Children and young people in our churches and schools are at the heart of our diocesan goals of reaching, growing and sustaining and with this in mind, Carolyn Edwards has been appointed to the new role of Children and Young People’s Adviser for the Diocese and will begin work on the 19th November.
Carolyn is currently the Programme Lead for the Mission and Ministry degree courses at Cliff College, having previously worked with Oxford CYM training students in youth and children’s ministry. She has a wealth of experience both as a practitioner and a lecturer and trainer, working for her local church as a Children’s Evangelist and running events like the Scripture Union mission in Aylesbury. She has written material for Scripture Union for many years and is the author of ‘Slugs and Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails: Helping Boys Connect with God’ and co-editor of ‘Re-thinking Children’s work in churches’ which is coming out next year. She is currently completing doctoral research into children’s spirituality and faith development, but in her ‘spare’ time loves being with friends and family, drinking good coffee, laughing, and looking at beautiful things.
Carolyn will link particularly to the 20s-40s ministry developments, Leading Your Church into Growth (LyCiG) and importantly how we hear the needs of those in poverty. She will provide the strategic oversight for our ministry among children, young people and their families at every level throughout the Diocese and will commission consultants to work with parishes and deaneries on the things that are identified to be the priority at the local level. Carolyn will also work alongside Olivia Seymour in the Education team to support partnership working between parishes and schools and with the 20s -40s Team Leader and the Revd Richard White, the new Director of Making and Nurturing Disciples.
Carolyn says, “I am really looking forward to joining the Diocesan team at this exciting time of re-envisioning. I love the fact that the vision is so mission focused and I can't wait to see how we can nurture and grow the churches' engagement with the children and young people in their communities.”