I dream that parishes may one day be the setting for theological education for all the baptized. I look forward to seeing parishes as lively centres of learning and debate, with clergy and lay people working together as partners in learning. I would like to see a church in which all people in a parish have the opportunity to develop a basic understanding of the Christian faith, of the variety and richness of its Anglican expression, and of the way that our faith is expressed in the cultural setting in which they live. I dream of a church where people come together to share their stories and to bring the events of their daily lives into dialogue with the story of the Christian faith. The church should be a place where each person’s story can be heard and valued by others.
I believe that people in the church are hungry for learning about the Christian faith, and I hope that the next decade will be one of renewed emphasis on teaching and learning. Seminaries should be places where clergy can develop skills in education and training to enable this to happen – to enable lay people to begin to think theologically about their everyday life and work. I dream of a church where each member shares in worship and learning, in outreach and service, each offering gifts to build up the Body of Christ and to spread the good news of God’s love for all.
Patricia Bays
Ottawa ON
