"I want to say a big ‘thank you’ for the Growing Gifts programme.
It has had a huge impact on my Christian discipleship and calling, and for this I am very grateful.
Saturday was the next step on this fantastic journey."
The Growing Gifts programme is a formation and training programme for those who are called within a local church to lead worship or preach on an occasional basis, locally authorised.
On Saturday 21st February the third cohort of the Growing Gifts programme met for a Quiet Morning together, led by Rev Hazel White, and then a final session and Eucharist, at which Rev Canon Dr Mark Pryce, Director of Ministry, presided. The next step for many participants is to be locally authorised to lead worship or preach on an occasional basis. Altogether 60 people have participated in the programme, from around 40 parishes, over the past 2 years. Only 10 sessions long, the main part of the programme has been delivered in small groups led by a team of facilitators who are Readers.
Some of those who have participated have also taken part in Way of Discipleship, and some are now starting to explore other forms of authorised ministry, including licensed ministry as a lay or ordained person. Some are making it possible for their churches to offer a wider diversity of worship. Everyone is contributing to a widening diversity in the leadership of worship in their church, and many have already inspired to others to wonder whether God might be calling them into something new.
You can see and hear the stories of some of those who have participated and been locally authorised here.
Please give thanks with us for all that God has been, and is doing, through the people who have taken part, and pray that we will all encourage one another to grow as disciples and listen for God’s continuing call to us.