Curates annual conference

This weekend, in my capacity as one of the 1st year group tutors, I attended the annual curates conference for Oxford diocesan curates at the Pastoral Centre, London Colney. What was said by individuals remains confidential, but 2 or 3 things struck me.

1. There were over 90 curates from years 1, 2 and 3 present, and that's with not all being able to attend - one was stuck in Prague, unable to return because of the Icelandic volcanic ash having brought air traffic to a standstill. Talking to my ordained sister this morning, and hearing her shock at the number of curates attending the conference (she is from a different diocese), the large number of curates we train suggests that the Oxford Diocese, and not just the theological colleges and courses, has a very significant role in training clergy for the ongoing life and mission of the Church of England.

2. I was one of 2 members of staff on the planning group for the conference, the rest were elected among the curates. I was vastly impressed by all of the team, but especially by the curate members and the Chair, Alan Crawley. They all seemed to me to have enthusiasm, dedication and commitment well beyond the call of duty! They also had creative, administrative and innovatory skills that the church will hopefully value and find a place for.

3. The atmosphere of the conference was great, even though many of these people were tired from the ongoing pressures of their lives. Many of the curates are self-supporting, and their engagement with the programme was as full and committed as those who are paid a stipend. I am so pleased and grateful to God that I belong to a part of the Church where our new leaders as a whole are so able and godly.

4. The subject of the conference was Celebrating Diversity. At the end we had a creative Eucharist with different parts of the service being produced by different groups of curates working collaboratively. For me, this was all summed up in the gorgeous altar frontal, which had been created by one of the groups that morning, under the skilled guidance and leadership of Etienne van Blerk. Bishop Alan preached about it brilliantly in his sermon, encouraging us to value diversity in the church.

The picture shows the altar frontal the curates made, with the 153 fish from John 21 representing the full diversity of the church. Wonderful, isn't it!