Last week, six Durham Ministry Experience Volunteers (MEVs) attended the Ministry Experience Scheme National Conference at St Mary’s Church, Marylebone. The event brought together MEVs from dioceses across the UK and the Diocese of Europe to connect, worship, and explore the theme of leadership through inspiring keynote talks and discussions.
Eloise, placed at St Cuthbert’s, Darlington, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “I loved that I was able to meet and see the global Anglican communion of MEVs in action at the conference.”
The conference featured sessions by Liz and John Grier (+Plymouth), who explored leadership through the lens of Biblical examples. Their thought-provoking talk invited attendees to reflect on the strengths and flaws of leaders in scripture.
Abi, currently based at St Nics, Durham, shared, “Liz and John’s talk about leadership and recognising that leaders can also be broken people really opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about my role in the church as a future leader, and how that works alongside my own human nature.”
For Hannah, who is placed at House of Hope, Thornley, the conference was an uplifting experience. “It’s great to be amongst other young people to worship and celebrate the ways that we can serve the church in our communities,” she said.
The conference also provided a valuable networking opportunity for young Christians to share their journeys and learn from one another’s experiences. The Durham MEVs highlighted the joy of witnessing so many peers dedicating a year of their lives to ministry and service.
The Ministry Experience Scheme, open to individuals aged 18–30, offers participants the chance to discover their unique gifts and skills through Christian ministry and leadership. Volunteers gain hands-on experience across a variety of church settings, developing their faith and exploring potential vocations.
If you know a young person who might be interested in this life-changing opportunity, or if someone in your church community is considering exploring ministry for a year, Durham Diocese would love to hear from you. Contact Linda Ransom, Growing Churches Enabler, at Linda.Ransom@durham.anglican.org for more information.
This event was a significant milestone for the MEVs, reaffirming their commitment to serving God and growing as leaders in the church.
Top photo: Inside St Mary’s, Marylebone
Second photo: Group Bible study on King David’s leadership