BACC People Profiles
Beth Roberts - BACC President
I have been a keen member of Cursillo since attending my own weekend in October 1999 and depend on the ongoing support, direction and discipline of Group Reunion to provide the prompt for review and therefore development of my own Christian life. I am an advocate of the Cursillo method having seen the effect on other individuals too and have enjoyed supporting the movement in various ways over the years.
I have staffed in both Chester (numerous times) and Bradford dioceses (twice). I have been Lay Rector of a Chester weekend on two occasions and feel privileged to share with others as they develop in confidence and faith through their Cursillo experience and beyond.
As BACC area representative for a (then) newly defined area of Wales and the Marches I began the process of regenerating Cursillo in the Lichfield diocese by renewing contact with their known cursillistas and I look forward to the support and development offered by the wider Cursillo family to that diocese as well as to those dioceses undergoing their own challenges.
I enjoyed working as part of the team responsible for reviewing and rewriting the Resource Manual in 2017/18. I am curious to know how each diocese organise themselves as well as their concerns and priorities and feel that BACC can continue to develop its assistance in sharing the best practice on many different levels and am encouraged that cross diocese working and the sharing of resources is now evolving.
After a professional career as a rating surveyor with the Civil Service I chose to take early retirement in 2014 and enjoy the indulgence of many pastimes and hobbies. This has been an opportunity to get to know many others outside the church family whilst I maintain time for my church family responsibilities as Vice Chairman of PCC and a Home Group Leader. I appreciate contemplative prayer with the occasional quiet day and retreat including, on occasion, a specialist retreat simultaneously indulging in spiritual growth and making bobbin lace.
I recognise that everyone has different expectations of the role of President and circumstances are such that we all have many unexpected challenges ahead but I trust that I will, at least, be available to listen to all and I would like to get to know you more in order to help BACC serve and encourage you in your part of the body of Christ. I look forward to meeting as many as possible during my term as President.
I am encouraged in this task by the saying “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called”. This gives me the confidence and, as we do with everything in Cursillo, I rely on your prayer and I shall trust in God for guidance in whatever response is required of me in this venture.
Ultreya!
Revd Stephen Bowring - National Spiritual Director
My name is Stephen Bowring, and I "made my Cursillo" in 1993 on the very first Leicester weekend. That was very soon after my ordination, and Cursillo has been at the centre of my ministry ever since. My background is in music, and I was a Secondary School teacher for 14 years before ordination.
People often ask me "how long was your training for ministry?" and my standard answer is "about 20 years!" - and one of the great strengths of Cursillo is that it is all about supporting us on a continuous journey. Of course there are significant catalytic times of change, and the Cursillo weekend can be one, but the joy of the Cursillo method is that we can find food for all the journey.
The "Fourth Day" Cursillo community has been an anchor for my wife and me through many re-locations and new adventures thus far. Now, in these three years of my role as National Spiritual Director, I have the opportunity and privilege of encouraging others and helping to steer the movement and promote what it has to offer - which I believe has never been more appropriate or exciting than in these current times.
Ultreya!