Tim Stevens
Timothy John " Tim " Stevens (born 31 December 1946 in Dagenham, Essex ) is a British Anglican priest and Bishop of Leicester since 1999.
Life and career
Stevens was born the son of Ralph Stevens and Ursula Plowman in an English country church. He attended the Chigwell School in Chigwell, Greater London. After completing his schooling, he spent as part of the Voluntary Service Overseas for a year as a development worker in Zambia.
Stevens studied at Selwyn College at the University of Cambridge. There he made in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts in 1972 and a Master of Arts in the subjects of Classical Philology and English. He also studied at Ripon College Cuddesdon Hall, where he earned a degree in theology.
From 1968 to 1973 he worked for five years as a management trainee with British Overseas Airways Corporation. This was followed from 1972 to 1973 for two years as Second Secretary ( Second Secretary ) in the Department of South Asia at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
From 1975 he attended in preparation for the priesthood, the Ripon Hall College. He was ordained a deacon in 1976 and priest in 1977. From 1976 to 1980 he was as an assistant curate at St Alban Church in East Ham, in the district of Upton Park in London. From 1980 to 1988 he was Dean (Team Rector ) of Canvey Iceland. From 1987 to 1991 he was responsible for urban districts and questions (Urban Officer ) in the Bishop of Chelmsford office.
From 1991 to 1995 he was Archdeacon of West Ham. In 1995 he became Suffragan Bishop of Dunwich. He remained in this office until 1999 he was Bishop of Leicester in June.
Stevens is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Westcott House Theological College in Cambridge. He is also a member of the board of Montfort University. He is Chairman of the Foundation Board of The Children's Society.
During his time in Chelmsford Stevens was involved in the development of urban, funded by the local churches, aid projects. His responsibilities included the renovation and modernization of the church building to prepare it for the modern needs of church mission. As a suffragan bishop, he worked closely with the local authorities and with volunteer organizations and prepared decisions of the Regional Government ago.
He is married to Wendi Kathleen Price since 1973. They have a daughter and a son.
Membership in the House of Lords
Since 2003, Stevens heard as a clergyman Lord of the House of Lords. His inaugural address was delivered on 9 February 2004.
In November 2009, he was Chairman ( Convenor ) of the Spiritual Lords.
His areas of interest among political Stevens children and family, Hinduism and Interreligious Affairs, pastoral care and counseling, as well as urban development.
Work in the public
Stevens shows special interest in interfaith relations. The city of Leicester has the largest Hindu minority in the United Kingdom and also larger Muslim, Sikh and other faith communities. Both at the level of the diocese as well as at the national level led Stevens regularly talks with representatives of other religions, especially in the field of urban renewal.
In June 2003, Stevens was one of the bishops of the Church of England, which explicitly supported the nomination of Jeffrey John, an openly gay priest who lived in a committed relationship, as Auxiliary Bishop of Reading by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and solidarity expressed with the decision of Williams.
In July 2006, Stevens was one of a group of bishops who warned Tony Blair before the possession of nuclear weapons. This would be malicious and deeply against God.
Stevens was on 7 October 2008 the signatories of a declaration that calls for the protection of children against mental and physical violence.
Stevens had before the European elections in 2009 criticized posters of the British National Party with the slogan: What would Jesus do? Vote BNP! promoted and made reference to Jesus Christ. Stevens explained that the gospel would be open to all people regardless of their social background, their skin color or religion. The BNP, however, represent in its election manifesto views which are contrary to the teaching of the Church. For this reason, it was unacceptable to him that the British National Party auftrete in the election campaign as a Christian party.
Stevens expressed the opinion that a member of the BNP would not be serving in the management of the Church in his eyes.
In November 2009, he responded to statements by Roger Helmer, who had been critical of the support of climate protection by the bishops of the Anglican Church. Stevens said that Helmer had not done this position before the public. Helmer had the Church of England accused should, return to their proper order, the proclamation of the gospel and do not preach a new religion of environmental protection instead. Stevens threw Helmer ago in return, he would have had the opportunity to make his criticism of the Church in the climate debate in the Cathedral of Leicester public.
On 11 November 2009 he held within the framework of the celebrations for Remembrance Day, which were attended by over 3000 people, a memorial service at the Cathedral of Leicester.