Some Ways Forward

St Chads Volunteers: I met with two young people who are seriously interested in coming over to Lichfied on the SCVP: Asha Kerr-Wilson (Regina) who might come in Sept 2012 for at least 6 months and Andrea Wall (Swift Current) who hopes to come for 12 months in June 2013.

Clergy Exchanges: Bishop Greg was particularly keen to provide opportunities for Ordained Local Clergy to gain experience through a placement in Lichfield Diocese. However there are also clearly openings for all stipendiary clergy to do a 'church' swop for say 3 to 6 months.

One-off placements: Rob spoke of how valuable a placement had been in his parish for someone from Lichfield who was exploring / reflecting on his calling. Being in a different though similar context can be positive and healing for such review and reflection.

Sabbaticals: Plenty of scope for arranging these.



St Michael's Retreat House / Shallowford Link: I began to explore possibilities of setting up a link between these two conference / retreat centres. They could be good praying partners.



Parish to Parish Links: I found congregation members of Weyburn (Debbie Hubrick and Kim Lohse) were curious as to why a group from their link parish had not been out to visit them. Many people spoke positively about earlier visits - approx 1994/2001/2204/2008 - including a combined visit to West Malaysia. It is difficult to sustain these but I think such experiences are still valuable even though they may only be sustained in a meaningful way for a 'season'. Several churches asked specifically for a link and I was able to speak with Del, vicar of Big Country parish, about a possible link with All Saints, Wolverhampton.

School to School Links: Gordon's First Nation School would like to establish a link with a school in this Diocese. I took some photos and Rev Vicki Young has details of contacts at the school. The school liason officer has herself been over to Lichfield. The school links would be more possible I gather with First Nation Schools than with the highly secularised national schools.




Art: With the artistic gifts of the Archdeacon Rob and Rev Kim Salo there would be a good starting point for some creative arts focus. Also worth noting are the four paintings inspired by First Nations Art done by Brian Covington from Lichfield Diocese following a visit he made. One of the paintings is hanging in St Luke's First Nation Church on Gordon's Reserve.




First Nation Awareness: I would like to see visits which could lead to friendships through the sharing of experiences and stories, which would enable marginalised groups within our Diocese to learn from and share in solidarity with the First Nations People in Qu'Appelle Diocese.