Young leaders from Church schools meet General Synod members ahead of first in-person meeting

Young people were being asked to explore, shape, and understand the future for the Church.

The Church of England's Vision and Strategy for the 2020s is helping the Church proclaim and live out the Good News of Jesus Christ afresh in every generation.

Students at the event came from Bluecoat Academy, Coventry; The Gryphon School, Sherborne; St Peter’s Exeter; Venerable Bede Academy, Sunderland; Bishop Justus Academy, Bromley; Archbishop Sancroft High School, Norfolk. 

Dave Male, Director of Evangelism and Discipleship for the Church of England, said: “This was a really important day as members of General Synod and young people help shape the vision and strategy for the Church of England. 

“Young people have been at the heart of developing the vision for the future, and this session was a continuation of that conversation. It has not been a one-way discussion, but rather an opportunity for younger people to speak and listen with one another  as equals.”

Schools that took part were part of the National Younger Leadership Group throughout 2020 and 2021 and brought together around 250 younger leaders from primary, secondary, and further education contexts. Part of this included the opportunity to contribute to the wider Vision and Strategy work. 

The students led discussions on three topics ‘A Church of missionary disciples’; ‘A Church where mixed-ecology is the norm’; ‘A Church which is younger and more diverse.’ Each session included up to 50 adults and between 10 and 12 younger people.

General Synod members were asked to listen and discuss the topics and bring what they learned to their debates during the week’s Synod.  
Synod meets from Tuesday 16 November to Wednesday 17 November in Church House, Westminster.