Supporting parish engagement with children, young people and families
The team of Discipleship Enablers exists to support engagement between children, young people and families within the church, community and local schools. Working with the Disciples Together vision and strategy, the team have a heart and passion for this ministry. They look forward to working with you and your church community in supporting, encouraging and nurturing the next generation.
Our resource page lists the best ideas and resources that we have come across to help you in your own ministry.
Check out Generations - a monthly mailing for all who minister among children, young people and families. Read the October edition.
Y
ellow Braces
BOOK NOW for 2023!
A weekend of fun, malarkey, activities, food and engaging with Christianity, faith and life. There's something for everyone – games, crafts, challenges and competitions. There are also regular sessions of worship, and we look at what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
See what we got up to in 2022...
Reserve your spot now - just £96 for one young person, with discounts for families with two or three young people. Find out more.
Taizé pilgrimage
BOOKING NOW OPEN!
The times we are in are confusing and challenging in so many ways. But pilgrimage gives us the possibility of new perspectives, and the chance to go out from ourselves and return changed.
Join Bishop OIivia on a pilgrimage to Taizé in France this August. You’ll camp, stay up late and spend amazing amounts of time singing and talking and sharing. No one who has been to Taizé comes back unchanged. So why not join this pilgrimage and see what there is to discover? Download the flyer to find out more.
A big, warm welcome to your family this Lent
Come and See is a free online experience to explore the Christian faith. It takes place over 40 days, starting on 22 February - and this year, there's even more resources specifically for families and young people.
Children and youth volunteer? Find out more here.
In this section...
Disciples Together
How we can embrace change for the benefit of God’s work in the world and an outline steps for our future ministry.
Resourcing Disciples Together
A list of resources, links and ideas to help with ministry to children, young people and families.
Equipping for ministry
Ensuring all who minister with children, young people and families are valued, equipped and supported.
Schools partnerships
Serving and building relationships with your local schools.
Meet the team
The Revd Tina Molyneux
Head of Discipleship and Social Justice
Tina has worked across various roles in vocations and discipleship for the diocese over the last four years. She grew up in St Helens, Merseyside, and has a degree in politics from University of Leeds. Tina’s passion has always been encouraging people to grow in confidence and fulfil their potential. Her role allows her to serve and support parishes in our work to ‘see the whole people of God enabled to be contemplative, compassionate and courageous disciples, who feel equipped to live out the Good News of Jesus for the sake of God’s world’. Tina was ordained in 2010 and has lived in Berkshire for over 20 years. Prior to ordination, Tina was a management consultant, specialising in organisational design and HR development in both the public and private sector. Tina is a mum of triplets, who are now at university.
07443 534 010
Ian Macdonald
Discipleship Enabler (Berkshire Area) and Youth Ministry specialist
Ian is Discipleship Enabler in the Berkshire team for 50% of his time, with a specialism in youth work across the diocese for the rest. Ian thinks teenagers are brilliant and is passionate about youth work, acknowledging just how much we have to learn from them. Ian is passionate about laughter and the way it connects us with ourself and others. Whilst taking comedy very seriously, Ian retains a sense of humour in his approach to mission and spirituality. Ian has been to bible schools in Lancashire and Austria, is a professionally-qualified youth worker and gained a Masters degree in theology from Kings College London. He has one wife, three quirky, wonderful, grown-up children, and one dog; these have been some of his greatest teachers. He failed his cycling proficiency test when he was ten but is largely over this now.
01865 208 253
Yvonne Morris
Discipleship Enabler (Dorchester & Oxford Areas) and Children’s and Family Ministry specialist
Yvonne is the Discipleship Enabler across the Oxford and Dorchester Archdeaconries, as well as the diocesan children and family ministry specialist. One of Yvonne's passions is to be shown new things about God by children. She loves gently enabling them to connect their story with God's and God's story with their own through playful wondering. Yvonne also likes helping adults to open up to the mutual spiritual growth that can occur when safe spaces are created with children. Two of the biggest influences on Yvonne’s ministry have been becoming a Godly Play practitioner and being on the delivery team for the Partnership for Missional Church. Yvonne has a husband, two children and three guinea pigs. Her other great play is running, particularly enjoying muddy cross-country races and peaceful early morning runs.
01865 208 255
James Wood
Discipleship Enabler (Buckingham Area) and Schools specialist
James is Discipleship Enabler for the Buckinghamshire, as well as school’s missions advisor. James has responsibility for supporting the churches in the Buckingham Archdeaconry with youth, children’s and families ministry. He also provides specialist advice and support across the diocese in relation to church engagement with schools. James is passionate about discipleship and has had experience of pioneering several youth work projects. James has a BA in Theology and Masters in Mission from Cliff College. In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, swimming and cooking and also spends time composing and producing music
01865 208 296
Bev Higgs
Administrator for the Children, Young People and Families Team
Bev is the team administrator and grew up in North Tyneside, working for the NHS before moving to Oxford to work for the University Central Offices. Bev has worked for the diocese for four years and prior to this was employed as a school secretary at a primary school and at a school for children with physical disabilities. She lives with her husband and has two grown-up children, two grandchildren and a very active dog! She understands the joys and challenges of family life and would describe herself as friendly and approachable. She loves to travel, visiting places of interest and spends a lot of time out and about enjoying the fresh air dog walking!
01865 208 252