This toolkit is designed to help parishes and benefices consult with, and include the voice of, children and young people in the vacancy process from parish profile through to appointment.
Growing younger and more diverse is a priority for us within the Diocese of Ely as well as across the National Church. A time of vacancy allows parishes to reflect on what is important to them, to identify and celebrate their strengths, as well as articulate the areas that they hope a new incumbent will help them develop and strengthen. Choosing the right incumbemt, who will lead the parish into the next chapter of their life together, will be absolutely key. The PCC will want to consult widely, and we encourage the PCC to find ways of enabling children and young people to be heard and meaningfully input into that process. By doing this, it demonstrates that children and young people are an important part of the church, valuing their views, opinions and perspectives and acknowledging their role in discerning God's plan for the parish and local worshipping community.