Launchpad Equips Members of Clergy to Explore Pioneering Approaches to Youth Ministry
Members of clergy across Devon have taken part in an innovative programme to help make their churches intergenerational by exploring pioneering approaches to youth ministry. Launchpad is a programme which has been developed by Youthscape, in partnership with South West Youth Ministries (SWYM). The programme aims to support churches with little or no existing engagement with young people aged 10-18 years old. Launchpad does not assume that churches have extensive resources, instead, it recognises real…
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Eight Devon CofE Churches Receive £2.3m Historic England Funding
Eight churches in Devon will benefit from £2.3m grant funding from Historic England, as part of the Places of Worship Renewal Fund. The funding will help the churches carry out important building repairs and conservation work. The fund was launched by Historic England in May, after the closure of the long-running Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. More than £13 million has been awarded to Church of England churches. Churches in the Diocese of Exeter…
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Bishop of Exeter Speaks of ‘Siren Call’ of AI
The Bishop of Exeter has spoken about the ‘siren call’ of AI in his recent Presidential Address to the Exeter Diocesan Synod. The Rt. Rev’d Dr Mike Harrison drew comparisons between the lure of artificial intelligence and the sirens of Greek mythology depicted in the recent film version of The Odyssey, based on Homer’s epic poem. Bishop Mike said “Odysseus has to sail past the island inhabited by the sirens, whose beautiful music had so…
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Growing Relationships with Schools through Creation and Community
The Bishop of Exeter’s garden was recently filled with laughter and learning as 100 local children took part in the Diocese of Exeter’s first outdoor schools’ week. The aim was to enable the children to focus on God’s creation through a range of multi-sensory activities in the open air and under canvas. The initiative was pioneered by the Bishop of Exeter’s Chaplain Jo Stobart, the Diocesan education team, and Sharon Blyth, Diocesan Children and Families…
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Devon’s New Licensed Lay Ministers Look Forward to Being Good News
Five new Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) have been licensed to serve in parishes across Devon during a service of welcome and celebration at Exeter Cathedral. Barbara Hemsley, Stacey James, Pete Simmons, Nicola Thorne and Sally Watson were supported by friends, family and members of their church communities as they took vows and were given their signature blue scarves, which are worn by LLMs when they lead worship. The service was led by the Bishop of…
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