“Our vision is that the work of supporting clergy in their ministry will become an integral part of the life of the Church and part of the DNA of every aspect of our mission and ministry.”
Revd Canon Simon Butler, Head of the Clergy Covenant Working Group
The Covenant for Clergy Care and Wellbeing was made an Act of Synod at the February 2020 Group of Sessions of the General Synod. The Covenant is the expressed view of the mind of the Church of England on issues relating to clergy care and wellbeing.
The following resources are designed to help initiate and guide discussions around clergy care and to engage all parts of the church including Bishops, Parish level stakeholders as well as clergy themselves
Additional documentation:
- The Clergy Covenant for Wellbeing Act of Synod 2020
- Accompanying Note to the Clergy Covenant Act of Synod
History of the Covenant:
The following document was drafted by a working group and presented to the Church of England’s General Synod in July 2017.
The draft document set out some ways of changing the culture of the Church to enable the care and wellbeing of its clergy to more fully addressed.
The wider church was then invited to comment on what was proposed in respect of:
- The text of the Covenant;
- The Shared Commitments of the minister, local church and the office of the bishop as laid out in Section B and the Big Conversation that arises;
- The focus on pastoral supervision and reflective practice;
- Ways of embedding good practice and holy habits through training in IME 1-7;
- Liturgical recognition of clergy wellbeing in licensing services;
- More effective use of Ministerial Development Reviews;
- Other ways of sharing best practice.
Background papers on various topics from members of the working party can be accessed below:
Background papers
- GCWB(18)2 - Calling and public ministry (163.03 KB)
- GCWB(18)3 - Synod clergy wellbeing working party (211.68 KB)
- GCWB(18)4 - Reconciliation (94.99 KB)
- GCWB(18)5 - 4Ms of wellbeing (287.39 KB)
- GCWB(18)6 - Discipline (196.13 KB)
- GCWB(18)7 - Learning and teaching (223.5 KB)
- GCWB(18)8 - The wellbeing of clergy in mission (147.12 KB)
- GCWB(18)9 - Ministry at times of deepest need (146.27 KB)
- GCWB(18)10 - Life and conduct (102.33 KB)
- GCWB(18)11 - Faith and faithfulness (136.01 KB)
- GCWB(18)12 - Care for the carers (208.91 KB)
- GCWB(18)16 - Trust (108.94 KB)