Coventry’s termly CMD programme is built around three strands: Core Skills, Fresh Thinking, and Wellbeing. The intention of the programme is to focus on those things that are central to the life, faith and ministry of clergy and licensed lay leaders.
All sessions are free, and can be booked through Equip Hub.
Please contact the Director of Ministry & Leadership with suggestion or requests for future programmes, or if there is a subject or issue that you would like to lead a CMD session on.
Continuing Ministerial Development – Autumn 2024
Welcome to the Autumn Programme for Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD).
Please remember that stipendiary clergy are expected to attend at least two events from the termly CMD programmes over each calendar year (this year, including an Unconscious Bias Awareness session).
If you have not yet attended the Unconscious Bias Awareness session, please be sure to register for and attend one of the two sessions next term. If you have not yet attended another CMD session this year, please attend whichever of the events on this programme will be most resourcing for you and your ministry.
Chaplains, Readers and clergy who do not receive a stipend are all warmly welcome to attend these events, though not required to, as are Lay Leaders whose ministry will be resourced by the particular subject matter of a session. Please share links as appropriate. We are continuing to explore a way of providing convenient and relevant CMD provision for those with daytime work commitments, and hope to unfold that plan later this year.
As there is a clear expectation that stipended clergy attend some of these events, it is important that it is good use of your time to do so. Please help me to achieve that in future programmes, by suggesting the learning/training/development that would be most helpful to you. I am also happy to arrange CMD sessions for deanery chapters on any subject that will support you in your ministry.
Rob Harrison
(rob.harrison@coventry.anglican.org)
Tuesday 17th September 2.00pm - 4.30pm – St Edmunds, Shipston on Stour
Unconscious Bias Awareness (Sept 2024) - Equip Hub
Tuesday 22nd October, 10.00am – 12.30pm – St Margaret’s, Whitnash
Unconscious Bias Awareness (Oct 2024) - Equip Hub
Beneath our principles, priorities and preferences lies a layer of assumptions and expectations that influence our actions without us being aware it is happening. It is a natural part of being human. This required training session will explore why everyone makes assumptions and how our unconscious biases affect our actions. We will consider how we can become more conscious of our personal collection of biases and how we can be more aware of other people’s unconsidered assumptions.
This session will be led by Neil Masih & Anna Naish
Who is this session for? All licensed clergy are required to attend one of these sessions during 2024.
Equip Hub links: See above
Encouraging giving generously
Thursday 26th September, 2.00pm - 4.30pm
Venue: St Michael’s Church Centre, Budbrooke, CV35 8QL
Preaching about giving, and developing stewardship systems is a delicate, though essential part of parish ministry. Our desire to be messengers of God’s unconditional love does not always sit comfortably with the need to keep our churches financially solvent. This forum-style session will offer opportunity to express concerns, share good practice, and pick up helpful ideas.
The session will be hosted by Rob Harrison in partnership with colleagues with creative and positive experience of developing generous giving schemes in their parishes.
Who is this session for? Clergy, Churchwardens, Treasurers, Readers & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/courses-events-and-resources/encouraging-giving-generously-2024/
Menopause & the workplace
Tuesday 1st October, 10.30am – 12 noon
Venue: Holy Trinity Church Hall, Holy Trinity Leamington Spa, CV32 5RG
A practical session thinking about how we might see and experience the menopause in ourselves and others. This session is intended to offer information, as well as practical help to provide a supportive environment for those experiencing menopausal symptoms.
The session will be led by Dr Hannah Packman, GP and Menopause Champion and Revd Esther Peers.
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/courses-events-and-resources/menopause-amp-the-workplace-2024/
Menopause & me
Tuesday 12th November, 10.30am – 12 noon
Venue: Holy Trinity Church Hall, Holy Trinity Leamington Spa, CV32 5RG
A time for friendly conversation around the complexities and frustrations of working through the menopause. Bring your questions, encouragements and ideas to help create a supportive environment in our churches and communities.
The session will be led by Dr Hannah Packman, GP and Menopause Champion and Revd Esther Peers.
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/courses-events-and-resources/menopause-amp-me-2024/
NB. Earlier this year the diocese published a Menopause Policy, which can be found here https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/5f3ffda5728e0/content/pages/documents/chr020-menopause-policy-version-1-0.pdf
Nurturing vocation
Wednesday 16th October, 10.00am - 12.30pm
Venue: St Michael’s House, Coventry
Nurturing other people’s vocations to a variety of roles is a core feature of fruitful ministry. This session will consider practical ways to identify, encourage and support those whom God is calling into ordained, licensed and other ministries. Mark Norris will also give an overview of the Church of England’s new, qualities-focused discernment process and how it works in Coventry Diocese.
The session will be led by Mark Norris, Lead Diocesan Vocations Adviser & Diocesan Director of Ordinands
Who is this session for? Clergy & Readers
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/courses-events-and-resources/nurturing-vocation-2024/
Practical Skills for Difficult Conversations
Thursday 24th October, 10.00am – 5.00pm
Venue: St Mary’s Church, Hall Lane, Walsgrave, Coventry, CV2 2AW
Difficult conversations are an important and inevitable feature of Christian ministry and leadership. Sometimes we know they’re coming, other times we find ourselves in them without any warning. This whole day workshop will equip you with a range of practical skills for facilitating difficult conversations.
This training will be led by expert facilitators from Place for Hope and will offer additional depth to meet complex needs. It will cover: understanding and navigating group dynamics; understanding triggers that impact conversation; techniques on how to work through them; how to prepare when facilitating difficult conversations.
This training will be led by experienced trainers from Place for Hope
Who is this session for? Clergy & lay leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/courses-events-and-resources/practical-skills-for-difficult-conversations-2024/
Leading Collective Worship (assemblies) in school
Wednesday 6th November, 2.00pm - 4.30pm
Venue: Diocesan Board of Education, Craven Road, Rugby, CV21 3JZ
Leading collective worship in schools is a great opportunity for outward looking ministry, and can also be a considerable challenge to do well. This session will provide an overview of how collective worship is currently expressed in both Church and non-Church schools. It will also offer practical guidance, tips and resources for making the most of the opportunities open to you.
This training will be led by April Gold and Jen Jenkins of D.B.E.
Who is this session for? Clergy & lay leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/courses-events-and-resources/leading-collective-worship-2024/
Luke’s Gospel – the gospel for 2024/5
Thursday 28th November, 10.00am – 12.30pm (& 1.30pm - 4.00pm)
Venue: St Catherine’s Church, 2 Acorn Street, Coventry, CV3 1DQ
As the Church’s year turns this autumn, Luke’s Gospel will become the primary gospel used in the communion lectionary. In preparation for that, this session will refresh your knowledge and understanding of Luke’s Gospel, with an overview of the theological, narrative and missional themes of the gospel.
The stand-alone morning session will focus on the themes in Luke’s Gospel. Richard is also offering an additional afternoon session which will explore in detail how those themes play out in a selection of detailed texts. In registering for this event, you will be asked which of the two sessions you intend to attend.
This training will be led by Richard Cooke
Who is this session for? Clergy & lay leaders
Equip Hub links: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/courses-events-and-resources/lukes-gospel-2024/
Bishop’s Study Day (required for stipendiary clergy)
Tuesday 5th November– 9.15am – 4pm
Venue: Delta Hotel Warwick
The key focus of this event will be on neurodiversity – understanding it, and exploring practical insights into engaging with neurodivergent people.
The keynote speaker will be Dr Liz Shea – consultant psychologist and lead for CAMS and neurodevelopment services for Coventry and Warwickshire, with theological insights from Anita Morgan.
Lunch will be provided – please supply dietary requirements on registration.
Who is this session for? Stipendiary clergy are required to attend; SSM clergy & chaplains are invited & welcome; remaining places will be made available to clergy with P.T.O. through a waiting list.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/courses-events-and-resources/bishops-study-day-2024/
Dates for 2025
Clergy, please put these dates in your diary (Venues and precise times to be decided.
Bishop’s Study Morning: Thursday 30th January
Bishop’s Safeguarding Day: Tuesday 13th May
Bishop’s Study Day: Tuesday 4th November
Reconciliation Pathway
journeying from a fractured past towards a shared future.
This autumn the diocese is opening a training Pathway for those interested and called to reconciliation focused ministry and mission. This Pathway – co-led by Emma Crick-de-Boom and the Coventry Cathedral team – will have the same structure as the Lay Training Pathways already on offer. This Pathway, however, is consciously designed to serve to clergy as well as lay leaders.
The individual courses and training events that make up the pathway can all be booked through Equip Hub, as is the case for all our Pathway learning and training. If you are interested in following the full Pathway, please contact Rob.Harrison@Coventry.Anglican.Org
There will be no charge for clergy or Readers following the Pathway.