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Continuing Ministerial Education
Training Courses: Sept 2006 - June 2007

'NOT JUST FOR CURATES'

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CLERGY PAGE

• The Bishop of Southwark’s Study Day
• The Bishop of Southwark’s Day for Stipendiary Title Curates
• CME Personal Allowance Scheme
• Diocesan Grants for Major Academic Awards
• Extended Study (Sabbatical) Leave

The Bishop of Southwark’s Study Day for clergy - church growth

Wednesday 18 October 2006
Day Event 10am - 3.30pm
Lunch provided

Venue:
Southwark Cathedral

Led by:
Dr Paula Gooder, Queen’s Foundation, University of Birmingham;
The Ven Bob Jackson, Archdeacon of Walsall and author, Hope for the Church and The Road to Growth.

Numbers:
All clergy! Bookings to Bishop’s House via the Bishop’s letter in the July mailing

Course intended for:
All clergy

Both speakers are well-known and have a heart for Church Growth. In the morning, Dr Gooder will address the issue in the light of biblical study and in the afternoon, Archdeacon Jackson will offer a practical approach.

The plan for the day is likely to be as follows:

All title curates: please note that this day is in addition to your required POT or IME 4-7 courses

The Bishop of Southwark’s Day For stipendiary title curates

Monday 11th December 2006
Day Event: 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
With lunch (provided)

Venue:
Trinity House

Led by :
Professor Markus Bockmuehl, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge;
Dr Mary Tanner, President of the World Council of Churches

Numbers :
All stipendiary title curates. Notify Miss Winsome Thomas, Bishop Tom’s secretary.

Course intended for :
All stipendiary title curates

Both speakers are eminent theologians and the day is intended to allow stipendiary title curates time for serious theological thought and conversation with the Bishop, each other and the visiting speakers.

The plan for the day is likely to be as follows:

There will be time for questions and the day will end by 4.00pm

Lunch will be provided. Please note that this day is in addition to the required minimum post-ordination training sessions selected from the courses booklet.

CME Personal Allowance Scheme

For whom?
All licensed or beneficed clergy in the Diocese of Southwark, who are no longer serving their title, may access the personal allowance scheme.

For what?
The scheme aims to encourage stipendiary clergy to take responsibility for their own ministerial development. Courses, conferences and similar undertakings should contribute to ministerial formation on a personal, skills or educational level. Areas for development may be highlighted as a result of the annual ministerial interview.

Courses in the booklet Not Just for Curates do not incur charges and as every effort is being made to provide the education and training requested through the annual interview CME forms, do check what is on offer. Clergy wishing to pursue long-term academic study should refer to the paper on Major Academic Awards although the Personal Allowance may be put towards this.

How much?
The Allowance is £150 per year. The scheme is administered in whole years. Stipendiary clergy only may accumulate this for a maximum of three years; funding may not be taken in annual advance. At the end of the three year cycle, which begins for everyone on January 1st 2006, all accumulation is lost, whether any has been spent or not. All stipendiary clergy come within the same three year cycle, regardless of when they come to the Diocese or when they ceased their title. All clergy eligible are therefore currently in the second year of the cycle which began on 1st January 2006 and
any money accumulated prior to that date is no longer available.

How do I access the money?
Courses etc need the approval of the Area Bishop. In almost every case, this is deemed to have been granted after consultation with the Canon Theologian. Long-term study will require referral to the Area Bishop and other courses etc may also be referred to him. Inquiries should be made in writing (email is fine) to the Canon Theologian before bookings etc are confirmed.
Receipts or invoices (which may be paid direct) are required before money is released.

Then what?
After using the Personal Allowance money, clergy are asked to report back to the Canon Theologian who can build a portfolio of useful courses which others might find of interest.

Diocesan Grants for Major Academic Awards

Types of Course

These include

1. The conversion of a Certificate or Diploma gained during initial ministerial education into a degree.
2. Postgraduate diplomas and degrees in various subjects which have a direct bearing on present ministry – e.g. degrees in Applied Theology, Theology and Education, Ministry and Mission, Management and Ministry.
3. Courses aimed at development for a stipendiary future ministry within the Church of England

Available funding
There are a maximum of 24 grants available in any one year at the discretion of the Diocesan Bishop. However, most courses last at least two years, and awards will be made in principle to cover the duration of the course up to maximum of three years (depending on satisfactory performance). There may therefore be fewer than 24 new grants each year.

Grants are of £450 and may be augmented by the Personal Allowance. They are not awarded to clergy who have had a sabbatical within the last two years or who propose to have one in the coming two years. Discussion concerning academic study properly begins with the appropriate Area Bishop, normally in the context of the ministerial review.

How to plan
Undertaking a part-time course of study to degree or diploma level is very costly in financial and in other terms. Those applying for a grant must be able to show that they have discussed the implications of the proposal with their parish and with their family as well as with the Area Bishop. Part-time study at degree or (serious) diploma level requires an approximate minimum of 15 hours applied study a week, plus a good deal of preparatory time (travelling, book-finding etc) to make it possible. Clergy must be clear how they can programme this into their timetable. What will have to be given up or not attempted in ministerial practice? What impact will it have on other activities and time off?

Clergy should indicate both to the Area Bishop and to the Canon Theologian their desire to pursue further study and to seek an Award. Formal written applications need to be made by the end of February in any year for a September start, or by the end of the previous July for a Spring Semester start. Applications must provide full details of the course including time commitment and its the usefulness for the Church’s needs and to the individual’s ministry. Preference is likely to be given to those who are nearer the beginning than the end of their ministry, and to those who have already shown evidence of particularly strong academic aptitude. Application is not a guarantee of an award. Receipts or invoices must be produced before the Canon Theologian can release funds and, after the first year, report on progress.

Major academic courses may not be substituted for Post Ordination Training or for Initial Ministerial Education.

Extended Study (Sabbatical) Leave

Introduction
Extended Study Leave is given at the discretion of the Bishop and constitutes a period away from the parish or sphere of ministry. There are two kinds of Southwark Sabbatical:

• The six week ESL (a mini-sabbatical) may be appropriate after a minimum of seven years in orders. This consists of paid leave, but without extra grant funding;
• The three-month ESL (a full sabbatical) may be appropriate after a minimum of fourteen years in orders. This consists of three months’ paid leave, plus an optional grant of £900 (excluding any Personal Allowance money).

There are eighteen sabbatical grants and places at most each year, usually fully booked up to two years ahead; do plan in advance for sabbaticals.

Mini- and full sabbaticals are not usually taken at intervals shorter than fourteen years between the same kind of sabbatical or at intervals shorter than seven years between an alternative kind.

For whom?
Stipendiary clergy at the discretion of the Bishop but not as of right, who:

• have been at least 2 years in their present post.
• are not actively looking for a move during the planning or leave period
• are not within three years of a proposed retirement date.
• have not received a Major Academic Course grant from the diocese within the previous two years or who intend to seek one in the next two years.

Either a long or a short sabbatical should be planned to be of help to ministry, either directly (if the emphasis is on study and skills) or indirectly (if the emphasis is more on personal development and renewal).

How do I set about a sabbatical?

• seek the advice of the Area Bishop and discuss plans with the Canon Theologian. Written plans, including details of parish cover, should be submitted to the Area Bishop and the Canon Theologian.
• The Area Bishop will ensure proper communication with the Area Dean, having due regard to envisaged vacancies, others on leave and so on, in the Deanery.

Planning
Consider the following

1. Clarification of aim (what is to be done, why, when and where)
2. Main topic for study or area of personal development
3. Reflection on the possible implications, including spiritually, of leave
4. Other activities if any in addition to 2.
5. Parish, including cover, assistant staff, and consequences for the deanery: the Area Dean should be informed of a proposed sabbatical at the earliest opportunity
6. Family/personal circumstances
7. Reporting back

Finance

• Receipts and/or invoices must also be sent to the Canon Theologian before a grant is released
• Accumulated CME money may be used

In addition to the discretionary diocesan grant, clergy should consider applying for external funding. The following may be useful:

• The Ecclesiastical Insurance Group: Ministry Bursary Awards Scheme
  The EIG Bursary Award Scheme is open to those in full time stipendiary ministry in a Christian church and can provide a grant towards a work-related project, contribute to a study course away from a demanding ministry, or support research in the UK or abroad. Applicants must normally have completed at least 10 years full time stipendiary ministry, either in the Anglican Church or in one that is fully recognised within the mainstream of Christian Churches in the UK. Successful applicants have used their awards to help fund projects such as travel, study courses and pilgrimages, as well as periods of reflection and retreat. The closing date for applications for awards for each year is generally the end of
  September of the previous year. For more detail, see the EIG website, call Iain Hearn of EIG on 01452
  528533 exn. 2104 or email ecclesiastical@eigmail.com
• Sion College makes grants to clergy in London Metropolitan Boroughs south of the River Thames. (At the time of writing, their website did not reflect this but it is true!) Membership is required for a grant application and costs £10.00 per annum. Email Morag Todd [sioncollege@tiscali.co.uk] for a an application form, and see the College website for more detail (www.sioncollege.org)
• The Alexis Trust: Small grants (c£50) for Christian based activities. Write to Prof D W Vere, 14 Broadfield Way, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, IG9 5AG
• The S George’s Trust: Grants to people involved in the service of the Church of England and churches in communion with her, including clergy grants towards sabbatical expenses. Write, with details of the project its likely cost and an indication of available funds, as far in advance as possible before March or September each year, with an sae to Mrs C F Fenn, 7, Brookside, Hornchurch, Essex RM11 2RR.
• The Harold Buxton Trust: for specialist sabbaticals only as the Trust is for people undertaking projects promoting mutual interchange and understanding between the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. One off grants for travel expenses for study/exchange visits in Eastern Europe, former USSR countries and the Middle East: Write to or ring: Mrs Pat Phillips c/o SPCK, Holy Trinity Church, Marylebone Road NW1 4DU (020 7643 0382) pphillips@spck.org.uk to see if your plans are within the terms of the Trust.
• Women may also make applications to: The Gilmore Fund - for precise terms contact the secretary, the Revd Justine Middlemiss (see diocesan directory for details); the Women’s Continuing Ministerial Education Trust - contact the Ministry Division at Church House
• All clergy may consider applications to charities in support of their own theological tradition, to local charities or to charities with which they may have an association eg livery companies.

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