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David Hammond-Williams looks ahead to the Diocesan ConferenceIt’s been a while, but this year’s conference is returning to the Halliwell Centre at the University of Wales Trinity St David’s Carmarthen campus. But the date’s the same as ever – the first Saturday in October.Three topics are likely to dominate. First up, a report from the Extraordinary Conference held in July will bring the new Diocesan Strategy, Pruning for Growth, into focus. The meetings promised at Stage One in the process will be well under way by the time members meet so it will be an opportunity for a progress report.The main business of the day, though, is likely to be the launch of the Year of Children Youth & Families, the fifth in a series that has embraced prayer, discipleship, pilgrimage and – most recently – Salt & Light.Centre-stage will be the diocesan Youth Children & Families Missioner, Revd Sophie Whitmarsh, who will introduce the idea and the plans for the next twelve months, beginning on Advent Sunday. But members will have a chance to discuss it all in the round, and a plenary session will follow. There will also be briefings for stakeholder organisations.Bishop Dorrien is also expected to launch a new initiative, Open To God II, to take place at Whitsun in 2026. He wants to repeat something originally held under the leadership of his predecessor – and mentor – Bishop George Noakes 40 years ago. The aim is to re-invigorate the diocese and its sense of Mission in a showpiece event of celebration and thanksgiving. A working group will hammer out the details in the months ahead.