Developing your Ministry

Tuesday 22 September, 9.30am – 1pm, online

Perhaps, like many clergy, you recognise the feeling of struggling with an increasing sense of overwhelm in the face of so many pressures maybe in your own experience as well as in ministry. The recent Church of England report, ‘Living Ministry’ on clergy wellbeing suggests that “a third of … clergy could be suffering from depression”, with more experiencing symptoms due to tiredness, isolation, demoralisation and financial anxiety.

And all of this in the wider destabilising context of the ongoing impacts of Covid, war in the Middle East and Ukraine, climate change, huge increases in mental health problems, the cost of living crisis, sexual abuse scandals in church and society ..… and so the list goes on.

Naturally, not everyone in ministry will be feeling this way. For some there is the encouragement of increased resource to grow ministry and new church initiatives. Nevertheless, the issues, anxieties and trauma of those we serve can be overwhelming and it is vital that we know how best to accompany them and take care of ourselves and our colleagues for the long haul.

This workshop will draw on insights from trauma theory and neurobiology to resource us to deal with the challenges without burning out or breaking apart.

In this experiential workshop we look at:

• what happens in our body and brain when we, and those we serve, are dealing with trauma, or experiencing feelings of overwhelm, anxiety and stress;
• how leaders, congregations and communities can respond pastorally to help responses to be less reactive and more considered, creative and sustainable;
• how we experience God in all of this, and what connections there are between our understaning of trauma and our biblical and faith resources;
• how our Scriptures are a robust resource in trauma, and demonstrate the power of reframing as a component of resilience.

Who should attend:

* Priority will be given to clergy in active ministry.

The training is led by the Revd Hilary Ison, with places funded by the Clergy Support Trust.

BOOKINGS HAVE NOW CLOSED

Transforming Conversations will enable you to deploy coaching skills in all kinds of settings in your ministry – supervising or accompanying colleagues in ministry, conducting pastoral conversations, and supporting people in their faith journeys. It will help you become even more effective at facilitating meetings and groups. The learning will help you make the most out of supervision and accompaniment you receive too.

The course runs across 4 days, all 9am – 5pm at Youthscape in Luton. Participants must attend all days:

• Wednesday 23 September
• Thursday 24 September
• Wednesday 4 November
• Thursday 5 November.

Who should attend:

We make this course a requirement for both curates and training incumbents in this Diocese (so they will receive priority booking). We offer places to others in ordained and lay ministry where available.

BOOKINGS HAVE NOW CLOSED

Wednesday 30 September, 10am – 12.30pm, in Ware

This DAC workshop will provide clergy with information on getting faculties, and Minor Matters permissions with more DAC advice and less pain.

Who should attend:

Clergy and ministers in charge of a parish.

Thursday 22 October, 9.30am – 3pm, in St Albans

This event is for clergy who have joined our diocesan family within the last year. It offers an opportunity to learn more about the support available through the Diocesan Office, and meet several members of the leadership team and staff. The day will also include a brief visit to St Albans Cathedral.

Who should attend:

Clergy who are new to the Diocese; first incumbents may also find the day beneficial.

Tuesday 3 November, 9.30am – 1pm at Holywell Lodge, St Albans

In the company of an expert faith-informed facilitator, this training will explore the specific ministry context, and develop the skills participants need to deal with conflict in the best way.

Participants will:

• discover how conflict often arises and how it can be resolved
• understand the principles of building a healthy team
• recognise how past life experiences can impact working relationships
• develop listening skills to support team relations
• gain confidence in having difficult conversations.

Participants will also learn that a healthy team is not absent of conflict, but rather one that is able to address conflict when it arises, and find creative, constructive ways to move forward together.

Who should attend:

* Priority will be given to clergy in active ministry.

The training is led by Thrive Worldwide, with places funded by the Clergy Support Trust.

Monday 9 November, 2pm – 4.30pm in St Albans / Thursday 12 November, 7pm – 9pm online.

Our churches are called to be communities in which people of every background are welcomed, valued and able to contribute their gifts. Yet all of us are shaped by our experiences, assumptions and unconscious biases, which can affect how we perceive and respond to others.

This interactive training will help participants explore conscious inclusion within the context of Christian faith, recognise some of the barriers people may encounter in our churches, and consider practical ways of creating communities in which a greater diversity of people can belong, participate and flourish.

Choice of two dates

We recognise that not everyone is available to attend a daytime, in-person event, so we are offering two opportunities to take part:

• In person: Monday 9 November, St Albans
• Online: Thursday 12 November (evening session)

Participants are welcome to attend whichever session is most convenient for them.

Who should attend

The session is particularly suitable for those involved in lay or ordained leadership and ministry.

Tuesday 17 November & Wednesday 18 November, both days 9.15am – 5pm in Flitwick

Accredited by Mental Health First Aid England, training in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) will equip participants with a practical framework for supporting those experiencing mental health concerns.

This two-day course will:

• enhance participants’ knowledge and confidence in how best to help others, whilst looking after their own wellbeing
• within a church context, participants can reflect afresh on their theology of suffering, healing and recovery.

Who should attend:

* Priority will be given to clergy in active ministry.

The training is led by Humantalk, with places funded by the Clergy Support Trust.

Tuesday 19 January – Thursday 21 January 2027, in Luton. You must attend all 3 days, 9.15am – 4.30pm.

Facing times of tension and conflict can be challenging and particularly for those in leadership as we deal with our own anxieties as well as those of others.

This workshop is designed to equip you as a leader within your church enabling you to face situations of conflict with greater confidence and resilience. Including presentation, reflection and hands-on skills training, the workshop aims to provide opportunities:

• To increase your self-awareness as a leader facing conflict, so that you become clearer about how others experience you and more confident about some of what you have to offer, and where you may need to grow;
• To transform your attitude towards conflict and engaging with conflict, so that you are able to face conflict more constructively, and to model that attitude for others;
• To equip you with practical skills for working with conflict as a leader, so that you can engage with conflict more confidently in future.

Thursday 11 February 2027, 9.30am – 2.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, Langford

Churches which are well repaired and welcoming can help congregations grow and flourish. Yet the upkeep of places of worship can become a worry for church leaders.

This CMD day will consider the relationship between Church as people and place, before breaking into workshops to explore issues in four areas which can move the dial:

• unstaffed opening,
• adaptations such as loos and kitchens,
• churchyards, and
• halls.

The day will be honest about the challenges, advocate the value of doing the right thing for the long term, and show how small changes can have an aggregate impact and generate momentum for bigger projects.

The day will be led by the Revd Canon Dr Kenneth Padley, drawing on his recent book Kingdom Buildings. Throughout his ministry Kenneth has worked with local communities to help make their buildings fit for purpose, in the course of which he has found himself reflecting on the theology and mission of church fabric. He was a Vicar in the diocese 2012-22 and Rural Dean of St Albans. Between 2022 and 2025 he was the clergy lead on fabric issues at Salisbury Cathedral as Canon Treasurer where he is now Canon Chancellor.

Who should attend:

The day is intended for parish clergy, churchwardens, treasurers, and other volunteers who help maintain and finance the fabric of local churches.