Children, Youth, and Families Program
Our CYF work is driven by the conviction that the spiritual formation of the next generation is a primary calling of the church. We want to prepare leaders who are equipped to nurture lifelong disciples and partner with families in the important task of passing on a knowledge of and faith in Christ.
Equipping the leaders: CYF incumbents' course
In response to the 2020 vision of the House of Bishops‘ commitment to a flourishing children, youth, and families’ ministry within reach of every child and young person, Trinity has been invited to host and run one of several nationally-funded courses to encourage and equip incumbents to develop their CYF ministry.
Our CYF Incumbents’ Course, is designed to support incumbents and their teams in their leadership development and spiritual formation, specifically with an aim to enable the partnership between church, school, and home.
The Church of England’s vision is for the Church to be younger and more diverse. With a breadth and depth of leadership experience across the network, this programme provides a forum for colleagues to distil and share their wisdom in a manner which is open to discussion and development. It operates with a view to training the trainer, with an understanding of the need to release capacity for church leaders.
Participants attend a series of residential weekends, backed up by Action Learning Sets.
It is a huge privilege to host incumbents from around the country to share their vision for CYF ministry and inspire them to take it further.
Residential Weekends
Weekend One – 15th to 17th Nov 2026: Foundations
The first module will establish foundations across the core curriculum and enable participants to identify specific learning objectives that they will pursue throughout the programme. Input from guest speakers will complement the curriculum and provide opportunities for delegates to hear from leaders working in a range of different sectors.
Weekend Two – 28th Feb – 2nd March 2027: Going Deeper
The second module will examine in more depth the leadership and theological issues that are most pertinent to the cohort individually and collectively. This could include issues ranging from the practical implications of planning and strategy, to deeper personal and individual reflections on aspects of one’s own personality and spiritual formation.
Weekend Three – 27th-30th June 2027 : Building a Legacy
The third module will focus on drawing together the individual and collective learning of the cohort, and signing off the Action Learning Sets
Action Learning
Action learning sets provide an opportunity for participants to focus on their own learning objectives, with the support, challenge and wisdom of a facilitated small group of peers.
Summer Experience
All participants will have the opportunity to experience a period where they encounter high-quality CYPF ministry. The experience might be attending a youth residential, visiting a youth programme or holiday club or simply viewing what another co-participant is modelling at their church. These
experiences will be arranged individually after the second residential but funded within the programme.
How to Sign Up
You need your Diocesan Bishop’s permission and need to apply through the National Office. This year you do not need to wait to be invited specifically by your Bishop.
Costs
The programme is funded by the national church. Travel costs will be funded by your diocese and claims made direct to them.
What's the Centre for the Child in the Church? (CCC)
The Centre for the Child in the Church (CCC) is a research-led, prayer-rooted, and theologically visionary community, based here at Trinity, working to reshape ecclesiology around the presence and participation of the child.
Led by Revd Dr Howard Worsley, and inspired by a monastic rhythm of prayer, research and prophetic voice, it:
Conducts and publishes high-level theological research around the child in Church and society;
Develops academic pathways from GCSE through to PhD, focusing on children, youth and families;
Advocates for the prioritisation of child liberation theology within Church structures;
Trains and supports clergy and lay ministers to lead in intergenerational and child-focused ministry;
Provides forums for collaboration, debate and spiritual formation; and
Partners ecumenically to shape a Kingdom-focused vision beyond denominational boundaries.
Introducing the program tutors
Senior Research Fellow at Trinity
I am a contextual theologian and an educationalist looking to span two major disciplines (theology and education) and to bring fresh eyes to the different contexts. These studies feed into my teaching on mission, apologetics, ethnography, and ‘learning for a learning Church’ and I publish regularly for academic journals in Christian education and in children’s spirituality. Currently, my doctoral students are researching public theology, church school education, the legacy of Lesslie Newbigin, children’s understanding in reading the Bible and the discovery of a precolonial African spirituality.
Some highlights of my work
- How different atonement theories at Easter speak to children about the Meaning of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Childswork Magazine Spring 2018
- Bridging the Worlds of Mission and Religious Education (RE) in Church of England schools. (Mission as Public Theology that Enhances Community Cohesion and Religious Literacy in the UK Context.), Missiology Volume 46 Issue 2, April 2018
- An autoethnographic perspective on the broadening of missiological perspectives in teaching mission in Anglican TEIs in England Missiology Volume 46, Issue 4 pp 374-387, October 2018
- Favourite teacher – learning the tenets of our faith, chapter 10 in Re-thinking Children’s Work in Churches: A Practical Guide (ed S Nash), published by Jessica Kingsley 2019
- How Not To Totally Put Your Children Off God -A Conversation on Christian Parenting between a Father and his Sons, Howard Worsley & Sons- Book on Parenting Christianly, published by Lions Publishers Spring 2020
- and more
How to get in touch with me
I am Bristol born and bred and have lived in the Bristol area most of my life. I worked for several years as a Secondary School teacher, teaching Geography and Sociology. I then worked at Christ Church Clifton in Bristol as their Children’s Minister and then as a School Community Worker. It was during this time that a few of us sensed the need for more support around the area of churches connecting with their local schools. Through a lot of prayer and discernment, the charity Bristol Schools Connection was born.
Since 2015 I have had the pleasure of working part time for the charity, journeying with many churches (all denominations) across Bristol. Our heart is to see ‘every school in the Bristol area having a good connection with local church.’ As a charity we offer coaching, consultancy, training and networking opportunities to enable connections to be made and deepened between churches and local schools. I am also passionate about new ways of ‘being and doing church’ where children, young people and families are at the heart. I would love to see every church being known as ‘a place that children love.’
I currently also work part time for the Diocese of Bristol as the ‘Under 18s Chaplaincy Adviser.’ This is a wonderful role where I support existing chaplains and help in the development of new chaplaincy roles. The rise of chaplaincy in education and community settings is exciting and fits well with the national church Growing Faith vision.
“Joining Howard and the team leading the CYF Incumbent Development Program has been a joy, as it brings together the strands of work that I am most passionate about, namely putting children, young people and families instinctively at the heart of all that we do as a church.”
How to get in touch with me
jane@bristolschoolsconnection.co.uk
Vice Principal (Formation) and Pastoral and Formation Tutor at Trinity
My research interests:
Missional Leadership and Reflective Practice
I completed an MA in Missional Leadership in 2017, with a particular focus on the ordination of women, their leadership, and the subsequent impact on the missional direction of the Church of England. My own experiences as a woman in church leadership, and the research for the MA, give a particular enthusiasm for exploring leadership and its impact upon change within the church. My passion is to equip and enable women and men to live out their calling, and my experience as a lecturer, mentor, and spiritual director, help to facilitate this.
Pastoral Care
My nursing experience has led to teaching on holistic care, particularly in the areas of well-being, mental health, disease, death, and dying, and the role of the priest in healing and wholeness.
Spirituality
I have a particular appreciation of Christian spirituality, specifically Ignatian spirituality, and enjoy teaching sessions on spiritual disciplines and practices, as well leading retreats and quiet days.
How to get in touch with me
helen.johnson@trinitycollegebristol.ac.uk