Ordination marks the beginning of life-long learning for clergy. We remain curious about our faith and keen to develop in our ministry. This page, therefore, contains some of the ongoing opportunities for learning and reflection that are specifically targeted at licensed clergy. Other training opportunities are detailed in our twice-yearly CMD opportunities brochure available here. Training events can be attended using clergy CMD grant or other sources of course-specific funding detailed here.
Leading your church into growth (LYCiG)
To be booked before the end of your first year in post as detailed in your offer letter from the bishop.
All newly appointed clergy (apart from curates) are required to attend a LYCiG residential course, or an alternative church growth course agreed with your Area Bishop (even if you’ve already been on one of these courses). LYCiG is a widely-respected resource for equipping confident clergy in the context of their current parish. The residential takes the form of an open seminar with interactive talks, practical exercises, workshops and time and space for personal reflection. Course sessions include: Becoming a mission church; Catholic evangelism; Establishing growth structures; Multi-parish benefices.
Clergy are encouraged to attend with lay members of your parish. The cost of clergy participation is covered by the Diocese. Parishes normally pay for lay participants.
To book: visit https://www.leadingyourchurchintogrowth.org.uk/conferences#upcomingconf
On your application (for your own registration only), please enter ‘Invoice Leeds Diocese directly: please send to Anne Payne at anne.payne@leeds.anglican.org'
Lay participants book separately. To discuss lay bursaries, please email Anne Payne before booking.
Training on Racial Justice and Presence and Engagement
To be booked during the first year in post, on the earliest available course. Newly appointed clergy must attend our training on Racial Justice and on Presence and Engagement (PandE), unless they've recently done so as a curate. This consists of: one Training Day on Racial Justice; one 'Area Visit' to a PandE parish; and a choice from a selection of workshops. The national PandE initative supports churches and schools with mission and ministry in a world of religious diversity. PandE is important for ministry wherever we live, given our wider social, national and global context.
To book contact Jenny Ramsden, Interfaith Adviser: jenny.ramsden@leeds.anglican.org.
Rural Ministry Course
To be booked during the first year in post – if appointed to a rural post- as detailed in your offer letter from the bishop.
The Arthur Rank Centre’s two-day residential programme includes sessions on understanding rural contexts, mission and growth, leadership, farming and work with children and young people in the countryside.
To book, visit: https://arthurrankcentre.org.uk/ruralministrycourse/
On your application, please enter ‘Invoice Leeds Diocese directly: please send to Anne Payne at anne.payne@leeds.anglican.org'.
Stewardship
A personal meeting with a representative of the diocesan Stewardship And Income Generation team to be booked in the first year in post as detailed in your offer letter from the bishop (you are welcome to bring a member of your parish with you if you would find that helpful). This will result in relationship forming with stewardship to enable future interaction, as well as greater awareness of resources and training for you and your parish in the area of stewardship. To book, contact the stewardship team at resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org.
Post of First Responsibility
We offer an annual programme to support clergy beginning a first incumbency or a post of similar responsibility in the Leeds diocese. The cohort is usually a mixture of those who have been curates in the Leeds diocese and those who are new to the diocese. It is great both to continue working with those we know well, and we look forward to getting to know those who have moved here from elsewhere. The course usually begins and ends with short residentials. Unlike the curates’ IME programme, you are not required to attend this, but we hope that you will want to do so and that you will find it relevant and helpful. Apart from anything else it is good simply to meet with others who are at the same stage as you for mutual support and encouragement. The cost of the course and your travel to these sessions will be paid for by the diocese.
For more information about the current or next First Responsibility course, please contact Steve Proudlove: steve.proudlove@leeds.anglican.org.
Mid-Ministry Course: Celebrating and Renewing Ministry
This course is designed for clergy who are usually at least 10 years into ministry. It is run every year by the Diocese in conjunction with Scargill House (Kettlewell) and this year will be running on dates TBC. The course aims to help clergy to set a new vision for the next stage of their ministry and it is led by a Master Certified coach, assisted by a team of experienced clergy and ministers associated with Scargill. (The cost in 2023 was £500.)
Pre-retirement Course
This course is designed for clergy (and their spouses) within 5 years of retirement. It is run at Scargill House (Kettlewell) and includes presentations from Windmills, the Church of England Pensions and Housing Teams and recently retired clergy. This year the course will run on dates TBC. Places on the course are limited so if you are interested in reserving one or two places within the Leeds Diocese allocation, please contact Steve Proudlove to discuss this. The cost of this course is covered for the clergy person (with their CMD grant) and for their spouse.
For more information about these courses and to book a place, please contact Steve Proudlove steve.proudlove@leeds.anglican.org