The new Diocesan Secretary who will take the reins from Debbie Child is a senior civil servant with Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service.
A committed Christian, Jonathan Wood will start work on Monday, March 16, 2020, having joined the Civil Service in 2005 after reading law at Durham University.
He has worked across a number of roles in the justice system and for the last three years he was responsible for the provision of a wide range of courts and tribunals, as well as leading a programme to establish new service centres and implement new ways of working.
Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines said:
“We all owe Debbie Child a massive debt of gratitude.
“She will retire on 31 March 2020, having led the administration of the Diocese of Bradford through radical change and then been pivotal in creating the Diocese of Leeds from 2014. Her contribution to this task - unprecedented and extremely challenging - is hard to describe and could not be overstated.
“Her leadership, determination and skill have led us through some very challenging times, and Debbie has not once ducked a hard decision.
“We will be celebrating Debbie’s long and faithful service at a service around the time of her retirement next March. Please come and join in thanking Debbie.”
Introducing Jonathan, Bishop Nick said:
“I am pleased to announce that the next Diocesan Secretary will be Mr Jonathan Wood. Following a rigorous process, Jonathan will join us from his role as a senior civil servant (National Services Director for Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service) on 16 March 2020.”
Jonathan said: “I am really excited to be joining the Diocese of Leeds and serving as its Diocesan Secretary/Chief Executive.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to use the skills I have gained from my career in the Civil Service as I work alongside Bishop Nick and the team in Leeds to see God’s kingdom grow across the Diocese.”
Jonathan is married to Claire and they have two children, Lucy and Joshua.
They are committed to their local parish church, their local community, and to engaging the next generation.
Welcoming Jonathan to his new role, Debbie Child said: "I’d like to offer my congratulations to Jonathan on his appointment as Diocesan Secretary.
“Jonathan will be part of a great team of people and will be joining this young diocese at a really exciting time, with lots of opportunities ahead. I wish him well.”