Called and Sent

Leadership Formation for a Synodal Church

Called and Sent is a formation course in Christian Leadership. It aims to equip people with skills and tools that, while necessary in the Church today, will be even more so in the Church going into the future, where clergy, lay and religious are called to be co-responsible for the ‘the being and action of the Church’. (Pope Benedict). The journey into a synodal way of being Church together, begun by Pope Francis and continued by Pope Leo is one where we will require a new passion for equipping, and using the gifts of, leaders. 

Over the course of one full day’s formation and four follow up online formation sessions, Called and Sent will build on the great work already happening in the Church in Scotland as we embrace synodality, not simply as a series of events, but as in invitation from the Holy Spirit to discern together the great plan God has for our Church. 

This formation course will be conducted in a spirit of prayerfulness and intentionality. It will use the synodal method of Conversation in the Spirit as a backbone and a launch pad into other key skills and tools that will help for Christian Leaders. 

We are asking for the names of those who would like to be considered as a candidate for Called and Sent. The commitment will be for one full day (starting at 09:30) at the Ignatian Spirituality Centre in Garnethill, Glasgow on 23 January 2027, and four 2-hour online sessions from 7pm

• 18 February
• 18 March
• 15 April
• 20 May

Following that, candidates must be willing to offer their services in local parishes and across dioceses as their time allows. There will be ongoing support for those who complete the course.

To help you discern if this course is right for you ...

Personal Qualities

• A person of prayer
• Capable of entering into discernment with others
• Good verbal communication skills
• Able to work in a team
• Open to learning new skills
• Willing to put skills into practice
• Able to give a long-term commitment to the work

Experience

You are already engaged in the life of the Church at parish level, diocesan level or in a Church based organisation. You are already experienced in some form of leadership in the Church, for example:

• Member of the clergy or a religious 
• Parish Pastoral Council member
• Diocesan Pastoral Council Chair or member
• Catechist
• Acolyte
• Member of the Legion of Mary, St Vincent de Paul or another religious movement
• Teachers

We look forward to this exciting new venture, and we go forward knowing that we are all Called and Sent.

This webpage is being hosted here temporarily on the ISC Webpage on behalf of the Bishops Conference of Scotland - it will become available on their site at a date in the near future