Continue the conversation, reflect with others, and put the learning into practice.

Almost 500 clergy and lay leaders gathered at the University of York from 23 to 25 July 2026 for Called and Sent, our diocesan conference. Across three days of worship, Bible study, keynote addresses, seminars, panel discussions, and time together, we explored what it means to live and share Christ’s story in communities across our diocese.

This page brings together resources to help parishes, chaplaincies, schools, deaneries, and ministry teams revisit what they heard, continue the conversation locally, and identify practical next steps.

• Follow-up resource
• Small-group resource
• Self-Reflection and Development Tool for Churches
• Parish support offer
• Watch sessions again
• View photo album

Archbishop Stephen reflects on Called and Sent

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Living Christ’s Story

Living Christ’s Story is how we live and share the story of Jesus today — joining in God’s mission of love in and for the world, rooted in every community across our diocese.

At Called and Sent, we explored the four priorities that shape this shared calling:

• Becoming more like Christ
• Reaching people we currently don’t
• Growing churches of missionary disciples who are younger and more diverse
• Transforming our finances and structures for mission

Together, these themes help us discern how God is calling us to live, serve, and grow in our own context.

Start with the follow-up resource

Our Called and Sent follow-up resource offers a simple way to revisit the main themes of the conference.

It includes key ideas from the three days, questions for reflection, and prompts to help churches consider what the learning could mean locally.

Use it:

• with a PCC or leadership team;
• in a deanery meeting;
• with a ministry team;
• in a small group; or
• as a starting point for personal reflection.

Request printed copies at comms@yorkdiocese.org.

Continue the conversation together

The small-group discussion resource is designed to help churches and deaneries reflect more deeply on the conference themes.

It can be used as one longer session or divided across several meetings.

The questions are intended to help groups:

• notice what God is already doing;
• identify challenges and opportunities;
• listen to different experiences;
• connect local priorities with Living Christ’s Story; and
• agree realistic next steps.

Reflect on the life of your church

The Self-Reflection and Development Tool helps churches take an honest, hopeful look at their life and mission.

It is designed to help you:

• recognise what is going well;
• identify pressures or gaps;
• explore opportunities for growth;
• reflect on the four Living Christ’s Story priorities; and
• decide what support may help.

It is not an inspection, a league table, or a test. It is a tool for prayerful conversation, shared discernment, and practical planning.

Find support for your next step

Once you have identified your priorities, the Parish Support Offer can help you find the right people, training, advice, and resources.

The booklet brings together support available from diocesan teams and partners across a range of areas, including:

• discipleship and mission;
• children and young people;
• buildings;
• finance and generosity;
• governance;
• safeguarding;
• vocations;
• communications; and
• community engagement.

Use it alongside the Self-Reflection and Development Tool to move from reflection into action.

Watch the conference sessions

Recordings from the main conference sessions will be available from the beginning of September 2026.

We will publish them sooner where editing and captioning are completed ahead of schedule.

Recordings will include contributions from conference speakers and panel members, helping individuals and groups revisit key themes or catch up on sessions they were unable to attend.

View the photographs

Explore photographs from across the three days, including worship, keynote sessions, seminars, conversations, and time spent together.

What will you do next?

The lasting impact of Called and Sent will be seen in how churches use what they have learned: in the conversations they continue, the decisions they make, the partnerships they strengthen, and the ways they serve their communities.

You might begin by:

• setting aside time at your next PCC or leadership meeting;
• using the small-group resource with others;
• completing the Self-Reflection and Development Tool;
• contacting a diocesan team for support; or
• sharing one idea from the conference with your wider church community.

We would love to hear how your church is putting the learning into practice. Share your ideas, stories, and successes with us at comms@yorkdiocese.org so that we can celebrate them and inspire other parishes across the diocese.