Clergy and Readers Encouraged to Explore “A New Thing” at CMD Days
More than 250 clergy and Readers gathered at Manchester Cathedral for two Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD) Days, exploring how God is calling us to try new things and respond to the needs of our local communities.
More than 250 clergy and Readers gathered at Manchester Cathedral for two Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD) Days, exploring how God is calling us to try new things and respond to the needs of our local communities. The days provided an opportunity to learn together, share experiences and hear stories of mission already taking shape across the diocese.
The keynote speaker was Revd Canon Dr Mark Powley, Archbishop’s Mission Enabler for the North and Chair of the Faith in the North Programme Board. Joined by Revd Toby Butler from the Faith in the North team, Mark led sessions on the theme A New Thing: Growing a Healthy Mixed Ecology of Church.
Drawing on examples from across northern England, he explored different forms of church growth, outlined a theology of storytelling and shared practical ways churches can develop new worshipping communities as part of their mission.
Alongside the keynote sessions, attendees heard stories from across the diocese. On Sunday, Revd Steph Mawhinney shared the story of Campfire Church at Christ Church Walshaw, Revd Hannah Lane spoke about the Sing My Soul project and children’s music ministry at Bolton Parish Church, and Revd John-Alex Muyita reflected on his work reaching young adult men at Ascension Hulme.
On Monday, attendees heard from Revd Hannah Currin about how Brick Church is helping children to engage in worship at Oldham Parish Church, Revd Solomon John about serving the Kannada congregation within the Antioch Network and Revd Jack Shepherd about the growth of the Harbour gathering at Christ Church Pennington.
Together, these examples illustrated several different ways local churches are responding to the needs and opportunities within their local communities.
Attendees were also introduced to Starting Something New, a new Good Practice Guide for New Worshipping Communities. Produced by Faith in the North, the resource (Starting Something New) is designed to inspire and equip churches that are exploring fresh ways of reaching their communities with the good news of Jesus Christ.
The CMD Days form part of the diocese’s ongoing commitment to supporting clergy and lay ministers in their ministry and mission. Next steps outlined at the end of the day include a series of four November gatherings across the Diocese hosted by Trevor Hutton, Head of Church Growth and Evangelism. These feature opportunities to learn more about setting up New Worshipping Communities, grant funding opportunities, and learning routes to support lay and ordained teams in parishes.
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed over the two days. We are grateful to those who shared stories of newer expressions of church, and to all those faithfully serving in parishes, schools and chaplaincies across the diocese. The stories we heard reflected the many different contexts in which ministry takes place and the commitment of clergy and lay ministers to serving their communities, building relationships and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
