Chaplain steps up to Bishop | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua
Chaplain steps up to Bishop
Newly ordained Bishop Ray Bloomfield and his wife Pat at the Rotorua Hospital Chapel. Picture: Andrew Warner (230406aw19)
By KRISTIN MacFARLANE IN ROTORUA
Having the support of his wife and family is the icing on the cake for Rotorua's newly ordained Bishop Bloomfield.
Rotorua Hospital Chaplain Ray Bloomfield was ordained as a bishop of the Church of God at a service in the Rotorua Hospital chapel on Saturday, by church leaders Rev Jack Morris, Dr Manning Thornton from America and Rev Thomas J Sands who is based in Sydney.
About 60 people attended, including friends, hospital staff and ministers from other churches, but it was Bishop Bloomfield's family who made the day even more special.
"Well, the day itself was very significant, the icing on the cake was having the family here," Bishop Bloomfield said.
His wife Pat and four of the couple's five children were all at the service supporting the new bishop. Their fifth child, James, lives in Australia and was unable to make it to the ceremony.
"I could do none of this without my wife Pat's support," Bishop Bloomfield said.
He admits his wife was his "backbone", something Mrs Bloomfield says she will be "forever".
"I'm very proud of Ray, he's achieved a lot and he's grown a lot. I'm with him 100 per cent in what he's doing," Mrs Bloomfield said.
The Church of God has eight million members from about 34,000 churches in 165 countries and Bishop Bloomfield is excited to be honoured with the highest rank within the church.
With his new role, he is hoping to strengthen the Church of God in New Zealand by "planting" new congregations and having a New Zealand Qualifications Authority training programme approved by the end of this year for future Church of God leaders, who he will continue to mentor.
"You're actually working towards helping people succeed in their ministry.
"That's a very positive thing. What I want to do is lead leaders and train leaders," Bishop Bloomfield said.
Meanwhile, even though he is now a bishop, that will not affect his role working across denominations as the Rotorua Hospital chaplain.
"My primary ministry role is here in the hospital and that won't change."
Having the support of his wife and family is the icing on the cake for Rotorua's newly ordained Bishop Bloomfield.
Rotorua Hospital Chaplain Ray Bloomfield was ordained as a bishop of the Church of God at a service in the Rotorua Hospital chapel on Saturday, by church leaders Rev Jack Morris, Dr Manning Thornton from America and Rev Thomas J Sands who is based in Sydney.
About 60 people attended, including friends, hospital staff and ministers from other churches, but it was Bishop Bloomfield's family who made the day even more special.
"Well, the day itself was very significant, the icing on the cake was having the family here," Bishop Bloomfield said.
His wife Pat and four of the couple's five children were all at the service supporting the new bishop. Their fifth child, James, lives in Australia and was unable to make it to the ceremony.
"I could do none of this without my wife Pat's support," Bishop Bloomfield said.
He admits his wife was his "backbone", something Mrs Bloomfield says she will be "forever".
"I'm very proud of Ray, he's achieved a lot and he's grown a lot. I'm with him 100 per cent in what he's doing," Mrs Bloomfield said.
The Church of God has eight million members from about 34,000 churches in 165 countries and Bishop Bloomfield is excited to be honoured with the highest rank within the church.
With his new role, he is hoping to strengthen the Church of God in New Zealand by "planting" new congregations and having a New Zealand Qualifications Authority training programme approved by the end of this year for future Church of God leaders, who he will continue to mentor.
"You're actually working towards helping people succeed in their ministry.
"That's a very positive thing. What I want to do is lead leaders and train leaders," Bishop Bloomfield said.
Meanwhile, even though he is now a bishop, that will not affect his role working across denominations as the Rotorua Hospital chaplain.
"My primary ministry role is here in the hospital and that won't change."
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