The Myriad initiative, which envisages the planting of 10,000 lay-led churches by 2030, is shining a light on what is already happening in the Church of England, the Bishop of Islington, Dr Ric Thorpe, said on Friday.<\/p>\n
In a personal statement issued in response to concerns about the initiative (News, 2 July, 9 July), Dr Thorpe \u2014 who leads the Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication, home to the Myriad church-planting initiative \u2014 apologised for the \u201churt and frustration\u201d caused by communication of the work.<\/p>\n
He referred to the phrase \u201ckey limiting factors\u201d, used by Canon John McGinley, who leads Myriad, in a conversation about lay leadership (\u201cWhen you don\u2019t need a building and a stipend and long, costly college-based training for every leader of church . . . then actually we can release new people to lead and new churches to form\u201d). The context to this had been lost, Dr Thorpe, said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so sad that this has happened. It is the opposite message to what we were trying to communicate and it didn\u2019t come across as it was intended to. I am deeply sorry for the hurt and frustration that people have experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we are for is parish. It is at the very heart of our mission and our call. . . But we are also noticing the growing number of new congregations and lay-led worshipping communities around the country that are extending the reach of our parishes" https:\/\/t.co\/ykkCO1GfwD<\/a><\/p>\n — Church Times (@ChurchTimes) July 23, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n