A fund aimed at helping parishes explore new ways of sharing the Christian message alongside tried and tested approaches has been launched.

Summary of September meeting 

It was announced that the Bishop of Truro, Philip Mountstephen, is joining the NSSG and will take on the role as Chair of the Redress Scheme Project Board. It was noted that the extensive programme of work in safeguarding will need additional new episcopal members. The Terms of Reference of the group also need to be reviewed to ensure that they are fit for purpose in the context of the implementation of the Independent Safeguarding Board.

Church of England backing calls for the leaders of the world’s richest countries to halt the 'hoarding' of COVID-19 vaccines while billions of people have yet to be jabbed

The Church of England has published a ‘toolkit’ of resources for parishes seeking to help refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban takeover of the country.

New core materials including nine daily podcasts are now available to enable congregations to take part in Generosity Week. 

The seventh meeting for 2021 of the LLF Next Steps Group was held in July.

The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, has encouraged churches and individuals to continue to take precautions to protect the vulnerable from Covid-19.

The meeting was chaired by the Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop, Jonathan Gibbs, who welcomed members and congratulated Mark Steadman (currently Archdeacon of of Stow and Lindsey  in Lincoln Diocese) on his appointment to Chief of Staff at Bishopthorpe and welcomed new NSSG member Mark Humphries, Oxford Diocesan Secretary. Mark Steadman will continue on the NSSG in his new role.

The first ad campaign to encourage people to stand for election to the General Synod has been launched in a drive to attract a broad range of voices to the Church of England’s national decision-making body.  

Bishop Sarah: I’ve been inspired by the way churches have risen to the challenge, finding new ways of gathering to worship God, reach out and serve their neighbours in these difficult times