The Right Reverend Thomas Mathew Burns SM, became Bishop of the Forces on June 18th 2002, having served sixteen years in the Royal Navy. His final post in the Navy was as Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain.
Bishop Burns entered a controversial debate last year over the call for wearing white poppies at Remembrance Day. He gave his backing to the Royal British Legion and said he wore his red poppy partly to remind himself about the awfulness of war.
The annual dinner will be held on Wednesday, November 7th 2007 at Holy Trinity, Brook Green in west London.
The Bishopric of the Forces consists of Service personnel and their dependants, served by over 50 full time Chaplains and over 100 TA and Officiating Chaplains. Differing from any other Diocese, the Bishopric of the Forces is not aligned along geographical boundaries but encompasses anywhere in the world that United Kingdom military personnel are serving or deployed.
The Bishop has three Vicars' General who are the Principal RC Chaplains to the three Services. The Services appoint them as Principal Chaplains and the Bishop as Vicar's General. The three Vicar's General make up the Bishop's Episcopal Council.