ADVANCE 2025: Thriving Ministers, Thriving Churches

We are delighted to invite you to ADVANCE 2025: ‘Thriving Ministers, Thriving Churches’ at The Nightingale Centre, Great Hucklow, 24-27^th March 2025. This is a pilot gathering of active Unitarian ministers for spiritual nourishment, collegiality, connection and learning, based on ‘Ministry In The Making’ principles.

THE COST

The total cost is £300 per person, with the GA paying 50% of the cost for each minister. Therefore, the cost you need to pay is £150. We are strongly encouraging congregations, districts and other Unitarian organisations to pay for ministers to attend. If you need a little help in persuading your church or organisation to pay for you to attend, we recommend sharing this poster with them and, if helpful, putting them in touch with us directly via rcastlejones@unitarian.org.uk.

BOOKING

DEADLINE

Bookings must be made by 31 January 2025. 

WHO’S THIS FOR?

There are 50 active ministers on the GA Roll eligible to attend and due to accommodation limitations at the venue we can only offer 25 places, so please book ASAP to avoid disappointment. We will be allocating places on a first-come, first-served basis, and then having a reserve list. We are inviting all active (i.e. non-retired) ministers on the GA Roll who have completed probation and are therefore no longer eligible to attend ‘Ministry In The Making’. Please note that there is no provision for childcare at this pilot event.

WHO’S RUNNING IT AND WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE?

ADVANCE 2025 is being organised by a steering group, who will also be the leadership team at the gathering itself. They are:

• Simon Bland (Ministry & Congregational Support Officer, GA)
• Rev. Rory Castle Jones (Minister of Gellionnen Chapel, Ministry & Leadership Development Officer, GA)
• Rev. Laura Dobson (Minister of Chorlton Unitarians and with the Unitarian Transformers project)
• Rev. Melda Grantham (Welsh Department Secretary & Weddings Lead, GA, and Tutor/Assessor, Unitarian College)
• Rev. Ant Howe (Senior Tutor, Unitarian College) and President of the Ministerial Fellowship

We have chosen the theme ‘Thriving Ministers, Thriving Churches’ because we believe passionately in Unitarianism and in the power of ministers and ministry in transforming lives and communities.

Those attending ADVANCE 2025 who have been through the 'Ministry in the Making’ programme will recognise the blend of collegiality, reflective space, immersive learning, sharing, spiritual nourishment, sharing of good practice, and lots of worship opportunities. If you trained before ‘Ministry in the Making’ existed, don’t worry, a lot of this will be very familiar to you and everything will be clearly explained before and during the gathering.

WHAT’S THE PROGRAMME?

We are in the process of putting together the programme for the gathering, but it is likely to include the following elements:

• Worship – a diverse range of forms worship in the chapel, centre and outdoors (weather permitting!)
• Engagement Groups – small facilitated groups meeting daily over the course of the gathering for deeper sharing and connection
• Social Time – for relaxation, connection and sharing
• Credo Walks – 1 to 1 walks for sharing and connection
• Open Space – sessions to be offered, facilitated and led by attendees, based on ‘Art of Hosting’ principles
• Facilitated Sessions – led by the leadership team on the theme ‘Thriving Ministers, Thriving Congregations’
• Pilgrimage – a mini-pilgrimage to a local church, Holy Well, or other sacred site

What else would you like to see? Please let us know (rcastlejones@unitarian.org.uk).

We are so excited to be organising this gathering for active Unitarian ministers and we can’t wait to see you there.

Yours faithfully,

Ant, Laura, Melda, Rory and Simon

Your Leadership Team