The diocese has been pleased to welcome new interns and Mission Apprentices to join the existing cohort, as they begin their time of learning and service.
Our Mission Apprentices and Interns are serving in churches including Bradford Cathedral, St Stephen’s West Bowling, Fountains Church Bradford, Holy Trinity Idle, Keighley Parish churches, St John's East Bowling, St John's Great Horton and St Wilfrid's Lidget Green, St John's Greengates, St Margaret's Frizinghall, St Michael's Shelf, Girlington Heaton and Manningham churches, St Francis Allerton and St James Thornton, and St Oswald’s and All Saints Little Horton.
This year, the group are gathering on Mondays at Fountains Church Bradford to work through a packed training programme, supported by the Revds Leah Leighton, Derek Jones and Amy Berry.
The term began looking at the subject of justice, through the lens of the Book of Amos.
Other topics this term include sin, the climate crisis, caring for God’s people, trauma, hospitality, how to read the Bible and more.
The Archdeacon of Bradford, the Ven Dr Andy Jolley, said: “I’m thrilled that we have such a good and diverse cohort of Mission Apprentices and Interns serving in churches this year.
“We’re praying that they have a great year learning and growing in their faith, and will be a real blessing to their churches and the communities they are serving.”
The Leeds Diocesan Internship scheme is an opportunity to explore more of what it means to be a disciple of Christ, and to serve His church.
It is designed to equip people for life, work and leadership, and runs from September to July involving practical placements, training and community living.
Each internship involves leadership experience; training in biblical studies, theology and leadership; developing transferable work skills; and an opportunity to consider God’s calling for the future.
As part of the scheme, our Mission Apprentices have been recruited to help drive and expand the church’s mission and revitalisation work in the Bradford Episcopal Area.
Being a Mission Apprentice is a two-year long adventure giving people an experience of leadership and service, learning alongside the community of other Mission Apprentices.
The Mission Apprentices are able to explore more of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and grow as a leader of mission in a local churches, while being given skills to equip them for life, work, mission and leadership, and the opportunity to use and develop these.
To find out more about the Diocesan Interns Scheme, please click here, and for Mission Apprentices, here.