Over 160 participants and 20 speakers from across the UK gathered at Coventry Cathedral for Being Missional Today 2025, a conference sponsored by Reconciliation Initiatives, Coventry Cathedral, Church Urban Fund and The Iona Community. The event brought together clergy, lay leaders, academics, and practitioners from many denominations to reflect on what it means to be missional in today’s rapidly changing world through the lenses of reconciliation, liminality and disruption.
The opening dialogue between Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani and Revd Dr Al Barrett, set the tone for honest, open engagement (watch the full conversation here). Many found their conversation refreshing, appreciating the space it created for diverse voices, deep theological reflection, and contemplative silence. As one participant put it, “The absence of answers was a gift.” Another shared, “It felt like we were being invited to dwell, not to rush.”
A rich array of seminars enabled participants to explore mission through varied lenses; race, ecology, creativity, theology, and more. Seminars with titles such as Being Interrupted, Mission from the Margins, and Reparation: On Whose Terms? prompted meaningful conversation and invited participants to confront uncomfortable truths. Attendees praised the balance between theory and practice: “We were asked to sit with discomfort, not bypass it,” one noted. Another said, “Mission isn’t a strategy, it’s a way of seeing.”
“It was theology you could carry into a church hall or a community centre,” said one curate, reflecting on the usefulness of the day.
Creative and hands-on sessions such as the Crafty Café and LEGO-based visioning stood out for their accessibility and imaginative approach, particularly resonating with those engaged in children’s and family ministry. “It reminded me that mission doesn’t have to be complicated, it can grow organically if we just listen,” said one participant. Another added, “Sometimes, it’s the childlike tools that open adult hearts.”
From the wealth of feedback gathered, several themes and highlights emerged:
Speakers such as Revd Canon Dr Catherine Okoronkwo and Revd Canon Dr Carlton Turner spoke from the perspective of Black theology, challenging dominant assumptions and encouraging participants to see bringing disruption as part of a faithful vocation. One that questions conventional leadership and reimagines power.
Revd Ruth Harley and Revd Dr Al Barrett offered powerful metaphors like “composting” and “pockets of habitability” to reflect on the need for endings that make space for new beginnings. Their imagery suggested that dying to old forms can be a necessary act of faith, one that cultivates new life.
Throughout the day, reconciliation was explored as being at the core of what it means to be missional. Practices of deep listening, holding space for fear and uncertainty, and resisting the urge to rush toward solutions were all highlighted as essential acts of witness to and care for our neighbours.
Participants left feeling re-energised, challenged, and hopeful. Many valued being in a community where differences were respected and mission was reimagined, not as conversion or numbers, but as relationship, reciprocity and faithful presence. One attendee summed up their learning: “It’s okay to be a disrupter. There’s no excuse for Jesus not being at the heart of everything.”
Others found reassurance in simply knowing they weren’t alone. “It’s comforting to know others share this vision of mission,” shared one participant, “especially when I sometimes feel like I don’t fit the usual boxes for ministry.”
“Please hold another gathering soon,” many urged. With the seeds sown at Being Missional Today 2025, it’s clear that the hunger is growing for a deeper, more reflective, and reconciling approach to missional engagement in the world.
Watch a highlights video of the day here.