Over 50 people gathered together last night to celebrate those who have completed the Walking Together in Faith course. Bishop Robert awarded the ‘Bishop’s certificate’ to the 16 people from the course who chose to work towards this award. 

Canon Dr Clare Amos said “I congratulate the brave group of 16 souls here this evening who have persevered and are now receiving the just recognition for their commitment and their work. 

Walking Together in Faith is a very good name for the course. It draws on the same words used in our diocesan strategy. They are words that are apposite for all Christian people, we are all called to be part of the pilgrim people of God journeying together towards the hope of the city of God, at the end of the road. Yet they feel especially appropriate in our Diocese in Europe, criss-crossed with great pilgrim routes and in which journeying is inevitably so much of our common life. For me, and I think for many of us who have been present as the course has been delivered online, a very special aspect has been the way that it has brought together lay Anglican people from across the diocese – including some countries going through great difficulties – and helped us in a real way to feel part of one diocese, part of each other. It wasn’t something that we had necessarily expected or factored in as we were working to create the course, but it has become a valued aspect of its reality. “

People joined the service from all across the diocese – from the Canary Islands to Moscow, and movingly we heard the Lord’s Prayer in Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic which was the language of Jesus himself, to remind us that whenever we pray the Lord’s prayer – in whatever tongue we use – we are standing close to and alongside Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith. 

Tom Nolan, who received his certificate at the event, recounted; "It was a lovely and memorable occasion - 16 people from all four corners of the diocese were in attendance to collect their Bishop's certificate from Bishop Robert.  Many thanks go to Clare Amos for her leadership and delivery of the course."

The next course begins on 17th September, and there is still time to sign up. Everyone is welcome, and we look forward to seeing you there. 

Lay Learning course | Diocese in Europe (anglican.org)