To chaplains, clergy, churchwardens, Readers and Readers in training

Dear colleagues in the Diocese in Europe

The Diocese in Europe’s lay learning course ‘Walking Together in Faith’ is back for a second year, starting in mid-September.

Initially launched in September 2022, the course was offered last year in an online version on Zoom. In addition, a small number of groups met in person locally and drew on the course material that has been made available. It was clear from the response during this first year that the course has both met a need in the diocese and has been well received. We will be building on our experience of last year to make it even better for this coming one!

I, myself led most of the ‘Zoom’ sessions (drawing in other colleagues and friends as appropriate). It was a stimulating experience. The group of about 25 people who joined us regularly came from different parts of our diverse and fascinating diocese. Part of the enjoyment and learning was the way that participants were able to share their different geographical and cultural insights.

There are four ‘Modules’ for the course, and each Module has five Units.

Module One: Knowing God looks at prayer, and focuses on the Lord’s Prayer, and the context in which Jesus taught it to his disciples

Module Two: Growing in Christ explores what Christians over the centuries have wanted to say about Jesus Christ and what he did.

Module Three: Building Community looks at our common life as part of the People of God, and how it is expressed, for example in our worship.

Module Four: Living beyond Ourselves asks about how our Christian faith should affect our responses to key issues of our time such as the care for creation and migration.

This year’s online version of the course will start on Tuesday 26 September, and will then happen more-or-less fortnightly over the coming year. Module One will run before

1 September 2023

Christmas, and Module Two will start as soon as possible in the New Year. The online sessions will last for 90 minutes, and they will begin at 18.30 (UK time).

The intention is that those who wish, and who follow the whole course as well as submitting a piece of work for assessment for each of the four Modules, will be eligible to receive a ‘Bishop’s Certificate’. On the basis however of last years’ experience a number of people e.g. Readers have found participation in the course more widely useful for their own teaching roles.

We welcome both lay people and clergy connected in some way with the Diocese in Europe to sign up to join us.

For those who are wanting to run local in person groups a familiarisation session is being offered on Tuesday 19 September, again at 18.30 UK time. Please contact me, Clare Amos, at clare.amos@europe.anglican.org if you would like to join this.

The material for Modules One and Two is available on a dedicated Moodle site at https://europe.learn.anglican.org Guest access to the Moodle site is available by clicking the box ‘Guest Access’ and using as a password ‘LayLearning2022’. For full access to the Moodle site and/or to receive the Zoom link for the online sessions people will need to fill in and return a short course application form. A copy of the application form is attached to this email. Please return the application form to the Administrator in the Ministry Team Polly Freeman at polly.freeman@churchofengland.org

Please do encourage members of your church community and congregation to think about participating in the course (a flyer is also attached to this email) – or participate yourself.

I am very happy to try and answer directly any questions you may have. Please contact me as below.

With good wishes

Clare

Dr Clare Amos, Director of Lay Discipleship E: Clare.amos@europe.anglican.org