge Jesus College, Cambridge |
Bishop of Rochester since 2022, he serves as the diocesan bishop for the see of Rochester in Kent. Bishop Gibbs was previously the first Bishop of Huddersfield from 2014 to 2022.[1]
Early life and education
editBorn in 1961,[2][3] Gibbs was educated at King's School Chester, a private school in Cheshire. He then read Philosophy and Politics at Jesus College, Oxford, graduating as Bachelor of Arts (BA) before proceeding, as is customary, MA (Oxon).[4]
In 1984, Gibbs entered Ridley Hall, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college, to train for ordained ministry.[3][4] He also pursued postgraduate research at Jesus College, Cambridge, taking a doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in 1990.[3] His doctoral thesis was titled "The challenge of transformation: towards a theology of work in the light of the thought of the Revd Dr Richard Niebuhr".[5]
Ordained ministry
editGibbs was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1989 then as a priest in 1990.[4] He served his curacy at Holy Trinity and Christ Church, Stalybridge in the diocese of Chester.[3] He was the Intercontinental Church Society Chaplain at Basel (Switzerland) and Freiburg-im-Breisgau (Germany) from 1992 until 1998. He was then the incumbent at Heswall on the Wirral from 1998 until his elevation to the episcopate in 2014.[3]
Episcopal ministry
editIn August 2014, it was announced that Gibbs would be the first Bishop of Huddersfield, an area bishop in the newly created diocese of Leeds.[1] On 17 October 2014, he was consecrated a bishop by Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, during a service at York Minster.[6]
On 31 March 2022, it was announced that Gibbs would succeed James Langstaff as diocesan bishop for the see of Rochester.[7] He took up the See on 24 May 2022 (at St Mary-le-Bow) upon the confirmation of his election[8] and was afterwards installed as Bishop of Rochester during a service at Rochester Cathedral on 24 September 2022.[9]
Views
editIn 2023, following the news that the House of Bishops of the Church of England was to introduce proposals for blessing same-sex relationships, he signed an open letter, stating:[10]
many Christians in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, together with Christians from across the churches of world Christianity, continue to believe that marriage is given by God for the union of a man and woman and that it cannot be extended to those who are of the same sex. [...] Without seeking to diminish the value of many committed same-sex relationships, for which there is much to give thanks, we find ourselves constrained by what we sincerely believe the Scriptures teach which cannot be set aside.[10]
Bishop Gibbs voted against introducing "standalone services for same-sex couples" on a trial basis during a meeting of the General Synod in November 2023; the motion passed.[11][12]
Personal life
editGibbs married Toni Millsted in 1986.[6] Together, they have three children: Harriet, Edward and Thomas.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Huddersfield's first ever bishop named as Jonathan Gibbs". BBC News. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Gibbs, Jonathan Robert". Who's Who. Vol. 2016 (November 2015 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 24 July 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ a b c d e "Jonathan Robert Gibbs". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ a b c "Suffragan Bishop of Huddersfield: Jonathan Robert Gibbs". News. Government of the United Kingdom. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
- ^ Gibbs, Jonathan Robert (1989). "The challenge of transformation: towards a theology of work in the light of the thought of H. Richard Niebuhr". E-Thesis Online Service. The British Library. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ^ a b "Celebration as the new bishops for Huddersfield and Bradford are consecrated". Diocese of Leeds. Church of England. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ^ "Appointment of Bishop of Rochester: 31 March 2022". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "(Section: Forthcoming Events)". St Mary-le-Bow. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ "New Bishop of Rochester announced". Diocese of Rochester. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ a b "LLF: a paper on the Doctrine of Marriage". Thinking Anglicans. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "GENERAL SYNOD NOVEMBER 2023 GROUP OF SESSIONS BUSINESS DONE AT 5 P.M." (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
7. The motion (as amended) 'That this Synod, conscious that the Church is not of one mind on the issues raised by Living in Love and Faith, that we are in a period of uncertainty, and that many in the Church on all sides are being deeply hurt at this time, recognise the progress made by the House of Bishops towards implementing the motion on Living in Love and Faith passed by this Synod in February 2023, as reported in GS 2328, encourage the House to continue its work of implementation, and ask the House to consider whether some standalone services for same-sex couples could be made available for use, possibly on a trial basis, on the timescale envisaged by the motion passed by the Synod in February 2023.' was carried following a counted vote by Houses.
- ^ "General Synod 15th November 2023 – Item 007" (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "The consecration of Bishop Dr Jonathan Gibbs". Diocese of Chester. Church of England. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
