2025 ACE Synod and Conference Roundup

Bishop Andy Lines encouraged the 2025 ACE Synod, meeting in Coventry at the beginning of June, to look back with gratitude and look forward with prayerful ambition.

ACE has come a long way since its inauguration in March 2021 and delegates rejoiced that in the last year 9 congregations have joined the diocese with a further affiliation approved at Synod. The Lord has also answered our prayers for him to send workers into the harvest field with 5 ordinations.

However the focus of our first in-person conference alongside Synod was our vision ‘to proclaim Christ faithfully to the nations of Europe.’ John McLernon of Crosslinks reminded us of our responsibility to the ‘family business’ to make disciples and highlighted the needs and opportunities across the continent. Glen Scrivener from Speak Life encouraged us, in whatever our context, to ‘stay on the supply side’ and keep sowing the seed of the word, offering Christ to all. And Bishop Paul Donison, General Secretary of Gafcon, opened Acts 1 for us, pointing us to the presence, power and promise of the ascended Lord Jesus Christ in our mission as he works out his sovereign purposes even in the midst of turbulent events.

Many of those present had not actually met each other ‘in real life’ and were hugely encouraged by the opportunity to develop relationships and deepen our partnership together as we considered how we contribute to the task that the Lord has entrusted to us.