Location, Location, Location
10/07/2012
80 members of our clergy descended on St Aidan’s College at Durham University for their Clergy Summer Gathering, this year entitled 'Location, Location, Location'. It was designed to explore connecting the Church with local communities in the North East.
The conference which was held over three days 3-5th July 2012 (with a Twitter hashtag of #csg12) explored how the Church can best connect with all the communities that it serves.
Speakers included James Ramsbotham the CEO of NECC North East, Melanie Sensicle from Durham County Council, Military Perspectives from Army and Royal Air Force Chaplains - all talking about the sense of place, heritage and community engagement that the North East and Durham in particular enjoys and further needs to develop.
Bishop Justin said: "The Church of England is the only group with a professional presence in every community, what we are doing is often amazing, from food banks to funerals. But we need to keep on improving and learning and that is what this conference is about, more effective care and love for every person in this Diocese".
Our communities served represent a wide range of socioeconomic situations including some of he highest levels of deprivation in the country.
Bishop Justin said: "Finding ways to best engage with our unique mix of communities is both a challenge and a richly rewarding opportunity to make a difference everywhere".
The Revd Canon Dr Stephen Cherry, Director of Ministerial Development and Parish Support, who organised the conference said: “This conference has been a fantastic success, opening the minds of all present to the opportunities for wider community engagement. The conference is part of the work that we do to help ordained clergy with their CMD (Continuing ministerial development). The Church of England’s CMD activities are designed to equip and develop the Church's ministers in order that they may stimulate and enable the whole Church to participate more fully in the mission of God in the world.”
During the Conference Stephen was linterviewed about the Summer Gathering.
listen to ‘Durham Diocese Clergy Summer Gathering 2012 Part 1’ on Audioboo
listen to ‘Durham Diocese Clergy Summer Gathering 2012 Part 2’ on Audioboo
Pictures By: Keith Blundy / Aegies Associates
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