Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Tomorrow is our annual New Headteacher Commissioning service at the Cathedral, where we have invited Headteachers new to working in church schools or who have moved to another church school to be commissioned in their role.  They will be asked if they will commit themselves to the work, faithfully serving the school and its community. They will also be asked if they will seek to perform their duties as Headteacher with a spirit of mutual respect and collaboration, and with respect for all God’s children. As well as this, they will be asked if they seek to make their school a place where the love of God is shown in action and attitude.  I know this is something we see daily from Headteachers across church schools and the commissioning service is a powerful reminder of that.  However, I often think the most powerful question that is asked is not to the headteacher, but to the congregation;

People of God, will you welcome and support these Headteachers in their ministry in the schools which they lead?

This is not just a question that is asked in a service and then forgotten about. I know from my work with the Diocese and the Cathedral that church schools in the Diocese of Lincoln are regularly asked about, prayed for and championed wider than the team from the Board of Education.  Schools are included within the schedule of daily prayers throughout the year; these are shared on the Diocesan Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) accounts. I think it’s important to know that schools are not on this journey alone and that Headteachers are welcomed and supported in their role.

I think there is something very powerful about travelling together, for the fun times and the hard times.  When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, he did not leave us alone.  He promised the Holy Spirit would be with us, to walk with us, give us strength and peace even if at times life is hard. There is a very old poem that has been a favourite of mine since I was a child:

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.

My hope is, as Headteacher, staff, and friends of the Board of Education, that on your journey with your school you know that you do not walk it alone. For the highs and the lows, the celebrations and the commiserations, there is always someone there with you.  Whether you believe it is Jesus walking alongside you and the Holy Spirit guiding you or people praying for you or knowing that there is someone you can pick the phone up to, I hope you feel encouraged during your week that we don’t walk this journey alone.

from Lynsey Norris, Assistant Diocesan Director of Education