8.1 Ministerial development review (MDR)
The new Terms of Service/Common Tenure arrangements confer on clergy a range of rights and responsibilities. One such responsibility is to undertake regular reviews and a programme of professional ministerial development.
Obviously much will depend on each individual, their experiences, and their own needs which will vary over the years. The diocese will do all it can to support clergy in their continuing formation, within the budget which is allocated for this. All programmes of learning and development are co-ordinated by the Ministry Development.
8.2 Continuing professional development (CPD)
This document sets out the current strategy for CMD provision in the Diocese of Lichfield. Provision is shaped by the diocesan purposes. It recognizes the guidance given by the Archbishop’s Council, under regulation 19 of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009, in September 2010. Failure to give heed to this advice could result in findings against the diocese in an employment tribunal.
The diocese adopts a ministry development policy as follows.
Having regard to the Archbishops’ Council advice (September 2010) and the articulated diocesan vision, we commit to a policy of provision for ministerial development in the Diocese of Lichfield, within the constraints of available resources.
Ministerial development provision in the diocese is essentially led by an individually focused approach. There are some corporate events, the Selwyn lecture, the area lectures, the diocesan conferences, the New Opportunities conferences but the overall focus is upon individual training programmes funded by the CMD allowance.
We commit ourselves to a strategy that combines both individual (through the provisions of ministry development grants) and corporate developmental opportunities for our clergy and licensed lay ministers, within the constraints of available funds.
- Individual CMD grants are limited to clergy holding Common Tenure, Common Tenure B and freehold.
- The full grant is payable to full-time clergy only (£245 p.a.) Clergy cannot build up a fund of grants not taken. If they are not taken in any one year, then that grant is forfeit. There is provision for the grant for the next year to be taken in advance.
- A half-grant is payable per annum to those clergy who are offering half to fulltime ministry to a parish or deanery. Half-time is defined as 2.5 days per week (or 6 units per week) plus 3 Sundays per month. (One unit is a morning, an afternoon or an evening). This is evidenced by the role description agreed with the PCC and affirmed by the Incumbent as functioning.
- A quarter grant is payable to those who are offering less than half-time to the parish.
- Clergy may use up to half their grant for retreat provision. (Agreed by Bishop’s staff 2013)
- Individual grants will not be payable to those who are authorized local ministers or Readers. The Director of Lay Development will provide corporate training events at low cost for Readers and authorized Local Ministers.
Charging and allocation of grants
The diocese will not normally pay a grant for a training event costing less than £25.
Grants paid to chaplains will be paid for personal professional development, not for ministerial development. These costs should be met by the employer.
For ministry events outside of the First Incumbency and IME 4 – 7 programmes we will expect the first £10 to be paid by the participant.
8.3 Training
All office holders in training posts are provided with and to participate in suitable training and given the necessary time off work to undertake it.
8.4 Extended study leave (Sabbaticals)
The diocese encourages all stipendiary clergy to take ESL periodically. A grant of £500 is available for this. Because ESL concerns professional and vocational development the grant is free of Income Tax. We now have a Diocesan policy for allocation of ESL. Although Bishops’ permission is still required for ESL, permission does not constitute an entitlement.
Detailed notes are available from the Ministry Team, explaining not only the practicalities of our diocesan procedure but also some guidelines on how to approach the idea of study leave and make the most of it.