From our own correspondent at the General Synod 2015

Ian Bromilow writes -

What is the link between General Synod and our Benefice?

That is a question which I often ask myself when I am sat in the auditorium at Church House in London. However, last week there were two very clear answers which link directly back to our Benefice morning on 7 February.

 Firstly, a large part of the Synod was focussed on discipleship – I am sure that rings a bell for us all, as one outcome of our Benefice morning was the need for us all to ‘seek to find out what God wants’. We do this through our reflective prayer (listening to God), reading the Bible and our conversations with others.

 
Notwithstanding the above, discipleship is one of those words that we can often use but what does it actually mean? According to Archbishop Justin, discipleship is an invitation to the strongest hope, the deepest joy, the greatest fulfilment, the most authentic pattern of living and the highest adventure known to humanity. Now that sounds exciting! Who wouldn’t want such an invitation?

Secondly, there was a focus on rural ministry in multi-parish benefices – just like ours. A report was presented with some very clear and pragmatic recommendations based on real research and which, in my view, affirmed what is ongoing in the MAWV benefice and what I heard on our benefice morning.

 The good news is that ‘mission and growth are possible in rural multi-church groups when time and space is created for it to take place and where lay people are enabled and equipped’! That then requires all of us to reflect on our own vocation or calling – after all, we all have one!

But how do we discern what God wants each of us to do? We’re back to discipleship or ‘seek to find out what God wants’.

Ian has given Alan a copy of the report on rural ministry - if you would like to read it  - do ask Alan for it - or find it on the web at https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2148423/gs%20misc%201092%20-%20rural%20multi%20parish%20benefices.pdf