Rod Thomas retires

Rod Thomas, the conservative evangelical Bishop of Maidstone, has begun his retirement after more than seven years in post.

His role as bishop was to provide episcopal care for congregations which do not accept the ordination of women to the office of presbyter. In 2016, he stated: ‘I continue to believe that God’s word is clear that sexual intimacy should be experienced only within heterosexual marriage and not otherwise’ – a position from which he did not deviate.

Bishop Thomas was ordained into the CofE as a deacon in 1993. A service of thanksgiving was held at Oak Hill College on 1 October. Bishop Thomas preached from Ephesians 1:15-23 and offered his own reflections on his time of ministry. His successor has not yet been named.