Items filtered by date: July 2025

The Ministerial Development Review Scheme

MDR is a shared process of reflection and discernment in which you and the reviewer assigned to you by the Bishop explore and articulate how your ministry is developing in your local context.

As disciples of Christ, we all seek to go on learning and growing in faith, and this is especially so for those of us who serve, lay and ordained, as leaders in the church. We do so in mutual relationship, as part of Christ’s body. The Ordinal speaks of a shared ministry, a working together within the Body of Christ. This implies a mutual accountability. Our wellbeing and further development in ministry invite regular reflection in changing times and contexts.

We pray that this will be a blessing both to you and to those you minister amongst. Your wellbeing as a person and as a priest is at the heart of this process. It is our hope that all clergy will find MDR both affirming and encouraging, as together we consider the part we play in God’s mission here in this Diocese of Derby. We hope that you will make the most of this opportunity so that your ministry can flourish and thrive.

The MDR scheme is co-ordinated by our Director of People and Ministry Development Claire Lees and administered by Julie Fowler at the Parish Support Office at Church House. Email: MDRadmin@derby.anglican.org

Your MDR

We are continuously looking to improve the MDR process, and building on the work done last year, have made some additional changes for this year which we hope will help. 

Further information about these changes will be sent out to all who are due to have a full or interim review this year.

The documentation you will need to complete your MDR along with guides to help you through the process can be found below.

MDR Form 1 - Critical Friends Feedback [Word]

MDR Form 2 - Personal Reflection Form (Revised for 2025) [Word]

MDR Form 3 - Full Review Summary Note, Learning & Goals Development (Revised for 2025) [Word]

MDR Form 4 - Interim Review Summary (Revised for 2025) [Word]

New Online Forms 3 & 4

MDR ONLINE Form 3 - Full Review Summary Note, Learning & Development Goals: https://bit.ly/Full_MDR.

MDR ONLINE Form 4 - Interim MDR Summary: https://bit.ly/InterimMDR.

USER Guides

MDR User Guide 2025 [PDF]

MDR Reviewers Guide 2025 [PDF]

See also: Role Descriptions

Please see Initial Ministerial Education page for all Training Priest resources.

IME2 Page

Diocesan Synod

The statutory governing body of the Diocese is the Diocesan Synod which is elected with representation across the Diocese with broadly equal numbers of clergy and lay people meeting together in Diocesan Synod with the diocesan Synod with the diocesan bishop, the suffragan bishop and archdeacons.

Its role is to:

• consider matters affecting the Church of England in the Diocese;
• act as a forum for debate of Christian opinion on matters of religious or public interest;
• advise the Bishop where requested;
• deal with matters referred by General Synod; and
• provide for the financing of the Diocese.

Deanery Synod

Deanery Synods have two houses, laity and clergy, and their role is to:

• respond to requests from General Synod;
• give effect to the decisions made by the Diocesan Synod;
• consider matters affecting the Church of England by drawing together the views of the parishes within the deanery;
• act as a channel of communication to express the views of parishes to Diocesan Synod and thence to General Synod;
• raise with Diocesan Synod such matters as it considers appropriate; and
• elect members of the deanery to the Diocesan Synod and in respect of the House of Laity elect lay members of the Diocese to General Synod.

The Bishop's Council (and Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod)

Under the construction of the Diocesan Synod, Bishop's Council has the following functions:

• to plan the business of the Synod, to prepare the agenda for its sessions and to circulate to members information about matters for discussion;
• to initiate proposals for action by the Synod and to advise it on matters on policy which are placed before it;
• to advise the President, being the Diocesan Bishop, on any matters which he may refer to the Committee;
• subject to the directions of the Synod, to transact the business of the Synod when the Synod is not in session;
• to appoint members of committees or nominate individuals for election to committees, subject to the directions of the synod; and
• to carry out such functions as the Synod may delegate to it. 

Got a question about APCMs? See our FAQs

>> 2025 Diocesan Meeting Schedule

Synodical procedure

Diocesan Synod

The statutory governing body of the Diocese is the Diocesan Synod which is elected with representation across the Diocese with broadly equal numbers of clergy and lay people meeting together in Diocesan Synod with the diocesan Synod with the diocesan bishop, the suffragan bishop and archdeacons.

Its role is to:

• consider matters affecting the Church of England in the Diocese;
• act as a forum for debate of Christian opinion on matters of religious or public interest;
• advise the Bishop where requested;
• deal with matters referred by General Synod; and
• provide for the financing of the Diocese.

Click here for more information, including Diocesan Synod members for the Triennium 

Deanery Synod

Deanery Synods have two houses, laity and clergy, and their role is to:

• respond to requests from General Synod;
• give effect to the decisions made by the Diocesan Synod;
• consider matters affecting the Church of England by drawing together the views of the parishes within the deanery;
• act as a channel of communication to express the views of parishes to Diocesan Synod and thence to General Synod;
• raise with Diocesan Synod such matters as it considers appropriate; and
• elect members of the deanery to the Diocesan Synod and in respect of the House of Laity elect lay members of the Diocese to General Synod.
  
  

The Bishop's Council (and Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod)

Under the construction of the Diocesan Synod, Bishop's Council has the following functions:

• to plan the business of the Synod, to prepare the agenda for its sessions and to circulate to members information about matters for discussion;
• to initiate proposals for action by the Synod and to advise it on matters on policy which are placed before it;
• to advise the President, being the Diocesan Bishop, on any matters which they may refer to the Committee;
• subject to the directions of the Synod, to transact the business of the Synod when the Synod is not in session;
• to appoint members of committees or nominate individuals for election to committees, subject to the directions of the synod; and
• to carry out such functions as the Synod may delegate to it.