The Church of England Youth Council

Represent, Enrich, Engage

CEMES Scheme

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For many of us, it can be hard trying to find what the next step is. Where is God calling me? What are my gifts and abilities? Who am I called to be? The Church of England Ministry Experience Scheme is an excellent opportunity to spend a year in Gods time. To dig deeper in your relationship with Him, explore who you are and found some more about your vocation. This isn’t just for Church leaders, this is for anyone aged 18-30 who wants to explore more their vocation and ministry.

If you are aged 18 to 30, and are looking for a year-long opportunity to explore what God is calling you to, then join The Ministry Experience Scheme (CEMES).

You will spend a year within a diocese exploring ministry, whilst gaining valuable life skills that will help to prepare you for your next steps. You will be given the opportunity to deepen your theological knowledge, gain practical and pastoral skills, and to reflect on your personal faith journey.

If you are interested head over to the website here.

 

November 2018 Residential: Speaking Truth to Power

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Speaking Truth to Power

When? November 2nd-4th 2018

Where? Pioneer Centre, Shropshire. DY14 8JG.

Who? Anyone aged between 16 and 25! In order to access tickets for the event, you will need to contact you DYO. You can find out who your DYO is here – and of course… tickets are live here!

Youth leaders, priests, Archbishops, and Diocesan Youth Officers can all come and observe our events… please contact us if you’re interested.

What? A day away exploring ways in which we, as Christians, can speak Truth to Power. We all have a voice, we all live in a world filled with structures, politics, authority and power. Each of us has an opportunity to engage and be a voice for ourselves and others. We will be worshipping together, hearing from speakers, sharing food and celebrating communion together. We want you to be there because we want to hear YOUR voice. Together #weareCEYC

 

Our Provisional timetable is below. We are pleased to announce that we will be having Canon James Walters and  Rev Daniel Woodhouse coming to speak to us and lead some workshops.

Canon James Walters is chaplain to the London School of Economics and founding director of the LSE Faith Centre which promotes religious literacy, interfaith dialogue and leadership skills among the LSE student body and in government. The Faith Centre’s programmes equip future leaders to bring their faith into their public engagement and build bridges in the face of escalating religious conflict. This workshop will explore different models of engaging with social and political change in today’s world.
‘Putting the protest back into Protestantism: How far should we go when resisting injustice?’
Rev. Dan Woodhouse is a Methodist Minister currently stationed in Leeds. Recently he and his Quaker friend Sam made headlines after breaking into a BAE Systems base. They were caught in the act of attempting to disarm the UK built Saudi planes worth close to £1billion. Charges were pressed but the verdict was “not guilty”. This workshop will explore the theology of protest and what led the pair to take such drastic action.

Friday 2nd

5-6pm Arrivals – Pickups from Kidderminster Train Station
6-7pm Dinner
7-7:30pm Ice breakers
7:30-7:45pm Welcome & Notices
7:45-8: 30pm Opening Worship
8:30-9pm Fellowship Groups 1
9-9:30pm Session 1 – Introducing Theme and setting tone
9:30-10 Social 1 – Quiz!
10pm Compline (Optional)

 

Saturday 3rd

8-8:30am Morning Prayer (Optional)
8:30-9:30am Breakfast – Core group Meeting
9:30-10am Morning Worship
10-11am Session 2 – Debate Discussion
11-11:15am Break
11:15-11:45am Fellowship Groups 2
11:45-12pm Break
12-1pm Session 3
1-2pm Lunch
2pm Deadline for Amendments to Motion
2-3pm Workshops 1 – Canon James Walters – What kind of changemaker do I aspire to be?
3-3:15pm Break
3:15-4:15pm Workshops 2 – Rev Daniel Woodhouse – Putting the protest back into Protestantism.
4:15-4:30pm Break
4:30-6pm Debate and Amendments
6-7pm Dinner
7-7:30pm Fellowship Groups 3
7:45-9:15pm Communion
9:30-10:30pm Social 2
10:30pm Compline (Optional)

 

 

Sunday 4th

Time
8-8:30am Morning Prayer (Optional)
8:30-9:30am Breakfast
9:30am Election Nominations Close
9:30-10:30am Session 4 – Where do we go from here?
10:30am-12pm Elections and Testimonies
12-1pm Closing Worship
1-2pm Lunch
2pm Departures

 

General Synod July 2018

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This weekend was different from normal. I had the privilege of observing the Church of England (CofE) General Synod in York, with five other representatives of the CofE Youth Council. For those of you who don’t know much about church affairs, the CofE Synod is a council of Bishops, Priests and Laymen who meet twice a year to discuss, debate and vote on decisions in the church.

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[Read more…] about General Synod July 2018

Council of African Provinces of Africa Youth Congress 2018

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Time has flown so quickly! It feels like only yesterday CEYC went to Kenya. On the 8th -14th April, Shakeel (Chair of CEYC) and Ed (Intern) were in Kenya to attend the first CAPA Youth Congress. It was an amazing week looking at Releasing Youth Potential. We arrived at a lush and vibrant Nairobi. The sun radiated throughout the city and a gentle breeze kept the temperature at a gentle level. It was a welcome change from the snow and ice we had received in Britain earlier in the month!

[Read more…] about Council of African Provinces of Africa Youth Congress 2018

CEMES Portsmouth: Western Wards Internship Scheme 2018/19

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Here is an exciting opportunity for a year long internship in Portsmouth, beginning in September 2018.

Diocese of Portsmouth

The Western Wards Internship is a one year programme, suitable for people aged between 18-29 who wish to explore their vocation through a combination of hands-on ministry experience, theological training and vocational discernment.

Deadline: 1st September 2018

[Read more…] about CEMES Portsmouth: Western Wards Internship Scheme 2018/19

Shakeel (Chair) Introduction

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Shakeel – CEYC Chair Welcome

Hello everyone! My name is Shakeel, I am the CEYC representative for Peterborough Diocese, and I have just come on board the CEYC team as its new Chair. Since the completion of my Theology degree in 2017, I’ve been working as a church intern at St. Andrews Church Kettering, as a part of Peterborough Diocese’s ministry experience scheme.

[Read more…] about Shakeel (Chair) Introduction

Churches and Their Buildings

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During CEYC’s fantastic November residential only a few weeks ago I talked to a number of people about one of the Church of England’s most defining, wonderful and expensive aspects: our buildings.

First I think it’s best and indeed most helpful to define the difference between our Churches and Church buildings. Churches, as defined in the New Testament, are groups of Christians who gather to pray, worship and teach in the presence of God. Church buildings are the places in which these groups of Christians meet. In the Church of England we sometimes fall into the trap of calling our buildings the “Churches” and believing that a group of Christians can only call themselves a “Church” if they meet in one of these buildings.
It would be good to keep this in the front of your mind while I discuss the Church and its buildings.

[Read more…] about Churches and Their Buildings

Discover – Hereford Diocese

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Aged 18-29? Interested in exploring full-time ministry? Hereford Diocese is hosting a one-year long residential experience called Discover. You can find out more about it here. It is a chance for four young people to work full-time in ministry and learn more about their calling and relationship with God.

EXPIRED September 2017
Whist this is content is EXPIRED, you could still find information for applying for next year!

Call Waiting

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Interested in exploring what Ministry you are called to? Aged 13-30? Want to explore before making any commitments?

Then look no further. Call Waiting provides opportunities for young people to explore Ministry and practice their gifts in church contexts.

So why not visit www.callwaiting.org.uk and see where God might be leading you.

Introducing Ed, our new Intern!

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Hello,

My name is Edward Cox. I am known as Ed, Edy, Smed, Edwardian, Teddy, Tedward… well you get the drift. I have spent the last 24 years doing a whole range of different things, all earning me these different names. For the last 6 years, I have been working as a Science Technician in a Secondary School. This has earned me the rather envious title of “that Science Tech guy”. I have been a voluntary youth worker (or yooff worker) on and off for the last 6 years too. This has earned me the title of “Uncle Smedward”. or “Mummy Smed” (depending on what particular mood the youth are in). I have been married for the last 4 years and I am a proud cat owner, which has earned me the title of “Eeeeddd” and “provider of food” respectively.

This next step of my journey is a real leap of faith for me. I am leaving a comfortable job, at a School that I have been at for 13 years (since Y8!). I am trusting that God will provide (has so far!). Whilst I look ahead to the next 12 months I know that I will be meeting with and talking to a lot of different people. I will be representing and supporting CEYC in many different places and areas. Every time I meet someone they will probably have their own name for me.

In these next 12 months, what I truly hope for is that when people remember my name, they will remember Joy and Grace. The very same Joy and Grace that CEYC embodies and lives out. So, for those of you who pray, please pray that I will be filled with that Joy and Grace and share it with all those that I meet. As I start my journey serving and supporting CEYC that is all I can hope for.

I look forward to meeting you all,

Ed