The next Lay Conference - "Not Just Sunday" encouraging #EverydayFaith – is being held over the weekend of Friday 25 March to Sunday 27 March 2022 at the Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick.

About this event

This conference is targeted at lay people from across the diocese who want to be part of efforts to help everyone to live out their faith in their daily lives not just on Sundays. The event is free to attend and includes accomodation and meals.

This residential conference is being held at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire. Set in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside, the Centre is well equipped with modern facilities. The accommodation for delegates consists of rooms with a high standard of décor and furnishings. Many of the bedrooms have been recently refurbished with updated décor, USB charging ports and acoustic treatments to the ceiling and floors for sound reduction. All rooms feature en-suites facilities and many are accessible rooms for anyone with reduced mobility. Single, twin, double and family rooms are available.

Building on the success of the last Lay Conference - “Mission Possible” – the Conference will be a time to learn from others and to enjoy fellowship as we provide encouragement and explore how we can be more effective as lay Christians and deepen our discipleship. The conference will be varied and will include: An Any Questions panel; interactive workshops; the opportunity to hear keynote speakers; and time for planning next steps. Worship (in different styles) will be offered throughout, and there will be a chance for all to share experiences in a “poster” session. The conference aims to be a fun time too with professional entertainment on the Saturday evening and lots of opportunities to meet others and mingle or else simply to enjoy having a chance to be quiet and reflect in the Centre’s well-maintained grounds.

Feedback from the last Lay Conference

"Very interesting and particulary enjoyed meeting lay people from all parts of the dicoese."

"This was my first ever Lay Conference and I found it to be uplifting and exciting."

"Exceeded my expectations."

Workshops

Participants will be asked to choose two of the workshops that are on offer. These workshops will give delegates an opportunity to interact with the guest speakers and others, and will cover the following topics:

Morning Session

• How worship can be oriented to help sustain Everyday Discipleship. Presented by Sara and Sam Hargreaves, of Engageworship.
• How can lay voices be heard? Real life experiences of being a Christian. Presented by Dr Nick Shepherd, Director of Setting God's People Free.
• Making an impact: specific examples of how parishes in our diocese have helped congregations to live out their faith in everyday life. Presented by members of the Diocese's Everyday Faith team.
• Eco projects: environmental initiatives around the Diocese that are demonstrating everyday faith to old and young alike. Presented by members of the Diocese's Everyday Faith team.

Afternoon Session

• How to live out our lives as Christians in home, work and community. Presented by Lyn Weston, the LICC's Director of CofE relations
• What does the Bible say about everyone being called to serve God's mission? Presented by Loveday Alexander, Emeritus Professor of Biblical Studies at Sheffield and former Canon Theologian of Chester cathedral
• Making an impact: specific examples of how parishes in our diocese have helped congregations to live out their faith in everyday life. Presented by members of the Diocese's Everyday Faith team. (This is a repeat of the morning workshop.)
• Eco projects: fantastic ideas for looking after the world and caring for God's creation. Presented by Paul Kerensa, Christian comedian and co-author of Planet Protectors

Our speakers include:

Lyn Weston

Lyn joined the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity in 2019 having previously been the Director of Mission for the Diocese of Chester. At LICC she is the Director of Church of England Relations in which role she helps Anglican church leaders to equip their congregations to live out their faith in their everyday lives. A culture change specialist from the financial services sector, she helps to grow a whole-life discipleship culture in churches. Bringing a sunny presence into the room with her, we are delighted to have Lyn with us again both as a key speaker and to present one of our workshops.

Nick Shepherd

Dr Nick Shepherd co-ordinates the Setting God’s People Free (SGPF) initiative for the Church of England. SGPF is a programme of change to enable the whole people of God to live out the Good News of Jesus confidently in all of life, Sunday to Saturday. This work is primarily focussed on supporting dioceses to develop and implement strategies to support faith in everyday life across churches of all traditions in diverse contexts. Nick’s work also includes speaking and writing on leading change, faith formation and theological education. Nick is based in London, but will travel anywhere with good coffee. We are delighted that this will include the Hayes Conference Centre for us next March where he will be a speaker and workshop presenter.

Paul Kerensa

Paul Kerensa is a Christian comedian. Winner of the BBC Radio Entertainment Contract Writer Titheridge Prize, Paul writes and script-edits for many comedies for BBC TV, Sky and other channels. He was on the British Comedy Award-winning writing team for Miranda, and has written on each series of Lee Mack's sitcom Not Going Out, among other shows. He won the ITV Take the Mike Award in 2002 and has been described as "Ingenious" by the Evening Standard. Paul is also one of the few to perform stand-up at both comedy clubs and churches, in bearpits and pulpits, as well as contributing regular "Pause For Thought" slots on Chris Evans' Radio 2 Breakfast Show. Paul returns to this Lay Conference by popular demand, and will be presenting a workshop on his latest book as well as providing the evening entertainment slot.

Sara and Sam Hargreaves

Sam and Sara Hargreaves work for Engageworship which is a ministry of the charity the Music and Worship Foundation. Sam and Sara were both trained at London School of Theology in Theology, Music and Worship. Sam was on the faculty in the Worship Department at LST for five years, and still returns as a regular guest lecturer. Both Sara and Sam have Masters degrees from King's College London. In 2017 the Royal School of Church Music gave them the Associate award for services to worship in the UK. We are delighted that they will be joining us as key speakers and workshop presenters whilst also helping to lead some of our worship.

Loveday Alexander

Loveday was trained as a classicist and has retained an overriding interest in exploring the boundaries and interconnections between the New Testament and its first-century context. Her many published works include Images of Empire (editor), The Preface to Luke’s Gospel, The People’s Bible: Acts, and Acts in its Ancient Literary Context: A Classicist Looks at the Acts of the Apostles. Alongside her academic work, she is interested in exploring the impact of the New Testament in church teaching and workshops at local diocesan and national level, and has contributed a chapter to Steven Croft’s book "Mission-Shaped Questions" on the patterns of church and mission found in Acts. Loveday is emeritus professor of Biblical Studies at Sheffield University and former Canon Theologian of Chester and Chichester cathedrals.