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 2025
Welcome to the Summer Programme for Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD). This summer we are offering a Retreat/Quiet Day in addition to specific morning or afternoon sessions
All these events have been requested by colleagues, and I have endeavoured to include topics coming from a wide range of traditions and contexts.Please give careful consideration to which of these events would be most helpful for your ministry.
Stipendiary clergy are required to attend at least two events from the termly CMD programmes over the calendar year.
Chaplains and 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.
In light of these expectations, it is important that it is good use of your time to attend these events. Please help me to achieve that 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.
In addition, it is expected that all clergy who receive a stipend attend the Bishop's Study Morning, Study Day and Safeguarding Day and chaplains and licensed self-supporting clergy are encouraged to attend.
Rob Harrison
Managing a staff team
Wednesday 7th May, 1.00pm - 3.30pm
Venue: St Laurence, Foleshill
Employing staff brings a range of additional responsibilities, under the requirements of both law and good practice, that are rarely covered by the Church’s processes of discernment and training. This session –facilitated by Paul Lageu, from Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon – will provide an overview of the responsibilities of those employing staff, and explore practical aspects of good practice.
Who is this session for? Clergy, Churchwardens & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/managing-a-staff-team-25/
Bishop’s Safeguarding Day
Tuesday 13th May, 9.15am – 4.00pm
Venue: Crown Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
This day will focus on the National Safeguarding Standards, supporting Clergy to prepare for the Independent Safeguarding Audit (INEQE) which will be happening in July 2026.
The day will be essential in providing parishes with information on the audit and how to prepare.
All licensed clergy who receive a stipend are required to attend this event; those who are not able to need to contact bishop@bishop-coventry.org copied to Rob.Harrison@Coventry.Anglican.org . Chaplains and Self-Supporting Ministers are encouraged to attend if their working patterns allow. Owing to an enforced change of venue, there will be no reserve places made available to clergy with PTO for this event.
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/bishops-safeguarding-day-25
Preparing a parish/benefice for vacancy
Thursday 22nd May, 2.00pm - 4.30pm
Venue: St Nicolas’, Nuneaton
As with ‘all good things’ in the well-known proverb, incumbencies come to an end. Preparing well, and well in advance, for what happens in a parish/benefice the after you leave / your incumbent leaves, can greatly help the long term benefits of your ministry in that place.
This session, co-led by Rob Harrison and Matt Jermyn, will explore various aspects of preparing for a vacancy including what is possible, permissible and practical in the months after announcing a move, and a longer term perspective on building lay leadership with a view to moving on.
Please note that attending this session does not signal an intention to move in the near future; coming with a view to long-term planning is very much encouraged.
Who is this session for? Clergy, Readers and Churchwardens
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/preparing-for-vacancy-25/
The Psalms
Thursday 5th June, 2.00pm - 4.30pm
Venue: All Saints’, Allesley
The Book of Psalms has held a very special place in the worship and faith of godly people for much longer than the Christian church has existed. In this session, Jon Taylor will explore some of the deep and rich content to be found there, will open up fresh perspectives and seek to enhance your continued engagement with some of the most moving and profound poetry ever written.
This session will be led by Jon Taylor
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/the-psalms-25/
Engaging with Addiction
Tuesday 24th June, 2.00pm - 4.30pm
Venue: Heathcote
Addiction comes in many forms, and affects people from all sections of society, including church members and church leaders. This session will give an overview of addiction, what it is and how it works, and will include practical guidance in how to engage appropriately and helpfully with people who live with addiction.
The session will be led by Maria Laxton (the Diocesan Counsellor)
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/engaging-with-addiction-25/
Quiet Day – Sensitive to nature; alert to yourself and the world around
Wednesday 2nd July, 10.00am - 4.30pm
Venue: St Edith’s, Monks Kirby
A quiet day for personal prayer and reflection, including brief talks. Opportunities for deeper listening. The focus will be on the richness of, and interfaces between, our more personal lives, our communities and the wider world – if you like, your ‘spiritual ecosystem.’
Led by Clive Hicks.
Please bring a packed lunch; drinks will be provided.
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/quiet-day-sensitive-to-nature-25/
Theology Forum: the ‘Fall’
Wednesday 9th July, 1.00pm - 4.30pm
Venue: Moreton Morrell
This new initiative provides a space for clergy to bring theological and biblical topics that they would like to discuss, to grow and deepen understanding in light of experience in ministry. In this first meeting, hosted by Beren Hartless, Barry Jackson will present a discussion starter exploring how stories like ‘The Fall’ might be presented in schools in a way that can lay foundations for lifelong faith.
The event will start by sharing lunch together. Please bring your own packed lunch.
This Theology Forum is being formed by a group of clergy in Fosse Deanery and has been incorporated into the CMD programme to make the event available to colleagues from across the diocese.
Who is this session for? Clergy
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/theology-forum-25/
What is Growing Faith, and why should I care?
Wednesday 16th July, 2.00pm - 4.30pm
Venue: St Thomas’, Keresley.
We are all called and committed to growing faith in our churches and our communities. We are all aware of the need for church communities to grow younger. Growing the faith of the children and young people we encounter is not necessarily as easy to achieve as it is to intend. In this session James Henney, the Diocese of Coventry Growing Faith Enabler, will explore the principles that underpin the Growing Faith ethos of the Church of England. There will be opportunity to discuss why these principles are important to a church’s health and growth, and to consider practical ways that we can strengthen and deepen our engagement with children, young people and their families.
Who is this session for? Clergy & Lay Leaders
Equip Hub link: https://www.equiphub.org.uk/what-is-growing-faith-25/