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 – Summer 2026
Welcome to the Summer Programme for Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD).
Thank you to all those that gave consideration to CMD needs through last year’s MDR process. This programme has been designed to cover the needs expressed. Please give careful consideration to which of these events would be most helpful for your ministry.
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 register onto one of these.
Licensed Readers 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.
Rob Harrison
Using a Churchyard for Wellbeing
Tuesday 14th April, 10.00am to 12.30pm
Venue: John Laing Centre, Coventry Cathedral
Whether you have a vast and ancient graveyard full of wildlife or a small patch of urban space, churchyards offer a space that can be a resource to the wellbeing of local people.
In this session, led by members of our Churchyard Biodiversity and Heritage Project there will be an opportunity to consider a range of opportunities and possibilities for using spaces which can sometimes feel a liability into missional opportunity. If the weather allows, we will venture out into the centre of Coventry to discover different ways that spaces can become a place of resource and blessing.
Who is this session for? Clergy, Churchwardens & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/using-a-churchyard-for-wellbeing/
Finding God in the Admin
Thursday 30th April, 2.00pm to 4.30pm
Venue: St Nicolas’ Church, Nuneaton
“I wasn’t ordained for this!” is a thought that passes through many a minister’s mind as they stare at a computer screen for yet another hour, when they would much rather be out in their community sharing God’s love in word and action.
This session will seek to address such concerns with a view to both our relationship with God and our relationship to the administrative tasks we face. Led by Rob Harrison, we will reflect on the administrative load that comes with contemporary church leadership, look afresh at the ministry experience of those who have gone before us – all the way back to Abraham.
There will be of opportunity to share practical tips. There will be time to reflect and pray and refresh our understanding of our vocation.
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/finding-god-in-the-admin/
Bishop's Safeguarding Day
Monday 11th May, 9.15am – 4.00pm
Venue: St Mary’s Church, Warwick
This year will focus on developing a trauma informed approach within ministry. We are delighted that Professor David Shemmings, an internationally known expert in child protection and attachment theory, will be leading the day. His work, particularly his research commissioned by the Diocese of Chichester has provided vital insights into culture, patterns of harm and most importantly, the lived experiences of victims and survivors.
Throughout the day, Professor Shemmings will guide us in exploring trauma informed and relationship-based practice, sharing learning that can strengthen our pastoral presence, deepen our leadership, and support a safer church.
All licensed clergy who receive a stipend are required to attend this event; those who are not able to do so need to contact bishopsophie@bishop-coventry.org copied to Rob.Harrison@Coventry.Anglican.org. Chaplains and Self-Supporting Ministers are encouraged to attend if their working patterns allow.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/safeguarding-learning-together-day/
Maintaining Boundaries in Ministry
Thursday 4th June, 10.00am to 12.30pm
Venue: St John’s Church, Kenilworth
Maintaining healthy and appropriate boundaries in ministry is very difficult. Be it boundaries of time, of physical space, personal space or emotional space, the realities of ministry life press hard and often against our intentions and the guidance of best practice.
This session, in partnership between the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and the Wellbeing Group, will explore the practicalities, possibilities and pitfalls of establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Who is this session for? Clergy
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/maintaining-boundaries-in-ministry/
Being Fruitfully Neurodivergent
Wednesday 10th June, 10.00am to 12.30pm
Venue: Bedworth Parish Church
There are several of us ministering in this diocese whose brains do not work in quite the way that the world around us would expect them to. Neurodivergence brings challenges and frustrations, but it also brings godly variety, creativity and the potential for great fruitfulness.
Whether you have a diagnosis for neurodivergence, suspect that you are, or simply know that your brain just doesn’t work like most people’s, do this session will be a safe space to express and reflect on your uniqueness and the opportunities for fruitfulness that lie at the heart of your calling.
The session will be hosted by Rob Harrison and will benefit from the experience, insight and humour of all those who join it.
Who is this session for? Clergy or Lay Leaders who are neurodivergent or who live or work closely with others who are.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/being-fruitfully-neurodivergent/
Challenging Theology – Unanswered Prayer
Tuesday 23rd June, 2.00pm to 4.30pm
Venue: St Andrew’s Church, Eastern Green
A young person recently asked Sarah Edmonds Maquire, "You've been praying for peace in the middle east for years and it doesn't make any difference. So what's that bit of the service about?" That question was the spark for this session of our Challenging Theology series.
Does God intervene in human tragedies? How does God intervene when he does? And, what on earth – and in heaven – are we doing when we pray?
Guided by Sarah Edmonds Maquire, this session will explore the idea that the God of uncontrolling love doesn’t stop evil singlehandedly. Using real life examples, we will consider how our own experiences and expectations of God inform and influence our intercessions, both personally and in communal worship.
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/challenging-theology-unanswered-prayer/
Ministry in Multiple Parishes or Roles
Wednesday 15th July, 2.00pm to 4.30pm
Venue: St Mathew & St Oswald, Rugby
Jesus advised us that no-one can serve two masters (God and money), but many of us seek to serve God by serving more than one parish, or more than one congregation, or in more than one role.
This session will have a ‘forum’ structure, valuing and sharing the experience within the room. Come, prepared to share joys and struggles, insights and experiences. The session will be hosted by Rob Harrison who has held multiple roles for much of his 37 years of ordained ministry.
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/ministry-in-multiple-parishes-roles/
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.