CAPTION:
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 challenges such as limited volunteers, poor facilities or the rural geography of our benefices.
Over the past 4 years, 23 members of clergy from across Devon have participated in Launchpad. As a result, new youth ministry initiatives have begun in their parishes and communities.
Last week, clergy who participated in Launchpad gathered together for a special reunion.
Jonny Schnarr, Youth Advocate for the Diocese of Exeter, said, “After three years of running Launchpad across the Diocese of Exeter, equipping 23 members of clergy to explore pioneering approaches to youth ministry, it was a real joy to gather for our very first Launchpad reunion.
“It was a valuable reminder that pioneering youth ministry often begins with small steps, and that every step forward is worth celebrating!
Jonny said, “As part of the Diocese’s ongoing support, we hope it will continue to inspire, equip and encourage clergy as they pioneer new opportunities for young people to encounter faith and connect with their local churches across Devon.”
A new cohort of Launchpad will be starting in January to March 2027.
Through a series of 5 collaborative sessions, participants are invited to identify small but significant steps towards engaging young people and journey alongside each other to envisage creative, new models of youth ministry, specific to their own settings.
Launchpad ends with a sixth session, a commissioning, to which clergy are invited to bring others in order to mark the start of work within the parish.
If you would like to find out more about Launchpad, please click here.
If you are interested, please contact Jonny Schnarr, Youth Advocate: [email protected]
