Synod update: Nurturing Faith for Tomorrow’s World

Tuesday 3rd September 2024

This September, we’re inviting parishes, schools, and groups to unpick the first of our Big Listen themes as we begin the exploration stage of our diocesan synod.

The theme – Nurturing Faith for Tomorrow’s World – encompasses a range of topics raised in the 30,000 responses to our Big Listen.

These include the role of women and young people, Church leadership, care for our clergy, Church teaching in the modern world, and more.

Over the coming weeks, these topics will be examined in finer detail with the start of the exploration stage of our diocesan synod.

The exploration stage is an opportunity for people across the diocese to prayerfully consider and discuss the responses to our Big Listen and suggest proposed actions, while developing the practice of synodal listening together.

Between now and December, we are asking parishes to plan and facilitate four “Theme Gatherings”, each one exploring a different theme from our Big Listen Report:

Nurturing Faith for Tomorrow’s World
Building Connections
Enabling Access
Fostering Christ-like care

A summary leaflet on the first theme Nurturing Faith for Tomorrow’s World is available now and we are all encouraged to read the leaflet carefully and prayerfully to participate fully in the theme gathering meetings.

Click here to read our first summary leaflet.

Click here to read our full Big Listen Report

All theme gatherings must be completed by 16th December to allow the Synod team adequate time to process parish responses in time for the Final Synod Gathering in March.

How to Get Involved

We encourage as many people as possible to participate in our diocesan synod and there are a number of ways you can get involved over the coming weeks and months;

Take time to read and prayerfully discern the content of the full report or the summary leaflet for yourself.
Continue to pray for our diocesan synod, in your private prayers and in your parishes and groups
Encourage your friends and family to get involved. We really do want to hear from as many people as we can.
Join one of the upcoming theme gathering sessions in your parish or group

Take a look at our dedicated Synod page to find out more.