An annual CMD grant is available to all licenced clergy to support their ongoing ministerial development.

>> Discretionary grant application form

>> Download the information on this page as a Word document

From the ordinal

“Will you be diligent in prayer, in reading Holy Scripture, and in all studies that will deepen your faith and fit you to uphold the truth of the Gospel against error?”

Introduction

The Diocese of Derby encourages all its licensed clergy to continue learning throughout their ministry and this grant is available to help you do just that. It is our hope that, as ministers grow and develop in their ministry and discipleship, they will identify the training and development opportunities they need.  All grants are discretionary, but please do apply and we will always seek to support you in this way if we can.

Who can apply for a CMD Grant?

The Diocesan CMD Grant is intended to support those who are currently in post in a parish/chaplaincy/pioneer context/cathedral, whether Self Supporting or Stipendiary Clergy.

How much can I claim?

The maximum amount is £300 per year. The year runs from January-December. Please apply before the end of November so that the Finance Department has time for end of year preparation.  There is no roll-over – so if you don’t use all/any of your grant in any one year you can’t add this to the following year.

What sort of things are covered?

The CMD Grant will only be considered for training purposes.  That said, almost everything! From day courses, to training conferences, to further theological study. As you know, there are many other opportunities available through universities, colleges, church, and secular organisations. These are all covered.  

Can I still apply for an additional £250 if I’m doing academic study?

Yes, please do apply for the additional £250 if you are doing academic study such as a Master’s, a Professional Doctorate or a PhD.  Please fill out the separate Academic Study Form to apply for that.

What is not covered?

• Annual Events like New Wine or Greenbelt
• Books are not funded by the CMD allowance
• Travel expenses are not covered by the CMD budget and should be claimed with normal parish expenses
• Retreats. These are funded separately. There is a separate Retreat Grant Form you can apply for in addition to the CMD Grant that is being offered.
• Sabbaticals and Study Leaves are funded separately. (Please see guidelines and application forms available from Marietta Forman or on the diocesan website).

How do I claim?

Please complete the application form available from Marietta Forman or the diocesan website and send it to marietta.forman@derby.anglican.org. Invoices and/or receipts must be included before funds will be transferred.

Can my application be retrospective?

Yes, but please note that the CMD Grant Budget is a limited pot, and these grants are subject to funds being available.  Receipts or invoice are needed for the Finance Department to reimburse you your money

When do I apply?

Please apply within the calendar year in which the training event takes place.  It is not possible to carry money over from year to year.  Unfortunately, we cannot reimburse expenses from the previous year, nor can we process requests for the following calendar year. Therefore, please hold onto your application until January of the subsequent year.

Is there a deadline?

Applications should be placed with the Ordained Ministries Development Officer by 30^th November for that calendar year, assuming there may still be funds to disburse, to allow the budget to be properly managed as year-end approaches (The Diocesan Board of Finance works to a calendar year).

It is not possible to carry money over from year to year.

Timeline once you apply

• We look at the forms and authorise shortly after you apply
• We then apply to Finance for payment, this usually takes around 3 weeks to process
• If for any reason your claim isn’t successful, we will be in touch straight away

Rationale

The Church of England recognises the centrality of lifelong learning, support and development in the lives and ministry of its clergy. In The Diocese of Derby, we are clear that clergy should feel both affirmed in their ministry and accountable to their Bishop and colleagues for their development.

Under the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations, all those holding office under Common Tenure are under a duty to participate in Continuing Ministerial Development and Ministerial Development Review.

Additionally, all Stipendiary Clergy (and Self-Supporting Clergy, where possible) are expected to attend designated Bishop’s Study Days and Diocesan Conferences. Such conferences and study days are designed to offer opportunities to address issues of topical importance in clergy ministry.

Individual Lifelong Learning & Professional Development

It is our hope that, as ministers grow and develop in their ministry and discipleship, they will identify the training and development opportunities they need. All clergy are actively encouraged to undertake an annual programme to update their theological and associated studies as well as practical skills.  The grants we offer are intended to enable clergy to make the most of these opportunities.

Personal Details and GDPR?

You can find details as to how we use and retain your details on our Diocesan Website.

Questions?

Please feel free to contact Marietta Forman or the Rev’d Susie Curtis.  They will attempt to answer any questions you may have.

Complaints?

If there is a complaint about how the grants were approved and/or distributed, please contact Claire Lees, Director of People & Ministry Development for the Diocese of Derby.

An annual retreat grant is available to all licenced clergy to support the cost of a retreat or spiritual direction. The retreat grant is offer to all clergy by the Diocese of Derby to support their wellbeing and spiritual renewal by financially supporting an annual retreat. 

>> CMD grant application form

>> Download the information on this page as a word document

Who can apply for the Retreat Grant?

The Diocesan Retreat Grant is intended to support all ordained clergy currently active in any form of post, whether Self Supporting or Stipendiary.

How much can I claim?

Up to £250 is being offered per person on an annual basis.  All grants are discretionary, but please do apply and we will always seek to support you in any way we can.

What is not covered?

• Books are not funded by the Retreat allowance
• Travel expenses are not covered by the Retreat budget and should be claimed with normal parish expenses
• CMD Training is funded separately. There is a separate CMD Grant Form you can apply for in addition to the Retreat Grant that is being offered.
• Sabbaticals and Study Leaves are funded separately.

How do I claim?

Please complete the application form available from Marietta Forman or the diocesan website and send it to marietta.forman@derby.anglican.org.

Invoices and/or receipts must be included before funds will be transferred.

Can my application be retrospective?

Yes, but please note that the CMD Grant Budget is a limited pot, and these grants are subject to funds being available. 

Is there a deadline?

Applications should be placed with the Ordained Ministries Development Officer by 30^th November for that calendar year, assuming there may still be funds to disburse, to allow the budget to be properly managed as year-end approaches. (The Diocesan Board of Finance works to a calendar year).

It is not possible to carry money over from year to year.

Timeline once you apply

• We look at the forms and authorise shortly after you apply.
• We then apply to Finance for payment. This usually takes around 3 weeks to process.
• If for any reason your claim isn’t successful, we will be in touch straight away.

Personal Details & GDPR?

You can find details as to how we use and retain your details on our Diocesan Website.

Questions?

Please feel free to contact the Rev’d Susie Curtis with any questions.

Complaints?

If there is a complaint about how the grants were approved and/or distributed, please contact Claire Lees Director of People and Ministry Development.  claire.lees@derby.anglican.org

Licenced clergy are encouraged to take the gift of a Sabbatical during their ministry.

The Diocese of Derby encourage all licensed clergy to take a three-month sabbatical every 10 years in ministry. This sustained period away from normal duties promotes professional development and personal enrichment.  It is recommended that sabbaticals are planned at least 18 months to two years in advance. 

• The Diocese of Derby funds up to six sabbaticals in each calendar year
• Episcopal permission is needed to be absent from a post, and therefore the process set out below must be followed regardless of whether funding is applied for or not

>> Application for for a Sabbatical

>> Grant application for a Sabbatical

>> Download the guidance on this page as a Word document

The purpose of a sabbatical

 A sabbatical is an expression of Sabbath. It is an extended period which is neither work nor holiday but an opportunity to live life differently; to study or explore; to look again at ministry, work and lifestyle; to let God speak to you afresh.

The shape of a sabbatical

A sabbatical plan should include significant elements of three transforming aspects:

Retreat – The space to reconnect deeply with God, to refresh spiritual roots, to renew your calling in ministry, and to consider markers for the future.  For some, this may take the form of a retreat or a pilgrimage or living in a community. A retreat at the beginning is a good way to mark the transition into a Sabbatical, as well as the transition back into full-time ministry at the end.

Renewal – This is the element of personal and/or professional development, which will normally take the greatest part of your three months. This is the time and space to equip you further in ministry, making the most of opportunities that you may not find in ordinary work time. It could relate to your present role, to a parallel interest, or something you’d like to explore with future ministry in mind. It will involve some element of learning, probably through study and theological reflection. For example: a self-determined research project, a short study course, or a ministry placement in an unfamiliar environment. Whatever is chosen, it should be designed to widen horizons or deepen thinking rather than simply revisiting familiar territory.

Rest and Recreation – A sabbatical is not intended as a holiday, but the biblical pattern of Sabbath includes rest as a vital part of life.  Take time and space simply to do what brings you well-being, joy, fulfilment, with no immediate link or outcome in your ministry; especially perhaps something you wouldn’t be able to consider in the normal pattern of work and life. For example: taking up painting, gardening, cookery, sailing, playing a musical instrument or even a challenge such as cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

How long can it last?

 The normal period for a sabbatical is three months (with a minimum of six weeks and a of maximum 12 weeks). These periods should be seen as over and above annual holiday.

Eligibility

Clergy of incumbent status are eligible to apply if:

• They have been in orders for at least 10 years
• It is at least 10 years since any previous Sabbatical or period of Study Leave
• They have been in their current post for at least 3 years
• They are at least 3 years from retirement

 Please note:

• A sabbatical is of greatest benefit to those in active and healthy ministry; it is not the right course for those who are recuperating or recovering from any kind of crisis.
• It would also be inadvisable for a minister to plan a sabbatical during a time of parish upheaval or when an important decision is being made or major project being undertaken. In such circumstances, the Diocese will offer alternative support and provision.
• If you are supervising a curate in training, the proposed period of the sabbatical should not fall within the first 2 years of the supervision of the curacy.

Process 

It is recommended that sabbaticals are planned at least 18 months to two years in advance.  This is to secure an allocation in the budget and to enable sufficient time for planning, preparation, and additional fundraising (if required). Proper planning before submission is key.

1. Arrange a meeting with the Ordained Ministries Development Officer by emailing or ringing Marietta Forman at either forman@derby.anglican.org or 01332 388673 to discuss ideas and possibilities. You might also consider talking through ideas about the sabbatical with your Spiritual Director.
2. Bring a draft of the Application for a Sabbatical Form to that meeting. A final version will eventually be submitted to the bishop for authorisation.

Your draft should:

• Include Retreat, Renewal, Rest and Recreation
• Include a plan of the proposed sabbatical with a rough schedule and itinerary
• Confirm support of your Area Dean
• Confirm support from the Churchwarden(s) or any appropriate other(s)
• Show what the arrangements for cover will be in your absence
  • This will involve consultation with the Area Dean and work colleagues. It is very important that throughout the period of the sabbatical you have no significant contact with your church, so we would encourage you to spend a significant amount of the sabbatical period away from the vicarage (particularly in the early part of the time) and to arrange for all work-related phone calls to be redirected elsewhere. It is not appropriate to expect other family members living in the vicarage to deal with all enquiries during your absence.
• Where funding is applied for, a budget indicating the costs of its various elements, including whether you will need to look to other sources of funding (Please use the Grant Application Form for a Sabbatical to apply for a sabbatical grant).

3. When your revised final application is completed and cover is sorted for the time you are hoping to be on sabbatical, the Ordained Ministries Development Officer presents the proposal along with their support to the Bishop and the Bishop’s Leadership Staff Team for approval.

4. You will be notified by the Ordained Ministries Development Officer whether your application has been successful.

Funding 

• A sabbatical grant of up to £900 is available.
• In addition, any unused CMD allocation for the year in which you are taking the sabbatical can be used for specific retreats or courses (but not for travel expenses).
• Please use the Grant Application Form for a Sabbatical to apply for your sabbatical grant. Please support your application with receipts and invoices. We are only able to reimburse your expenses and do not pay third parties directly.
• These funds can be applied for before or after your sabbatical, but they must be claimed no later than 30^th November of the year in which you take your sabbatical.
• Stipendiary clergy continue to receive their stipend during the sabbatical period.

Supervision

The Ordained Ministries Development Officer is available for consultation or advice at any time.  Together with the Ordained Ministries Development Officer you may, should you wish to, appoint or designate a supervisor to help you plan and resource your proposed sabbatical.  Please note that any charges a designated supervisor may make will need to be budgeted for within your application and will need to be supported by invoice.  Your CMD allowance cannot be used for this purpose.

Please note you must keep the Ordained Ministries Development Officer informed should there be any change in your circumstances that would impact on your proposed sabbatical.

Post Sabbatical

After the sabbatical, you will meet again with the Ordained Ministries Development Officer to debrief and evaluate the sabbatical.   Within a month of returning to normal duties you will also be expected to submit a short report, no more than a side of A4 so that we might share your experiences more widely within the Diocese, for encouragement and learning.

Personal Details and GDPR? 

You can find details as to how we use and retain your details on our Diocesan Website. 

Questions? 

Please feel free to contact Marietta Forman or the Rev’d Susie Curtis.  They will attempt to answer any questions you may have. 

Complaints? 

If there is a complaint about how the grants were approved and/or distributed, please contact Claire Lees, Director of People and Ministry Development for the Diocese of Derby. 

Licenced clergy can apply for study leave to support any academic study they are undertaking or similar such as writing a book. 

>> Study leave grant application form

>> Additional academic grant application form

>> Download the information onthis page as a Word document

We are pleased to encourage licensed clergy who are enrolled on a substantial course of study, writing up a thesis or dissertation, completing a book, to request a study leave to complete the work. Please note it is recommended that study leaves are planned at least 18 months to two years in advance.  

• The Diocese of Derby funds up to two (2) study leaves in each calendar year.
• If the funds are not used, they are made available for additional sabbaticals.
• Because clergy require the bishop’s permission to be absent from their post, the process set out below must be followed regardless of whether funding is applied for or not.

The purpose of Study Leave

Study Leave is for use when a prolonged period of study is needed for a further degree or for a writing project/ book/publication or for a research project.

It is not the same as the time dedicated to personal or formal study that is part of the ongoing formation of all clergy and especially those who are studying for further degrees with the approval of the Ordained Ministries Development Officer.  In these cases, it will be expected that in order to complete the degree for which the diocese is expending funds, the priest concerned will take appropriate time to study routinely (e.g., a half day or a day a week and a few days together each year).

Study Leave remains a time apart from the rigours and demands of daily working life, and proper assurance will be sought, as with Sabbaticals, that adequate cover would be arranged before grants could be disbursed.

Eligibility 

Clergy of incumbent status are eligible to apply if:

• They have been in orders for at least 10 years
• It is at least 10 years since any previous Sabbatical or period of Study Leave
• They have been in their current post for at least 3 years
• They are at least 3 years from retirement

How long can it last?

The normal period for a study leave is three months (with a minimum of six weeks and a of maximum 12 weeks). These periods should be seen as over and above annual holiday.

Study Leave is more flexible than a sabbatical in length and structuring of time. It is available in two-week blocks from a minimum of two weeks up to a maximum of twelve weeks and over as many as three years.

Process

It is recommended that study leave is planned in advance.  This is to secure an allocation in the budget and to enable sufficient time for planning, preparation, and additional fundraising (if required). Applications for study leave are usually dealt with at the first meeting of the Bishop’s Leadership Staff Team after 30^th April in the preceding year of the proposed study leave. Proper planning before submission is key.

1. Arrange a meeting with the Ordained Ministries Development Officer by emailing or ringing Marietta Forman at either forman@derby.anglican.org or 01332 388673 to discuss ideas and possibilities. You might also consider talking through ideas about the study leave with your tutor/editor.

2. Complete in draft an Application Form for Study Leave

3. Bring a draft application form to that meeting

 A final version will eventually be submitted to the bishop for authorisation.

Your draft should:

• Set out a directed level of study with clearly defined outcomes
• Indicate a timetable
• Confirm support of your Area Dean
• Confirm support from the Churchwarden(s) or any appropriate other(s)
• Include what the arrangements for cover will be in your absence
  • This will involve consultation with the Area Dean and work colleagues. It is very important that throughout the period of the study leave you have no significant contact with your church and to arrange for all work-related phone calls to be redirected elsewhere. It is not appropriate to expect other family members living in the vicarage to deal with all enquiries during your absence.

Where funding is applied for, a budget indicating the costs of its various elements, including whether you will need to look to other sources of funding.  Please use the Grant Application for Study Leave Form. 

Funding

• A study leave grant of up to £900 is available, which can be divided over two or three years.
• In addition, any unused CMD allocation for the year in which you are taking the study leave can be used for specific retreats or courses (but not for travel expenses).
• Please use the Grant Application for Study Leave Form to apply for your study leave grant. Please support your application with receipts and invoices. We are only able to reimburse your expenses and do not pay third parties directly.
• These funds can be applied for before or after your study leave, but they must be claimed no later than 30^th November of the year in which you take your study leave.
• Stipendiary clergy continue to receive their stipend during the time of the study leave.

Please note you must keep the Ordained Ministries Development Officer informed should there be any change in your circumstances that would impact on your proposed period/s of study leave so that where appropriate adjustments can be made.

Post Study Leave

At the conclusion of your period of study leave, please plan to meet with the Ordained Ministries Development Officer to give a quick update on progress made.

Personal Details and GDPR? 

You can find details as to how we use and retain your details on our Diocesan Website. 

Questions? 

Please feel free to contact Marietta Forman or the Rev’d Susie Curtis.  They will attempt to answer any questions you may have. 

Complaints? 

If there is a complaint about how the grants were approved and/or distributed, please contact Claire Lees, Director of People & Ministry Development for the Diocese of Derby. 

Time Out: suggestions and resources

We hope these ideas and resources will be helpful for reflection and self-care.

Some thoughts to help you use the time well

• Turn off your phone, unplug the doorbell – minimise technological interruption!
• Try to explain to anyone else in your house that you’re not available during this time
• If you’re doing this in your study, try not to sit at your desk
• Maybe light a candle to acknowledge ‘different’ time
• Try to gather anything you might need (ie ingredients, bits and pieces) in advance to avoid using the space in session
• This is YOUR time, to give you space and time with God.

Downloads:

Here be Dragons [PDF]

Come Home to your Hub [Word]

Wheel of Awareness diagram [Word]

Self-regulation diagram [Word]

Images of the diocese for prayer [PDF]

Journey of the last three months - ideas to express your experience [Word]

Let your God love you [Word]

Poems [Word]

Seasoned by Seasons extracts [PDF]

Chartres labyrinth [PDF]

Inhabit your body meditation: Download MP3 audio file or Listen online

Bread-making video [YouTube]

Bread - ideas and recipes [PDF]

Prayer walk during Covid [Word]

“I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” 

The pitfalls of ministry are many and various and when the going gets tough there is almost always a personal cost both to ourselves and those amongst whom our lives are set.  The Apostle’s frustration is rooted in an honest self-understanding, a recognition that alone we will adopt unhealthy or misconceived ways of living that take us away from the person God yearns for us to be.

Wellbeing is not an add on.  Wellbeing is not an optional extra for those who have the time.  Wellbeing is not a matter for people less busy than us.  Wellbeing is a Gospel value, for it is about choosing to be the person God intends, indeed yearns for us to be… to have life and life in all its fullness.  Taking wellbeing seriously is a non-negotiable part of our ministerial lives if we are to flourish as God’s people and for those who have made ordination vows, live them out with integrity.

You will hopefully find resources here to help you do that.  They are intentionally diverse, as not everything will speak to everyone and they are not the solution to anyone’s problems in themselves, but a starting point offered to help each of us in our different contexts take responsibility for our own wellbeing.

Get in touch

These pages are constantly under review, so that we may all receive assistance and appropriate advice in a quickly changing ministerial environment.

We welcome your feedback. If there is information missing from these pages that you or others may find helpful, please contact and let us know.

The Clergy Wellbeing Advisory Team
January 2024

The Covenant for Clergy Care and Wellbeing was made an Act of Synod at the February 2020 Group of Sessions of the General Synod. The Covenant is the expressed view of the mind of the Church of England on issues relating to clergy care and wellbeing.

“Our vision is that the work of supporting clergy in their ministry will become an integral part of the life of the Church and part of the DNA of every aspect of our mission and ministry.”

Revd Canon Simon Butler, Head of the Clergy Covenant Working Group

To find our more, please see the national website, The Covenant for Clergy Care and Wellbeing.

If you would like to read the main document behind the Covenant (GS 2072 Clergy Wellbeing) you can access it here.

The Church of England has initiated a ‘Big Conversation’ around Clergy Wellbeing and is encouraging all of us to take part. There are three resource papers to help encourage reflection and action available here.

They are not long but do ask some searching questions of us as clergy, of the local church and of our bishops and the wider Church.

The Diocese of Derby is committed to promoting, maintaining, and sustaining the wellbeing of our clergy.

To this end, the clergy wellbeing advisory group exists to offer advice and counsel to the diocesan bishop(s), to help ensure that diocesan procedures, practice, training, communications, and strategies are implemented and maintained which uphold clergy wellbeing.

The group also offers advice on the advancement and implementation of GS 2133 - A Covenant for Clergy Care and Wellbeing, developing principles of prevention, resilience, and self-care to help clergy flourish and minimise crisis situations.

In time it is hoped that the group will operate as a conduit through which clergy can feedback their experiences of clergy wellbeing, suggest areas for improvement, and air their views on the kind of support they would like to receive. 

The group meets regularly throughout the year.

If you would like to contact any of the members of the group, you will find their contact details below.

The Very Revd Dr Peter Robinson - Dean of Derby – Chair and Clergy Wellbeing Lead
dean@derbycathedral.org 
01332 341201

Revd Susie Curtis - Ordained Ministries Development Officer
susie.curtis@derby.anglican.org 
01332 401969

Claire Lees– Director of People & Ministry Development 
claire.lees@derby.anglican.org 
01332 278175

Julie Fowler – Wellbeing Administrator
julie.fowler@derby.anglican.org 
01332 278172

Mina Munns – Wholeness and Healing Lead
mina.munns@stalkmunds.org.uk 

Revd Jason Ward – Chair of the House of Clergy
jason.ward@derby.anglican.org

This Covenant, Calling & Crisis report from January 2023 presents qualitative findings from the third wave of the ten-year Living Ministry research.

It builds on the Wave 3 survey, exploring clergy wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic along with issues of autonomy, accountability and support. Sixty three people took part through individual and group interviews held on Zoom.

A framework analysis based on the categories of spiritual and vocational wellbeing, physical and mental wellbeing, relationships, and participation was used to address wellbeing experiences (financial and material wellbeing was excluded because interviews preceded rises in the cost of living), while autonomy and accountability were explored through the lens of self-determination theory, which defines autonomy as 'acting in line with one’s interests and values'.

A copy of the report can be downloaded here [PDF].

In partnership with the Churches Ministerial Counselling Service (CMCS).

Supporting licensed clergy in the Diocese of Derby.

“It was having someone listening to what I was saying without judging me. Listening to my problems and helping me to see them in a different light, that made all the difference”. 

The diocese, in partnership with the CMCS, offers a free counselling service in which up to twelve sessions of counselling are available to all licensed clergy and their partners in the Diocese of Derby, as well as dependent adult members of the household.

All counselling arrangements are fully confidential and anonymous, and those using the service can self-refer without any reference to senior clergy.

The counselling service provides a safe and confidential space to unpack any sort of emotional distress, whether it is from relationships inside or outside of the family or church, or issues related to your working ministry that just aren’t working well.

Counsellors are trained to listen carefully and without any judgment and will help you to find a way through to restore your sense of wellbeing and resilience.

We can help with the following…

• Depression, anxiety, stress
• Low self-esteem/fragile self-worth
• Self-harming and suicidal thoughts
• Couples counselling
• Difficult relationships in the home and/or church community
• Bullying
• Chronic illness. Accidents
• Emotional traumas new or old
• Bereavement, losses, change
• Anger/resentment management
• Social anxiety (feeling anxious in public and social situations)
• Thoughts of giving up the ministry

This not an exhaustive list; we can help with whatever it is you would like to talk about. There are many other challenging issues that clergy and their families have talked about. If you think that your problem is too difficult to talk about, or seems too trivial, please don’t hold back. Your counsellor is experienced and will help you.        

Over the years, many of the clergy and their family members in the diocese have used the clergy counselling service (which includes couples counselling), so please don’t feel that you must soldier on alone, or that you are the only one who cannot manage sometimes. Others have benefited enormously from the private and confidential support that counselling provides.  

FAQ’s:  

What happens in counselling?

Counselling takes place in a professional relationship. The meetings take place in a safe place, with an experienced and qualified counsellor.

Your counsellor will listen to whatever you say with respect and without any judgment. The appointments take place in a private room which may be in the counsellor’s office or home, or you may be offered counselling via Zoom or a similar platform.

With your counsellor’s support, you will develop insights and resources that will enable you to find a new and purposeful direction in your life and ministry.

Whether you feel confused or clear about the cause of your difficulty, your counsellor will help you to make sense of what is happening and will support you to find your own unique way through.

In counselling, you work actively with your counsellor, and while she or he does not advise or direct you, you will be helped to resolve the challenges and will feel supported in any positive changes that you might like to make.

Who are the Churches’ Ministerial Counselling Service (CMCS?)

Mission statement: The Churches’ Ministerial Counselling Service exists to provide confidential support to ministers and adults in their immediate household through short-term, professional counselling.

CMCS counsellors are accredited with one of the major national counselling organisations, so they have extensive training and experience and are required to maintain their skills through continuing professional development.

Counsellors are not required to be Christians themselves, but all CMCS counsellors have affirmed that they will support clients who have Christian faith, and not undermine anyone’s faith. 

Is there any cost?

The Diocese of Derby will meet the full cost of any counselling accessed through the CMCS scheme. This free service is available to all licensed clergy and their partners in the Diocese of Derby and dependent adult members of the household.

Confidentiality
Unless you choose to notify the Bishop directly, or through other colleagues, the only people who will know that you are having counselling are the counsellor and the CMCS area co-ordinator. The diocese will not know, nor will the central office of CMCS know your identity. If the Bishop is notified that information will not be held on file.

Your counsellor will keep all you say confidential, except where disclosure is required by law or if you might harm yourself or someone else. Counsellors are required to have supervision for their work but, in that process, clients remain completely anonymous.

Data Protection

CMCS is committed to Data Protection and privacy for clients. To view their Privacy Notice for Clients please go to their website: www.cmincs.net

Who can access counselling? 

This free service is available to all licensed clergy and their partners in the Diocese of Derby and dependent adult members of your household. The Diocese of Derby will meet the full cost of any counselling accessed through the CMCS scheme.

How do I access counselling?

The contact details for the CMCS area co-ordinator can be found on the ‘Contact Us’ page of their website: www.cmincs.net/contactus

We are currently in the Central West Area.

The area co-ordinator will take some details and find you a counsellor; you then arrange when is best to see them. Your counsellor will help you to explore the issues you want to talk about and to gain different perspectives or insights. This service is made available for a course of twelve, usually weekly, sessions. 

You can also contact the area co-ordinator if you have any questions. Your enquiry will be held in complete confidence.

www.cmincs.net

Churches’ Ministerial Counselling Service, c/o Baptist House, PO Box 44, 129 Broadway, Didcot OX11 8RT

>> Download this information in the form of a printable leaflet