Continuing development | The Church of England

We support Directors of Ministry, Continuing Ministerial Development Officers and others in providing the best quality ongoing development for clergy. This is done primarily through the sharing of good practice and includes monitoring the effectiveness of Ministerial Development Review (MDR).

We research the wellbeing of clergy through the Living Ministry project and anticipate being involved in the ongoing discussion of the Clergy Covenant, especially as this relates to the aspiration for clergy to have lifelong continuing formation and learning.

This work is done in partnership with the Archdeacons Training Officer, the Deaf Ministry Officer, and the Pioneer Ministry Officer.

Initial ministerial education

How is ministerial education understood from different perspectives? How is it experienced by ordinands, educators, placement supervisors and diocesan directors of ordinands in Phase One, and curates, training incumbents, diocesan officers and churchwardens in Phase Two?

We are blessed to have a wealth of highly qualified people within the Church conducting their own research into ministry-related issues. Below are some of the reports we know of in the area of Initial Ministerial Education Phase 2, and we will add more as they emerge.

None of these studies was conducted by or on behalf of Ministry Division, so we can take no credit and bear no responsibility for their content.

Continuing Ministerial Development

We seek to foster a culture of lifelong learning within each diocese, which takes seriously the flourishing of the whole person.

Guidance on continuing ministerial development, including regular review, is available to download below.

Appointment and training of training incumbents

Training incumbents are vital to a successful curacy, so it is important they are selected carefully, and that they receive the right training and support.

You can find good practice on this in the guidance below.

Good practice for training incumbents

Interim ministry

Interim ministers are strategic appointments to help a parish move through a process of re-thinking who they are, what they are about, and how they are going to go forward.

Sabbaticals

If you're looking for funding for a sabbatical, the following trusts may be of interest: