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 2026
Welcome to the Autumn Programme for Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD).
This term, as a new feature, I am introducing a regular online session which will take place on Zoom, over two and a half hours with a half hour break. This term’s Zoom session will be on Artificial Intelligence. All other sessions will be in person and will include opportunity for personal networking and interaction.
It is required that all clergy who receive a stipend attend at least two of these sessions each year (in addition to attending the Bishop’s Learning Together Days and Safeguarding Day). So, if you haven’t yet attended a CMD programme session this year, please give careful consideration to which of these events would be most helpful for your ministry.
Licensed Lay Ministers and self-supporting ordained ministers are encouraged to attend at least one learning or training event from one of the diocesan programmes (including this and the Pathways programme) each year. Other lay leaders are warmly welcome at any session that will resource their ministry. Clergy are encouraged to bring with them lay people involved in the area of ministry being considered.
At the bottom of this programme is a list of Equip Hub courses and training sessions scheduled for the coming term. All clergy and licensed lay ministers are welcome at any of these. For a free registration code email Ryan.Finnegan@Coventry.Anglican.org
Rob Harrison
The Good, Bad and the Funny of Social Media
Wednesday 16 September – 10am-12.30pm
Venue: St Barnabas, Kenilworth
This session, delivered by the diocesan communications team, will explore the current world of social media and consider the opportunities and pitfalls of our online presence as churches and ministers.
- Do we all need to become influencers now?
- Tiktok or Instagram or Facebook or YouTube or Snapchat or whatever...?
- Should we even be using X?
- What are the strengths and what are the growing dangers of social media?
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/good-bad-funny-social-media/
A beginner's guide to using Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)
Date: Thursday 24th September, 2.00pm - 4.30pm (with a break)
Venue: Zoom
This Zoom CMD session will take a clear, accessible look at artificial intelligence - what it is, how it works, and how it might enrich and resource Christian ministry. The session will offer practical experience in selecting A.I. tools, and giving effective instructions to an A.I. system, as well as considering the risks one needs to navigate.
The session will be led by Will Peachey, who uses AI daily in his work for a global audit firm, applying A.I. within a highly regulated, reputation‑critical industry. Will originally studied computer science and economics and has held senior roles at IBM and Capgemini.
This session has no technical pre-requisite beyond being comfortable with internet searches and spellchecks.
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/beginners-guide-ai/
Challenging Theology – Christ the King! But what kind of king?
Thursday 1 October – 10am-12.30pm
Venue: Stoke St Michael, Coventry
In our music and our liturgy we proclaim Jesus to be a king. But what do we mean by that? Are we projecting a human model of political power onto our understanding of Jesus? Or are we projecting our understanding of Jesus onto the political concept of sovereignty?
In this term’s Challenging Theology session Rob Harrison will guide a discussion about how the concept of kingship informs our understanding of Jesus and how our understanding of Jesus informs our concept of leadership. We will consider how the idea of Jesus as King is a help or a hinderance in proclaiming the Gospel in today’s culture.
On a topic to which our varying ecclesiastical and theological traditions all have valuable insights to offer, you are invited to come prepared to both challenge and be theologically challenged.
(Please note that this session replaces the previously advertised one about trauma and shame.)
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/challenging-theology-christ-the-king/
Vocation and Discernment
Tuesday 6th October – 2.00 - 4.30pm
Venue: St Peter’s, Dunchurch
The Church of England is committed to nurturing vocations, both to licensed lay ministry and ordination, from people from a greater variety of background and experience. In this session, Mark Norris, the diocese’s Lead Vocations Adviser, will explore the ‘Qualities’ that now provide the framework for the discernment, training and formation of ordained and licensed ministers.
Mark will introduce the revised discernment process that is being introduced this year and will lead discussion on how we can encourage, nurture and support the vocations of those around us.
Who is this session for? Clergy & Licensed Lay Ministers
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/vocation-and-discernment/
Getting Started in Children's & Youth Ministry
Wednesday 21st October – 2.00 - 4.30pm
Venue: St Mark’s, Leamington
Whether you're beginning a new ministry or looking to rebuild what's already there, this practical and encouraging session will help you take the next steps with confidence. Together we'll explore the current landscape of children's and youth ministry, share ideas that are working, consider volunteers, safeguarding and funding, and help you identify the "next right thing" for your church. Come away with practical tools, fresh inspiration, and the encouragement of connecting with others on the same journey.
This session will be led by Tom Cook, Aggy Palairet, Andy March, Tim Broadbent, Abby Rhodes and Katie Cross, sharing insights from the national church training programme they attended together.
Who is this session for? Clergy and Lay Leaders, along with those who lead youth engagement
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/getting-started-cym/
Learning Together Day – please save the date
Tuesday 3rd November, 9.15am – 4.00pm
Venue to be confirmed
This day will be co-led by Bishop Sophie and Harry Steele
Reading Mark and John Together
Thursday 19th November – 2.00pm-4.30pm
Venue: St Thomas, Keresley
In 2027 the main focus of the lectionary will be on Mark’s Gospel, but as this is the shortest gospel it is supplemented by plenty of readings from John’s Gospel too.
For the last two centuries it's been generally assumed that John was independent of the other three Gospels, but some intriguing recent research questions this assumption and even calls John 'the fourth synoptic Gospel' - something which would have been no surprise to Christians in the early centuries of the Church.
In this session, Richard Cooke will explore some of the similarities and the differences between these gospels, the first and last to be written, and look at how we might read them as two takes on the one story of Jesus.
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/reading-mark-john-together/
Other Courses and Training Events
John’s Gospel – A Storyteller’s Perspective
5 weekly Zoom sessions starting on Tuesday 8th September, 7:30pm – 9pm
When John wrote his Gospel, he selected a small number of stories about Jesus that he retold in detail, and a small number of Jesus’ metaphors, which he recorded in detail. In this course Rob Harrison – who has written two novels about Jesus (and is working on a third) – will explore John’ Gospel from a storyteller’s perspective. He will unfold the drama of the narratives and the emotional resonances of the metaphors to uncover what John, the storyteller, is telling us about Jesus.
This course will be led by Rob Harrison.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/johns-gospel-a-storytellers-perspective-2026/
Understanding Grief
5 weekly sessions starting on Wednesday 16th September, 7pm – 9pm
Venue: St James the Great Church, Snitterfield
A five-week course to help us explore the variety of things we grieve for, understand the grieving process, its complexity and what can be helpful to those who are grieving.
This course will be led by Anne Richards and Anna Naish
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/understanding-grief-2026/
Intergenerational Church
Monday 23rd November, 7pm – 9pm
Venue: St Paul’s Church, Leamington
Creating a worship space for everyone is no easy task, but it’s worth trying! Corporate worship is about everyone being welcomed and everyone being able to participate.
This session will be sharing ideas about how we can better involve a range on ages within the same worship. We will cover key elements:
• For creating a service that is specifically designed to be intergenerational.
• For adapting current worship to be more age inclusive.
• Big ideas and gentle shifts.
This session will be led by Anna Naish.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/intergenerational-church-2026/
Real world preaching
Thursday 3rd December, 7pm – 9pm
Venue: St Giles Church, Coventry
Preaching can help people make sense of our current world and situations.
This session will explore the interaction of scripture and real life, considering the purpose and opportunity of preaching. As well as sharing practical techniques for maintaining real-world relevance, we will discuss issues of scriptural authority and usefulness.
This session will be led by Rob Harrison.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/real-world-preaching/
Children, Youth and Neurodiversity
Monday 15th March 2027, 7pm – 9pm
Venue: St Mary’s Church, Leamington
For children who are neurodivergent (e.g. have dyslexia, autism, ADHD) churches can be a really difficult space. There are certain expectations, rules, people, lights, noise, silence that make it tricky. And yet, we are called to welcome everyone.
This session will help us think about the breadth of neurodiversity, how our church might feel for a family with additional needs and how we might make our church a more welcoming and accessible space.
This session will be led by James Henney and Anna Naish.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/children-youth-and-neurodiversity-2027/
Funeral visits
Wednesday 21st April 2027, 7pm – 9pm
Venue: TBC
Before a funeral, the person leading the service will often visit the family or bereaved to get to know the person who has died through the eyes of those who cared for them and to discuss details such as hymns, songs, reading and other requests. This is also often the moment when all the details of the eulogy can be gained if the minister is being asked to deliver this. This can be a very difficult time but can also be a very important moment for them to share about the person they have lost.
This session will be led by Anne Richards and Jo King. Anne and Jo both have a lot of experience of both visiting and leading funerals. They will be sharing experiences and ideas about how to be sensitive and lead these visits well and what you personally might bring to those visits. There will also be space to discuss some key things that might arise, such as when the death has been complex or when the relationships were not easy.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/funeral-visits-2027/
Interactive preaching
Thursday 29th April 2027, 7pm – 9pm
Venue: St John’s Church, Westwood, Coventry
Preaching isn’t just about talking to people but helping them to include themselves in the message.
This session will explore techniques and ideas for actively engaging the congregation in a sermon, and consider the sermon as a learning experience rather than a teaching opportunity.
This session will be led by Rob Harrison.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/interactive-preaching-2027/
Children and Home - How to support the whole family in their faith journey
Monday 10th May 2027, 7pm – 9pm
Venue: TBC
Faith is about our whole lives not just about Sunday mornings at church or Tuesday nights at Messy church. Yet, parents, grandparents and other carers do not always feel confident in talking about faith, praying or worshipping together.
This session will help you think about your ministry space (church, schools, community etc) and how you can help families to take faith home, to share with one another and to grow in confidence. There may be big things to consider, but often small actions and changes can have a big impact!
This session will be led by Anna Naish and James Henney.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/children-and-home-2027/
Writing a eulogy
Wednesday 26th May 2027, 7pm – 9pm
Venue: TBC
A eulogy is an emotional part of a funeral service. It is the part where we share about the person who has died and who they were during their lifetime. It can feel daunting to write one whether you knew the person well or whether you only knew of them once they had died.
This session will be led by Anne Richards and Jo King. Anne and Jo both have a lot of experience of leading funerals and writing eulogies. They will be sharing their experiences to help you think about how to ask the right questions and to write a personalised eulogy. It will include discussions on your personal style and how to include the person’s personality in your writing. There will also be space to discuss how to write eulogies where there are complicated relationships, experiences and choices.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/writing-a-eulogy-2027/
Taking a Funeral Service
Wednesday 30th June 2027, 7pm – 9pm
Venue: TBC
A funeral service is an important point in the grieving process. It is a moment to celebrate and remember a person’s life, mourn their loss with others and for some it is the moment the reality of that loss hits.
This session will be led by Anne Richards and Jo King. Anne and Jo both have a lot of experience in taking funeral services. This session will help you think about how you plan, shape and lead funeral services. It will cover the practicalities you need to know as well as important conversations around how you include the family, tailor a service to the needs of the community and how to include God in a helpful way. There will also be space to consider cremations and the burial of ashes.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/taking-a-funeral-service-2027/
Requirements & expectations regarding engagement with the termly CMD programmes.
- Stipendiary clergy are required to attend at least two events from the termly CMD programmes over the calendar year.
- Chaplains & Licensed, self-supporting clergy, who have completed their curacy, are expected to attend at least one diocesan learning/training event each calendar year, chosen from: the CMD termly programmes, the IME2 programme for SSM curates, or Pathways training events.
- LLMs (Readers) are expected to attend at least one event or course each calendar year, chosen from: the CMD termly programmes, the Lay Training Pathways, or the Equip Hub programme.
- Lay Leaders whose ministry will be resourced by the particular subject matter of a session are also welcome. Please share links with them as appropriate.