Ministerial development review

What is an MDR?

Ministerial Development Reviews (MDRs) are annual reflective conversations intended to support clergy in their wellbeing and ministry.

What has changed?

In response to feedback over the past few years we have redesigned the MDR system. The paperwork required has been reduced, and is now less prescriptive. The revised system follows a three year cycle, each with a different focus: wellbeing, ministry & vocation. Clergy will meet the same peer reviewer for the first two years of the cycle, and meet with a member of the Bishop’s senior staff in the third.

More details can be found in the process overview document below.

Who is eligible?

All parish clergy (except curates), chaplains, and ministers in secular employment. Those who are licensed under Common Tenure are required to participate; those whose licence predates Common Tenure are warmly invited to participate as they wish. The review forms are designed to cover all forms of ordained ministry, and those being reviewed are encouraged to adapt the form to better meet their context where that will be helpful.

How do I access it?

Clergy licensed under Common Tenure will automatically be enrolled in the system, and will receive an email explaining what they need to do. Clergy whose licence predates Common Tenure will receive an email inviting them to participate if they wish to.

To help build capacity in the new system some clergy will have a “fallow” year in 2025, and not receive a review. Those in this group will have had a review last year, and will have a review with a member of the Bishop’s senior staff team in 2026.

Forms and resources

MDR process overview