Revd Rachel Weir was elected the new Chair of WATCH at a General Meeting of members on 20th March. Two new Vice-Chairs were also elected at the meeting: Hilary Cotton and Revd Mark Bennett. Read the profiles of the new team below.
The Venerable Christine Allsopp paid tribute to the outgoing Chair Christina Rees and thanked her on behalf of all members for her long years of service to the organisation. Thanks were also given to Revd Charles Read who has served as Vice-Chair for many years and also stepped down at the meeting.
The new team is looking forward to the challenges of the next few months as WATCH prepares for the crucial debates in General Synod this July. But beyond July, WATCH will be broadening its focus. “We want to celebrate the gifts and perspectives that women bring to the church and affirm the renewal that their ministry brings to our corporate life” said incoming Chair Rachel Weir
Biographies
Revd Rachel Weir (Chair)
Rachel is a non stipendiary Assistant Curate serving in Oxford diocese. She read Economics and Law at Newnham College, Cambridge and then practised as a barrister before switching direction to study Theology.
Rachel trained at Cuddesdon for three years full time before being ordained in 1997. In the first part of her curacy, Rachel’s time was shared between parish and national inter faith work. The second part of her curacy has been split between parish life and the life of WATCH.
Rachel joined the national committee in 2008 and was elected Vice-Chair in 2009. She looks forward to leading WATCH through the next crucial period.
