'In the Spotlight' is a new regular column which will focus each month on a member of the Partnership Team so that you can get to know them a little bit better. This month's 'In the Spotlight' focuses on :
The Revd Martin Clacker
What is your position in Partnership?
I am Priest-in-Charge of St Michael’s, Winterbourne; St Peter’s, Frampton Cotterell and All Saints, Winterbourne Down. I am also Associate Vicar of St Saviour’s, Coalpit Heath.
Do you have family in the area?
My wife, Wendy, and I have the house to ourselves now, except for our two dogs and our cat! Our four children have flown the roost, though they do live nearby. Helen, Bethany and Sam all live in the Bristol area and Ben lives in Cheltenham.
What made you join the Clergy?
I had a dramatic conversion to the Christian faith when I was 17 years old. It was very soon after that I felt called to preach the gospel. I started training less than a year later when only 18 years old.
What does the Partnership mean to you?
The Partnership presents many exciting challenges for churches to learn new ways of working together. It causes us to examine our strengths and weaknesses and then find ways of helping and encouraging each other. I think that this is an important departure from a hierarchical form of church to more collaborative ways of clergy and lay people working together to do the work of Christ in our communities.
What is the best thing about being a Priest?
By far the best thing is working with people through important stages of their lives. A priest ministers the Word and Sacrament with prayer whether in the church service or in the home or in hospital. Seeing the grace of our Lord Jesus received in these various contexts is really wonderful.
What is the worst thing about being a Priest?
In a word, PAPER!! One can be buried under the stuff. Beaurocracy can stifle the life out of a priest.
What (if any) problems do you foresee for the partnership?
How can they be best avoided/overcome? The biggest problem we could face is the provision of eucharistic ministry in every parish every week. We are fortunate at the moment to have two non-stipendiary priests working in the partnership. If one should leave we would have difficulty sustaining our current pattern of Sunday services. One way forward is already underway. We have two people going through the selection process to become Ordained Local Ministers. However, if they are accepted it will be three years before they can function as priests. We need to pray the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. It is better to pray about this than pester the diocese.
What sort of holidays do you like and where?
Wendy and I like walking holidays, usually in the Lake District. We are not sun and sand people and we get quickly bored with inactivity. We love majestic scenery, and you get this usually from the top of mountains.
What is your favourite film?
I’m a real “Trekkie”, so I like all the Star Trek films. I have all ten on DVD. I also like “Love Actually”. Hugh Grant’s portrayal of an English Prime Minister who stands up to the American President is very refreshing.
How can you be contacted?
My e-mail address and mobile phone number are in the magazine. E-mail is best, I check them frequently through the day. Mobile phone is best for emergencies, even if I can’t answer it straight away I can pick up missed calls fairly quickly. I don’t spend much time sat in an office!!
