The Revd David Salsbury has been nominated to serve as Moderator of the United Reformed Church (URC) National Synod of Wales, after the Revd Simon Walkling moved to become minister of the Swansea pastorate in September.
David was ordained in 2000 after training for ministry at Westminster College in Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Theology for Ministry degree from the University of Cambridge.
Since 2018 he has served as Stepwise and Digital Learning Programme Manager for the URC and is a member of the Education and Learning team in Church House.
David began his ministry serving two churches in Swansea before moving to North Wales in 2005 to become Minister of Dyserth and Holywell URCs and Training and Development Officer (North) in the National Synod of Wales.
While in North Wales he also served as Convenor of the Regional Pastoral Committee and, for five years, as a governor of Northern College in Manchester.
Speaking of his nomination David said that he is both “excited and humbled” to have been called to return to pastoral ministry serving as Moderator of the National Synod of Wales.
“It will be a huge privilege to work alongside the Synod Support Team, churches, ministers, lay people and ecumenical partners as together we discern God’s future for the URC in Wales, serving our communities and continuing to learn what it means to live as disciples of Jesus,” he said.
David’s wider contributions to the URC have included serving as Secretary of the URC’s Equalities Committee since 2017 and is a member of one of the task groups developing training as part of the URC’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist church. Since 2020 he has also been the Co-ordinator of the URC’s Church Leadership Programme.
In his spare time David enjoys walking, swimming and occasional “fair weather” cycling. He is a keen supporter of Liverpool Football Club and, having lived in Wales for 23 years, is an adopted supporter of the Welsh Rugby team.
Megan Price, National Synod of Wales Synod Clerk, said: “We have benefitted from David’s thoughtful ministry in Wales for many years. We are thrilled that he has accepted the call to serve as the new Moderator of the National Synod of Wales and we look forward to welcoming him into the team and taking the next step together.”
The Revd Philip Brooks, Deputy General Secretary (Mission), said: “I am delighted to congratulate David on his nomination as Moderator for the National Synod of Wales.
“David will bring a breadth of experience to this role, moving on from his positions at Church House.
“David has served his ministry in Wales, both in local pastorates, chaplaincy and training roles, all of which will inform him as Moderator. Having served with the Equalities Committee, David also brings a passion for equality, diversity and inclusion.”
The Officers of the URC General Assembly will be invited to confirm David’s appointment when they meet in early November.
****
Mae’r Parch David Salsbury wedi’i enwebu i wasanaethu fel Llywydd Synod Cenedlaethol Cymru yr Eglwys Ddiwygiedig Unedig (EDdU), ar ôl i’r Parch Simon Walkling symud i fod yn weinidog ar ofalaeth Abertawe ym mis Medi.
Cafodd David ei ordeinio yn 2000 ar ôl hyfforddi ar gyfer y weinidogaeth yng Ngholeg Westminster yng Nghaergrawnt, gan raddio gyda gradd Baglor Diwinyddiaeth ar gyfer Gweinidogaeth o Brifysgol Caergrawnt.
Ers 2018 mae wedi gwasanaethu fel Rheolwr Stepwise a’r Rhaglen Dysgu Digidol i’r UDdU ac mae’n aelod o’r tîm Addysg a Dysgu yn Church House.
Dechreuodd David ar ei weinidogaeth yn gwasanaethu dwy eglwys yn Abertawe cyn symud i Ogledd Cymru yn 2005 i fod yn Weinidog ar UDdU Dyserth a Threffynnon a Swyddog Hyfforddiant a Datblygu (Gogledd) Synod Cenedlaethol Cymru.
Tra yng Ngogledd Cymru gwasanaethodd hefyd fel Cynullydd y Pwyllgor Bugeiliol Rhanbarthol ac, am bum mlynedd, fel llywodraethwr Coleg y Gogledd ym Manceinion.
Wrth siarad am ei enwebiad dywedodd David ei fod yn “gyffrous ac yn ostyngedig” o gael ei alw i ddychwelyd i’r weinidogaeth fugeiliol gan wasanaethu fel Llywydd Synod Cenedlaethol Cymru.
“Bydd yn fraint enfawr gweithio ochr yn ochr â Thîm Cefnogi’r Synod, eglwysi, gweinidogion, lleygwyr a phartneriaid eciwmenaidd wrth i ni gyda’n gilydd ddirnad dyfodol Duw i’r EDdU yng Nghymru, gwasanaethu ein cymunedau a pharhau i ddysgu beth mae’n ei olygu i fyw fel disgyblion Iesu,” meddai.
Mae cyfraniadau ehangach David i’r EDdU wedi cynnwys gwasanaethu fel Ysgrifennydd Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb yr URC ers 2017 ac mae’n aelod o un o’r grwpiau gorchwyl sy’n datblygu hyfforddiant fel rhan o ymrwymiad yr EDdU i ddod yn eglwys wrth-hiliaeth. Ers 2020 mae hefyd wedi bod yn Gydlynydd Rhaglen Arweinyddiaeth Eglwysig yr EDdU.
Yn ei amser hamdden mae David yn mwynhau cerdded, nofio ac ychydig o seiclo “tywydd teg”. Mae’n gefnogwr brwd o Glwb Pêl-droed Lerpwl ac, ar ôl byw yng Nghymru am 23 mlynedd, mae’n gefnogwr mabwysiedig i dîm Rygbi Cymru.
Dywedodd Megan Price, Clerc y Synod i Synod Cenedlaethol Cymru: “Rydym wedi elwa o weinidogaeth feddylgar David yng Nghymru ers blynyddoedd lawer. Rydym wrth ein bodd ei fod wedi derbyn yr alwad i wasanaethu fel Llywydd newydd Synod Cenedlaethol Cymru ac edrychwn ymlaen at ei groesawu i’r tîm a chymryd y cam nesaf gyda’n gilydd.”
Dywedodd y Parch Philip Brooks, y Dirprwy Ysgrifennydd Cyffredinol (Cenhadaeth): “Mae’n bleser mawr gen i longyfarch David ar ei enwebiad fel Llywydd Synod Cenedlaethol Cymru.
“Bydd David yn dod ag ehangder o brofiad i’r rôl hon, gan symud ymlaen o’i swyddi yn Church House.
“Mae David wedi gwasanaethu ei weinidogaeth yng Nghymru, mewn gofalaethau lleol, fel caplan ac mewn rolau hyfforddi, a bydd pob un o’r rhain yn ei lywio fel Llywydd. Wedi gwasanaethu gyda’r Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb, mae David hefyd yn dod ag angerdd dros gydraddoldeb, amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant.”
Gwahoddir Swyddogion Cymanfa Gyffredinol yr EDdU i gadarnhau penodiad David pan fyddant yn cyfarfod ym mis Hydref.