Stepwise: frequently asked questions

Stepwise is for anyone who wants to discover more about what being a Christian means in their daily life. It is a programme for deepening discipleship, shaped around your strengths and needs, in the context of your own community and church. So if you are keen to reflect on and develop your Christian faith, ready to be stimulated and challenged and want to make a difference in your own life and the lives of others, then Stepwise could be what you’re looking for.

Everyone who tells us of their interest in Stepwise should receive an acknowledgement from the Stepwise Programme Assistant thanking them for getting in touch and informing them of what will happen next.

If it’s been a while and you haven’t heard back from us then please email: [email protected] so we can track you down.

If you told us you were interested a while ago and have not heard back from us yet, this is because Stepwise relies on participants being part of a local group and there may not yet be enough people near you to form a viable group. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

There is a small fee of between £5 - £30 on a “pay what you can” basis, payable via PayPal, as part of the formal registration process. We will send you details about how to pay this once you are ready to join a group.

There is no upper or lower age limit for participation in Stepwise, and groups are formed to suit the local context. There is scope for mixed-age groups and single generation groups, with the common thread of learning through enquiry, activities, and small projects which work for diverse groups. The aim is to nourish and stretch everyone who takes part in Stepwise.

Faith-filled Life provides participants with an introduction to the way Stepwise works at the same time as setting the scene for the Stepwise streams that follow. We believe that it is important for participants to work through this introductory opening stream before beginning the other streams to give everyone a good foundation upon which to build.

Stepwise is committed to enabling everyone to participate.  We have worked hard to ensure that the materials delivered online through the URC Learning Hub are easily accessible via any web browser (e.g. Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox etc.) using a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. If you are not online or find technology a challenge, then please get in touch and we’ll try to help.

An effective facilitator is someone who relishes working with people and can draw out the best from a diverse group. They understand that learners have different learning preferences and varying skills for working in groups. This role is for those who value collaborative learning.

Stepwise mentors are wise disciples who are grounded in faith. Their role is to accompany participants in Stepwise. Their ability to be a perceptive listener and sounding board is more important than formal theological knowledge or training. Faith-filled Life mentors are recruited locally with guidance and support from synods and the Stepwise team.

Stepwise has been developed collaboratively and is delivered locally within each synod.  Each synod is encouraged to appoint a Stepwise advocate, although the arrangements for this vary accross the synods. The advocate’s role is to support, promote and coordinate Stepwise in their synod. Synod advocates are supported in this by the Stepwise team.