CAPTION: Pupils from St Cuthbert Mayne school led worship and took part in a discussion about how churches can enable young people's voices to be heard
St Cuthbert Mayne Pupils Lead Worship at Lay Ministers Conference
Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) from across Devon gathered for their annual conference in Torquay from 7 to 9 February on the theme of Enabling Mission and Growing Faith.
One of the highlights included a discussion session led by the Diocese of Exeter Education Team, supported by the headteacher, chaplain and pupils from St Cuthbert Mayne joint Roman Catholic and Anglican Secondary School in Torquay.
The young people began the morning by leading worship, before joining the LLMs for a round table discussion about how churches, school and families can work better together to support young people in their Christian faith and enable all pupils to flourish academically and socially.
LLMs discuss Growing Faith at the conference
Carol Price, the LLM Warden for the diocese, who organised the conference with a volunteer planning team, said “The worship led by the pupils of St Cuthbert Mayne illustrated how worship can be joyful, sincere and straight from the heart.”
Nigel Price, an LLM from the Hartland Coast Mission Community, said “The head from St Cuthbert Mayne came over as particularly inspiring and if every school had a head like that .. well maybe they do! The worship led by the children showed just how much they were being inspired and supported by the school. On our table we had one of the girls who reminded us of our granddaughter… she explained that she was not attending church even though she was in a Christian family.
“Her parents were carers and on shift work, so could not attend church on any regular basis, while the girl herself had homework to be done on Sundays. So the whole of her Christian learning, worship and experience came from the school. The sessions really demonstrated how important it is for our churches to get involved in their local schools where they are able, rather than hoping that the schools will come to them.”
Jude Fortune, an LLM based at St Mary Mags church in Torquay commented “As someone who has an interest in youth ministry, I was so encouraged by the young people from St Cuthbert Mayne. Their passion and love for Jesus, and how comfortably they spoke about their own faith journeys echoed much of the teaching from the weekend.
“They are more than capable and ready to lead and serve – from the front! There doesn’t need to be tokenistic provision or a need to send them out during the service. What I have taken from the weekend is a better understanding of what our young people want and need. And that is to be seen, included and valued in our church communities.”
Bishop Mike and Bishop James also spoke at the conference and led some of the worship. The Diocesan Mission Enabler, Rev’d Jeremy Putnam led an interactive session about the need for churches to ‘Break the Fourth Wall’ when it comes to mission. He also led a popular Saturday evening session of Muzingo (musical bingo)!
Sue Lockwood, Diocesan Director of Education, who led the Growing Faith session at the conference, said “Conversations about Growing Faith and discipleship were enriched hugely by the young people from St Cuthbert Mayne. They demonstrated just how imperative it is we are listening to young people and are involving them in making Jesus known. Their wisdom, passion and humour were infectious – we have much to learn!”
