South West Growing Faith Strategic Leaders Programme Champions Children and Young People’s Spiritual Growth

The Southwest’s Growing Faith Strategic Leaders Programme (GFSLP) is gathering pace with those involved now halfway through the year long programme aimed at developing leaders to bring sustained change and have a transformational impact on children and young people’s faith formation.

On the 5 and 6 June, participants in this collaborative learning community came together in Taunton to share their learning journey, to be inspired by each other and to hear from keynote speakers, including Dave Knight, Cesca Priestley and Lucy Moore.

Dave spoke about leading change, drawing upon his experience working in marketing with companies like Cadbury and Coca-Cola, and more recently his role specialising in business turnarounds with The Royal Mint, Axminster Carpets and Bristol Waste Company.   With a passion for outreach, Dave has been part of a number of mission teams, led over 40 Alpha courses, and been a Street Pastor for 14 years.

Cesca shared her experiences as the Youth Voice Lead within the Diocese of Bath and Wells.  Cesca’s work involves her in visiting schools, youth groups and churches to meet with children and young people.  She shares what they have to say within her diocese to inform thinking and decision-making, and through her blog, ‘Raising Young Voices’.

Lucy, Head of the Growing Faith Foundation for the Church of England, helped us think about how to instinctively put children and young people at the centre of all we do.She highlighted some of the excellent research which is taking place across the country, and offered encouragement that by creating and embedding strategic partnerships between churches and schools across our dioceses, children, young people and their families can have the opportunity to grow in faith.

Lucy highlighted that, ‘Flourishing dioceses lead vibrant worshipping communities which offer children and young people spiritual encounter with Jesus, rhythms of prayer, courageous social action and intentional pathways to discipleship and leadership’ (Our Hope for a Flourishing Schools System: Deeply Christian Serving the Common Good, 2023).

Sue Lockwood, Exeter Diocesan Director of Education, said, “Hearing from quality speakers has been really empowering and given us much food for thought!  A particular highlight however has been the conversations with diocesan colleagues about the changes they are making on the ground in their own contexts – there is a huge amount of good work happening to support the spiritual flourishing and faith development of our children and young people.”

The Reverend Jo Parker, from the parish of Plymstock and Hooe shared, “It is a joy to worship and reflect with colleagues in different fields and dioceses and to be inspired and challenged in many ways to put children and young people at the heart of all we do. The away days were such an enriching and thought-provoking time.”

The Reverend Gareth Regan, Team Vicar for Newton Abbot Parishes, stated, “I was surprised to see a similar thread present across all three talks: what matters, what matters to the people you’re working with to change an organisation, and what matters to children and young people in their lives today. These “what matters” questions can unlock so much in understanding how we collaborate with others as leaders.”

Sharon Blyth, the Exeter Diocesan Children and Families Mission Enabler, said, “I have enjoyed the opportunity to reflect more deeply about connecting across departments, parishes and communities, and been challenged to think outside my silo. We are privileged to put this time aside and hear from nationally regarded speakers.”

To find out more about Growing Faith, please visit the Church of England’s ‘Growing Faith Foundation’ website.