Bishop Kenneth has appointed a new diocesan secretary to run the diocese’s finances and administration.

Wendy Kennedy will become diocesan secretary – effectively the chief executive of our diocese – from Easter next year. She will replace Michael Jordan, who is stepping down after 14 years in the job.

Among the responsibilities of the job are managing an annual budget of £5m, organising the diocese’s system of democratic decision-making, and managing a 28-strong central staff team who pay clergy, advise parishes, maintain parsonages, support church schools and promote social justice and Christian discipleship. The diocese covers 142 Anglican parishes in Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham, Gosport, Petersfield, Bishop’s Waltham and the Isle of Wight.

The bishop said: “I am delighted to announce that Wendy Kennedy will succeed Michael Jordan as diocesan secretary.

“Wendy currently works for Jobcentre Plus where she has responsibility for social security benefit delivery to customers in Portsmouth, Oxford and Buckinghamshire and for secure allocation of national insurance numbers in five of the 11 government areas. She manages a staff of 500 and a budget of £10m.

“Wendy brings to her new post a proven track record in leadership, management and communications. She also has qualifications in theology, which she acquired as part of her training for ordination in July 2003, since when she has served as a non-stipendiary minister in Leigh Park and Warren Park. Consequently, Wendy is well known to many within Portsmouth diocese and has a clear understanding of the nature of our organisation and a firm commitment to and sympathy for its aims and objectives.

“Wendy overcame a strong field of candidates for the position of diocesan secretary and I believe she is an outstanding addition to our dedicated staff team.”

Mrs Kennedy said: “I am delighted have been appointed diocesan secretary. I look forward with great anticipation and excitement to working with the bishop and his colleagues, and to the challenges and opportunities of this important post.”

Fifty candidates applied for the post, and the bishop was able to be involved in the short-listing process before he went through a bone marrow transplant procedure last week to combat leukaemia. He was then able to speak to all six short-listed candidates before their interviews.