Senior Leadership Learning and Development

new clergy member with a bishop standing either side

Diocese of Gloucester

We provide ongoing learning and development for senior clergy to flourish. We ensure all senior clergy are provided with tools for growth throughout their priesthood. We run and outsource programmes tailored for specific groups within senior leadership.

Core programmes

We support Bishops, Deans and Archdeacons to lead with collegiality, confidence and competence and to develop and equip a pool of candidates with the potential for wider leadership roles in the Church via the Strategic Leadership Development Programme (SLDP) and Incumbents Programme.

For queries on any of the offerings described below, please contact [email protected].

Bishops' Leadership Development Programme

This programme offers individually focused support including induction, 360 and transition coaching for Diocesan Bishops, Suffragan and/or Area Bishops. Our modules cover key leadership concepts such as Leading Change, Innovation, Public Square leadership, Dialogue, Retirement. We also run the Diocesan Bishops' Ministerial Development Review (MDR).

Deans' Leadership Development Programme

This programme offers focused support including induction meetings, an induction programme and transition coaching. Our modules cover key leadership concepts such as Leading Change, Financial Awareness, Dialogue, Retirement. We run Action Learning Sets and bespoke focused workshops e.g., for ‘Smaller’ Cathedrals, collaborating with Church Commissioners on implementation of Cathedrals Measure 2021.

Strategic Leadership Development Programme (SLDP)

This is a national leadership development programme designed to support clergy identified as having potential for taking on significantly wider responsibilities in the future. The programme is also an ongoing process of discernment, creating space and structure for participants to listen to the call of God in their ongoing ministerial development. Above all, the SLDP is a Learning Community - where participants journey together in their development through shared learning experiences, prayer and fellowship.

It is a 2.5 year programme for discerned cohorts of ordained ministers offering discussions of systems thinking and organisational and group dynamics, leadership seminars, workshops and events, simulations of key leadership scenarios, pilgrimage experience, cross church group project work, coaching 1:1 and small group work, theological reflection and contextual integration/application of all the above.

Archdeacons' Leadership Development Programme (Church of England and Church in Wales)

This programme offers focused support including individual and group induction, mentoring and coaching, sourcing and resourcing ongoing personal and skills development, resourcing the national and regional Archdeacons’ groups. Providing a link between Archdeacons and teams within the national churches, and with external bodies – for consultation and representation.

Incumbents Programme

This developing programme's purpose is to resource incumbents to lead their churches well, specifically to enable work with children, young people and families to grow. We are hoping and praying for growth not just in numbers of under 18s and their families, but in depth of their commitment as disciples of Christ.

The team

Head of Leadership Development
Dr Susie Perks-Baker ([email protected]) oversees the Leadership Development Team and is responsible for all the leadership development programmes we offer. In addition, she leads the leadership programme for Bishops, Diocesan Bishops’ Ministerial Development Reviews (MDRs), Induction and Coaching offered to senior clergy.
Bishops' Leadership Development Project Support
Revd. Dr Rob Hay ([email protected]) is seconded for supporting the leadership development for Bishops. Susie continues to lead the overall programme.
Senior Leadership Development Consultant for Cathedral Deans
Oladapo Owo ([email protected]) is responsible for the leadership development for Deans.
Senior Leadership Development Consultant for or the Strategic Leadership Development Programme (SLDP)
James Hyde ([email protected]) is responsible the national programme designed to equip ordained ministers within the Church of England with the knowledge, skills and behaviour sets to deepen their leadership skills at a local level and prepare them for the possibility of wider leadership roles.
Senior Leadership Development Consultant for Incumbents
Revd. Pam Macnaughton ([email protected]) is responsible for the national incumbent development programme focused on enabling clergy to lead churches with flourishing ministry with children, young people and their families (CYF).
Archdeacons’ National Development Officer
Revd. Cameron Watt ([email protected]) co-ordinates the national induction and ongoing development programmes for Archdeacons in the Church of England and the Church in Wales. He acts as the liaison between Archdeacons and national bodies both inside and outside the churches, co-ordinating communications and consultation. Cameron is also the Executive Officer for the College of Archdeacons, its Executive body and the eleven regional groups.
Programme Manager
Nazia Sarkar ([email protected]) is responsible for the coaching and induction of senior clergy, Leadership Practicum Learning System, digital technologies used by our team and operational efficiencies of all leadership programmes we offer.
Programme Manager
Lewis Jackson ([email protected]) is responsible for the planning and operational efficiencies of the leadership development for Bishops', Deans', Archdeacons and Strategic Leadership Development Programme (SLDP) programme.
Programme Co-ordinator
Trey Gomes ([email protected]) is responsible for the planning and logistics of the Strategic Leadership Development Programme (SLDP) including the discernment programme.
Programme Co-ordinator
Vacant - responsible for the logistical elements of the Bishops’, Deans’ and Archdeacons’ leadership programmes.
Programme Co-ordinator
Jo Kirby ([email protected]) is responsible for the logistical elements of the Incumbents programmes.
Programme Administrator
Julie Thomson-Richards ([email protected]) is responsible for the administrative elements across all programmes.