Pioneering Parishes: First Steps

Ministry & Leadership

Begins Thursday 30 April 2026

A series of four fortnightly webinars to help parishes start to move their energy outwards, become more pioneering and network with others.

First Steps offers an introduction to a do-able congregational discipleship journey that clergy, lay leaders, and congregations make together with Jesus. In First Steps, congregations are invited to step out beyond the walls of church to make spiritual care possible for a wider range of people as pioneering people do. Case studies and ideas are shared along with practical tools, enabling churches to have honest conversations which will help shift the energy of the congregation out towards those who are not yet connected to God in Christ.

Each webinar is 90 minutes and contains teaching, guest speakers and break out rooms. Explore what it means to become a pioneering parish in an informal, warm, fun and open environment that draws on all the wisdom in the room and practices the skill of communal spiritual discernment. First Steps may involve challenging customs, attitudes, practices and activities in your church which hold a bias towards those who are already present.

Who is it for: PCC members, parish clergy, diocesan or parish support staff, people exploring a pioneer call, and anyone searching for tools to help them shift the energy of the parish outwards beyond the church walls. If a group of people come from one church, they have the advantage of being able to share their learning and build on it together.

Course Hosts: Pioneering Parishes

Dates and times:

• Thursday 30 April 2026 - 1.45pm - 3.30pm
• Thursday 14 May 2026 - 2.00pm - 3:30pm
• Thursday 28 May 2026 - 2.00pm - 3:30pm
• Thursday 11 June 2026 - 2.00pm - 3:30pm

Venue: Online via Zoom

Cost: £10 per person. If you bring a team, the maximum your church will pay is for five spaces (£50), any additional participants are free.

Booking deadlines: 23 April 2026 for individuals, 16 April 2026 for groups.

Book this course.