The Venerable Julian Hubbard, Archdeacon of Oxford and Canon of Christ Church, Oxford since 2005, is to be the Archbishops' Council's new Director of Ministry. He succeeds the Ven Christopher Lowson, who will become Bishop of Lincoln in September 2011.

Julian Hubbard's responsibilities will include acting as the principal adviser to the Archbishops' Council, the House of Bishops and the Ministry Council on all ordained and licensed lay ministry issues. He will also help shape ministry for the needs of the Church in the 21st century, including by promoting more vocations - particularly of younger people to full-time ordained ministry - and by seeking to ensure that a mission focus is at the heart of the Church's approach to ministry.

Julian Hubbard studied Classics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and went on to Wycliffe Hall, Oxford for ordination training, where he took the University degree in Theology.

Following a curacy at St Dionis Church, Fulham, from 1981 to 1984, Julian Hubbard was a tutor at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and chaplain at Jesus College in the University, from 1984 to 1989.  This was followed by four years at Church House, Westminster within the Advisory Council for the Church's Ministry/Advisory Board of Ministry (the predecessors to Ministry Division), including two as Senior Selection Secretary, responsible for the national selection system for clergy. He became vicar of St Thomas on The Bourne, Farnham in Surrey, from 1993 to 1999.  He then served as Director of Ministerial Training for the Diocese of Guildford to 2005 where he was also a residentiary canon of the Cathedral, before moving to Oxford diocese.

He said:  "I look forward to the challenges and opportunities which come with my new role and to working together with colleagues across the Church of England. I hope to play a part in giving a sense of confidence and purpose during a time of change to all involved in ministry in the church."

The Rt Revd Graham James, Bishop of Norwich and Chair of the Ministry Council, said: "Julian Hubbard combines a fine theological mind and a pastor's heart. His wide experience in the ordained ministry and his strategic wisdom means we are fortunate to have secured him as the next Director of the Ministry Division."

Julian Hubbard will take up the position in the autumn.

Note 

The principal responsibilities of the Director of Ministry are to:

• act as the principal adviser to the Archbishops' Council, the House of Bishops and the Ministry Council on all ordained and licensed lay ministry issues;
• help shape ministry for the needs of the Church in the twenty first century, including by promoting more vocations- particularly of younger people to full time ordained ministry- and by seeking to ensure that a mission focus is at the heart of the Church's approach to ministry;
• lead the Ministry Division's contribution to the Archbishops' Council work on 'Re-Imagining Ministry' as part of the Council's objectives for the next quinquennium;
• deliver an effective range of services in relation to bishops' selection conferences, the support of those being trained and the deployment of ordinands;
• encourage excellence in theological education through the Quality Assurance processes applied to theological institutions;
• ensure that the funding arrangements for ordination training meet the needs of the Church in  changing circumstances;
• work with the Human Resources Division to continue the implementation of and monitoring of Common Tenure;
• nurture more effective ministry among deaf and disabled people;
• act as a champion for Reader and other accredited lay ministry;
• lead a well motivated and high performing team.