Parish Discernment – Local Conversations
Thanks to your time, commitment and engagement over 90% of parishes across our Diocese have submitted their Parish Discernment Returns.
Bishop Stephen expressed his grateful thanks and asked that we keep the process in our prayers as we seek to respond to the Lord’s call to worship Him and serve our communities in a flourishing and sustainable manner.
Returns have all been read – common opportunities and challenges identified, beacons of hope recognised, tensions and difficulties acknowledged and potential growth and progression documented.
The next stage in the process is to take these findings into neighbouring parishes or Partnerships to listen across the individual responses and prepare one shared local plan.
The task is not to produce a list of separate parish wishes. The task is to discern together what will help mission flourish across the wider local community.
Given the number of parishes that will be meeting together it is envisaged that each will nominate two representatives who will then bring the discussion back to the parish.
If parishioners wish to share further reflection they are encouraged to do so with their parish directly.
The Partnership or Neighbouring Group will submit their collective responses (Part I) by 1st August 2026.
These returns will then be reflected upon from a Deanery and Diocesan perspective.
Independent Facilitators
If an Independent Facilitator would be helpful in your meeting or if you require any further support or assistance please contact:-
0191 243 3316 (option 2) Monday – Friday: 9am until 4pm
or email discernment.returns@diocesehn.org.uk