God With Us: Sharing our journey
We’re thrilled to be holding the first NECN National Conference since covid! We’ll be running the event twice, in Bristol and Sheffield, on different days of the week to try and give everyone a chance to attend. On this page you can book your tickets, and find all the details for the day.
Please note: Booking will close on 15th Sept for Bristol and 27th Sept for Sheffield.
Book here:
About ‘God With Us: Sharing our journey’
National Estate Churches Network’s annual conference this year is focussing on lived experience with estate practitioners sharing their wisdom. God with Us: Sharing our journey seeks to explore three aspects of ministering in social housing estates and disadvantaged communities.
- Firstly, what does it look like to start out in a community and what does a church plant look like there? Where does resource, support and accountability come from?
- Secondly, what does longevity look and feel like? What are the advantages of staying 10 years plus in a community and does that require a flexibility in approach over time?
- Lastly how do we navigate transitions? What could aid local church in the change of leadership? Are there principles we can adopt?
You will hear practitioners’ experience, wisdom and story with time for facilitated conversation to aid our thinking and make use of the wisdom in the room. We will have workshops to dig deeper into the topics of the day with an opportunity to hear from you! Please bring with you any thoughts, stories or reflections around starting out, longevity or succession which could inform, encourage or challenge the group.
Furthermore we will hear hot off the press research about socio-economic diversity in the Church of England clergy. There will also be opportunity to connect with many organisations and resources who aim to reach, support and encourage those in disadvantaged communities, in our marketplace. The conference is providing lunch to give time for the nurturing and networking conversations that happen best around food.
Whether you have been around these communities for years, have just moved in or want to be encouraged in your faith by the amazing people who live love and work there do come and join us.
A sandwich lunch and drinks are included in the price. Why not book your ticket today for just £20?
Bristol – Venue and Travel Information
Sat 23rd Sept 2023 – St Michael’s Centre, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8PD
St Michael’s Centre is easy to access by bus, train from Bristol Parkway station or by road on the M4, M5 or M32. Parking is available on street nearby or in the station car park (£6.20 for all day Saturday). More details can be found on the St Michael’s website.
Bristol – Speakers
John Wheatley is a pioneer youth and community worker in Bournville, Weston-Super-Mare, where Cathy and he live with their two girls, Samantha and Hannah; he is am part of the leadership team for Frontier Youth Trust, a national movement journeying with young people on the margins. John likes sea swimming and pancakes (not at the same time).
Robb Sutherland is the vicar of Mixenden and Illingworth in the north of Halifax. Robb grew up in a mining household and his background is in estates ministry. He is a member of the Church of England’s Estates Evangelism Task Group. Robb is married to Ruth with whom he writes, records and releases music and worship songs. They play together in two rock bands, Metanoia and Silverthorn. Robb and Ruth like to tour Europe and North America on their Motorbikes and plan to ride to Assisi this autumn on Pilgrimage.
Dr Alex Fry will introduce recent research on Understanding the Wellbeing of Working-Class Clergy. Alex Fry is a Lecturer in the Sociology of Health and Illness in the Department of Social Sciences and Social Work at Bournemouth University. He has previously worked with the Mission and Public Affairs (later renamed Faith & Public Life) division of the Archbishops’ Council and the Ethical Advisory Group of the Church of England. Although he went to university, Alex was the first in his family to do so and considers his background to be of mixed social class. His parents were born into working-class families and later achieved middle-class incomes. However, other members of his family remain working-class. As a result of this context, Alex embodies something of a class status that is in-between that of the working and middle classes, as typically understood.
Bristol – Programme
Arrive from 9.30
10.00- Intro
10.15 – Session 1: Starting Out – with keynote speaker John Wheatley
11.00 – Break
11.15 – Session 2: The Long Run – with keynote speaker Robb Sutherland
12.00 – Introduction to Marketplace contributors
12.45 – Lunch and Marketplace
1.45 – Understanding the Wellbeing of Working-Class Clergy – Research presented by Alex Fry
2.15 – Session 3: Moving On – This will be a shorter session with an introduction to the topic and some thinking points in preparation for the following workshop
2.30 – Break/Introduce workshops
2.45 – Workshops/Facilitated discussions on the topics of the day – Starting Out, The Long Run and Moving On
3.30 – Closing prayers
The conference will come to a formal close around 3.30pm, but we hope you will stay to chat and to explore the marketplace.
Sheffield – Venue and Travel Information
Thu 5th Oct 2023 – Sheffield Cathedral, Church Street, Sheffield, S1 1HA
Sheffield Cathedral is about 0.5 miles from the station and is accessible by public transport. Directions and travel info
There are two car parks nearby on Campo Lane and others a little further away. Parking map
Sheffield – Speakers
Kat Gregory-Witham is an Ordained Pioneer Minister currently serving as Associate Priest at St Matthew’s Church in Burnley, East Lancashire. Kat and her partner, Esther, moved to Burnley four years ago and live and work in the South West of the town. Kat leads a congregation called ‘Fun Church’ made up of young families who live across four local estates. She’s a fan of rugby and walking the hills with their big black lurcher.
Andy and Tracy Milne began pioneering Sorted in 2004, a fresh expression among young people, young adults and young families. This youth church continues to blossom in Bradford, W. Yorks. The story of Sorted can be read in ‘The DNA of Pioneer Ministry‘ After leading Sorted for many years, Andy sensed God’s call to start a national ministry called Missional Youth Church Network, sharing many of the lessons learnt from Sorted with youth leaders across the country. In their spare time, Tracy loves birdwatching and camping whilst Andy walks the dog and is a keen skateboarder and has just written ‘A Skateboarders Guide to God‘.
Sharon Jagger will introduce recent research on Understanding the Wellbeing of Working-Class Clergy. Sharon is a Lecturer in Religion at York St John University. She has researched the priesthood of the Church of England for the past seven years and brings in-depth knowledge about the lives and work of clergy, the structural issues they face, and the how clergy engage with congregations and the hierarchy of the Church. Sharon is a first generation academic, hailing from the former industrial heartland of West Yorkshire and identifies as working class, based on her family background and her ‘cultural capital’ – experiencing first-hand class barriers in the Church and in education and employment.
Sheffield – Programme
Arrive from 9.30
10.00 – Intro
10.15 – Session 1: Starting Out – with keynote speaker Kat Gregory-Witham
11.00 – Break
11.15 – Understanding the Wellbeing of Working-Class Clergy – Research presented by Sharon Jagger
11.45 – Introduction to Marketplace contributors
12.30 – Lunch and Marketplace
1.30 – Session 2: The Long Run – with keynote speakers Tracy and Andy Milne
2.15 – Session 3: Moving On – This will be a shorter session with an introduction to the topic and some thinking points in preparation for the following workshop
2.30 – Break/Introduce workshops
2.45 – Workshops/Facilitated discussions on the topics of the day – Starting Out, The Long Run and Moving On
3.30 – Closing prayers
The conference will come to a formal close around 3.30pm, but we hope you will stay to chat and to explore the marketplace.
Marketplace
You will be able to connect with these organisations in the conference marketplace, click on the logos to find out more:
Accessibility Information
St Michael’s Centre, Bristol has step free access, and lifts to every floor in the building. There are 3 accessible toilets. 3 disabled parking spaces are available, as well as easy street access with a blue badge. There are hearing loops in the larger rooms and staff on hand to help with any requests during your time here.
Sheffield Cathedral is fully wheelchair friendly apart from the St George’s Chapel and Crypt. View Floor Plan
Accessible toilets can be found through the coffee shop. The closest blue badge parking is located on St James Row, which is to the left of the Cathedral when looking at the main doors. More information about facilities at the Cathedral can be found on the AccessAble website.