Women's ministry

"We're one of the youngest and most diverse dioceses in the Church of England. Our clergy are hugely talented and they come from all over the world. We have some outstanding female clergy."

Bishop Robert, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe

Our vision for women’s ministry in the Diocese in Europe is to increase the number of ordained women in positions of ministry at every level through:

Supporting and advocating
Encouraging younger women to explore vocations and seek training within the diocese
Encouraging senior women priests to apply for roles in this diocese
Increasing opportunities for clergy formation, spiritual development and well-being
Building a network of support between female colleagues

Rev Debbie Flach, our Dean of Women's Ministry, reflects:

"Living and working in our diverse communities and countries in this diocese is like no other. Where else could I be on a call with a female colleague in Oslo and then with another in Athens?

Of course there are challenges , but I believe that those are far outweighed by the opportunities offered to minister and serve here."

We encourage women priests to prayerfully consider a vocation in the Diocese in Europe. If you are already ordained, please watch the videos below and check in on our Vacancy page. If you are interested in ministry or in going through a period of discernment, then there is some helpful information on our Vocations page.

Below are some interviews with female clergy giving personal insights into their own experiences of ministering in the Diocese in Europe. They also offer some invaluable advice about your discernment process and where to start in actively seeking a post.

What makes us unique?

Some of our female chaplains discuss why they feel that the Diocese in Europe is a unique and special place to work and minister.

Who are our chaplains?

Meet some of our female chaplains.

Keeping it real

Here some of our female chaplain's give some honest opinions on some important aspects whilst going through a journey of considering vocation in the Diocese in Europe.

Where to start: next steps

Some of our female clergy talk about some of the things to consider when discerning if God is calling you to minister in the Diocese in Europe.

If you would like to discuss a possible vocation in the Diocese in Europe, please contact Rev Debbie Flach, our Dean of Women's Ministry. You can also begin to look for vacancies here: Vacancies.

As Rev Carla Torres Lopes Vicencio Prior, Assistant Chaplain at St Vincent's, Algarve, reflects;

" the most important thing to me is that we bring the fact that we are women to ministry. We shouldn't try to be like the men or do things in the way they've always been done, because that's not why we're there. We are wonderfully, mysteriously different in a really positive way, and we can work so well with our male colleagues. But it is important to bring that which is so specially us. So, if you're thinking about it, there'll be many of us over here who would welcome you."