Particularly if you’re interested in seeing the 98% of Christians who are not ordained envisioned and empowered for mission and discipleship in their Monday to Saturday lives.
Thursday’s, after the strains of Wednesday’s debate on sexuality, the Church of England’s Synod closed with a missional  focus, debating Setting God’s People Free, a report in which LICC was significantly involved.

This is the twelfth report on lay discipleship since 1945. It differs not so much in its theology, nor in its passion for the cause, but in its recognition of the need for two clear shifts in the core culture of the church:

‘1. Until, together, ordained and lay, we form and equip lay people to follow Jesus confidently in every sphere of life in ways that demonstrate the Gospel we will never set God’s people free to evangelise the nation.

This report, unlike its predecessors, identifies eight levers of cultural change, and offers a clear plan forward for the development and dissemination of learning through diocesan learning hubs, local church experimentation, theological research, shifts in clergy selection and training, and so on.

The report comes at a moment when there is already significant experimentation going on – examples abound of bishops, clergy, churches, and individuals doing things differently. LICC’s Imagine team alone is already working with some twelve dioceses as well as with church teams across the denominations. Indeed, it was clear from the many, many contributions to the debate that there were a number of other dioceses making progress in the same direction. As such, the report has the potential to add fuel to a fire that has already been lit.

Of course, it’s a long way from institutional endorsement to seeing lay people discipled for mission and ministry in all of life but, brilliantly presented by Mark Russell, enthusiastically received and unanimously passed by Synod, it felt like this was an initiative whose time has come.

There is hard work ahead but, as for me and the team here, it’s a day to rejoice. And to give thanks for your prayers and partnership in the cause.

Mark Greene