Tomorrow I have a question in my name in the House of Lords, asking His Majesty’s Government ‘what assessment they have made of the impact of investment in early years education on children’s long-term outcomes, including attainment, employability, and wellbeing’. Whilst this is a political question, for me it is rooted in a commitment to the flourishing of every person, beginning at birth, each one created in the image of God and full of potential to go on becoming.
Since we first prayerfully discerned our diocesan LIFE vision in 2016, there is much that has continued to bear fruit regarding the nurturing of faith in children, young people and families, not only in schools, parishes and chaplaincies, but also in the establishment of Connect, the work of Sportily and the deepening of partnerships, not least with Grace Network.
This week, as I moved the wooden figures of the magi into my Christmas crib, I saw with fresh eyes the very simple truth that in the nativity scene, the tiny baby Jesus is at the centre, even though it is a scene dominated by adults. Admittedly some of the shepherds may have been very young, and we do not know whether the magi were young or old. What we do know is that those adults, from very different backgrounds and places, had been drawn to the child who was their focus, and they had travelled to be where the child and family were. Furthermore, the child was to be their teacher, even as a child.
Of course, it is a flawed comparison as that child was God come to earth. Yet, those adults adoring the Christ child in the nativity scene have enriched my reflections on how so often the adults in the Church long for more children and young people to grow in faith but often want to find ways to attract the child and young person to come to where the adults are, rather than going to where they are. This might be literal and be about place, or it might be metaphorical in seeking out where the child and young person ‘is at’ in terms of their hopes, needs, dreams, gifts and views of the world. Furthermore, adults so often start with what we can do ‘for’ the child rather than how we might learn from being with them.
As I look back on 2025, the occasions of being with children and young people are highlights. Conversation and interaction which began with the questions and views of the child or young person (for example, a child in reception or a year 12 student studying sociology), has enabled me to share something of my own encounter with Jesus Christ — to share parts of my own story as I have interacted with theirs, beginning with where they are. And I have learned so much from those children and young people.
All of this leads me to naming an intentional focus in 2026 as we discern the next season of inhabiting our vision of LIFE Together. The senior staff team are reflecting yet further on how our spotlight commitment of ‘investing in people and programmes which excite young people to explore and grow in faith’ connects across all the 5 spotlight areas, and takes a central place in our commitment to share the transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that people may know life in all its fullness.
We will be looking at how together across the diocese, we interweave more coherently all that currently exists and all that is emerging, such that we offer continuing pathways of relationship with the Church, full of possibility of encounter with Jesus Christ and continual discovery for every child and family, from birth through to adulthood. Of course, not every worshipping community and initiative can offer everything, so the challenge and excitement is how together we might live greater and clearer partnerships across deaneries and wider diocesan initiatives.
In all of this, it would be foolish and dangerous for us to think that any of us are the ones who make encounter with Christ happen — that is the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, as I return to the nativity scene with the crib at the centre, I am acutely aware that those adults around the Christ-child found themselves in that place through the mysterious and generous love of God, working not only through political decisions such as a data-collecting census, but also through the mysterious presence of angels and stars.
As the season of Epiphany unfolds, I pray that we might have a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ and commit ourselves to place the child at the centre, and to travel to where they ‘are at’, geographically and/or emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Furthermore, as we pray for children, young people, families and carers, to be caught up in the mysterious love of God and encounter with Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit, may those of us who are adults be expectant for our faith to grow as we learn from the child and young person at the centre.
With my thanks and prayers for our life together,
News Hub
