Sent for the Sake of the World: Forming Commissioned Lay Missioners for Mixed Ecology Parish Churches and Diocesan Missions

In our rapidly changing cultural landscape, where many no longer identify with church or have quietly drifted away from it, the need for new forms of mission has never been more urgent. The Anglican Diocese of Niagara is being invited – perhaps even compelled – to rediscover its identity as a sent (Apostolos) people. At the heart of this renewal is the growing and vital role of Commissioned Lay Missioners (CLMs). 

CLMs are ordinary members of our parish worshipping communities who increasingly sense an extraordinary calling: a vocation to step beyond the gathered church and engage intentionally with those who are not yet part of it. These are people who care deeply about their local neighbourhoods, who notice those on the margins of church life, and who long to see new forms of Christian community emerge in ways that are meaningful, relational, and contextually grounded. 

This ministry is critical for a post-Christendom relevant Church. We are no longer in a society where people naturally come to church; instead, we are being called to go – to listen, to serve, to build relationships, and to cultivate new expressions of ecclesial life among those who would not otherwise encounter the Gospel. CLMs are beginning to play a key role in helping parishes and diocesan missions develop what is often called a “mixed ecology” local church: a landscape where inherited forms of parish life exist alongside new, contextual, and missional communities. 

Importantly, this is a voluntary role. Yet it is far from peripheral. It represents one of the growing number of lay vocations that are essential for equipping the Church for the realities of the 21st century. The future of mission cannot rest solely on ordained leadership; it must be shared, collaborative, and deeply rooted in the gifts and callings of the whole people of God. 

This is now the second year in which the diocese is intentionally supporting the discernment and formation of CLMs. We are seeking those who are not only passionate about mission but are also willing to be formed – to learn, to reflect, and to step out in faith. Central to this formation is the two-year NSML Certificate in Missional Practice. This is not simply a course, but an orthopraxis-focused journey that integrates learning with lived experience. Participants engage in mission within their local contexts while reflecting theologically on what they are discovering. 

The fruit of this approach is already becoming visible. From our first cohort, several new initiatives are beginning to take shape within parishes and diocesan missions. These emerging projects are rooted in local contexts and are beginning to connect with those who have had little or no prior engagement with Christianity or the Church. While still early, the signs are encouraging: relationships are starting, communities are beginning to form, and new possibilities for ecclesial life are being imagined. This is, we believe, an exciting and hope-filled development. 

As we look ahead, we are seeking to form a new learning cohort of potential CLMs for 2026. This is where we need your help. Within your parish, there may already be individuals who carry this calling or inclination – people who are attentive to their community, open to the Holy Spirit, and willing to take the risk to step into something new. It may be someone who quietly serves, someone who asks thoughtful questions about mission, or someone who has a heart for those beyond the church’s walls. 

Do you recognize someone like this? It may even be you!! 

If so, we invite you to begin a conversation. Speak with your parish rector or licensed missioner. Alternatively, you are welcome to get in touch directly with me, Ian Mobsby, at the diocesan offices. 

The process begins with an application form, supported by the sponsorship of a parish rector or licensed missioner. This leads into a discernment panel, where together we listen for God’s calling. Those who are affirmed will begin the NSML Certificate in Missional Practice at the end of September. The course runs on one weekday evening per month, making it accessible alongside existing commitments. 

This is an invitation to be part of something both ancient and new: the Church’s enduring call to mission, expressed in fresh and creative ways for our time. Commissioned Lay Missioners are not an optional extra; they are a vital part of how we respond faithfully to the world as it is today.  

The question is simple: who is God already calling – and are we ready to respond? 

For an application pack and copies of the information leaflet, please reach out to Jane Wyse by emailing [email protected] or Ian Mobsby at [email protected].