Click here for a library of resources, including recordings from previous CMD events.
Bampton lectures 2025
Wading in the Word - womanist Biblical interpretation
27 May (online and at University Church, Oxford)
This year's Bampton lecturer is Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, a biblical scholar from Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas and a priest in the dioceses of Pennsylvania and Texas. Her work focuses on translation of the scriptures for congregations and lay readers, womanist and feminist biblical interpretation and, women who prophesied in ancient Israel and the ancient Afro-Asiatic world and, their reception in rabbinic literature.
Lecture 3 (27 May, 10am) A world beneath the waves: womanist midrash
Lecture 4 (27 May, 11.30am) Take me to the water: a woman's lectionary for the whole world
Attendance is free and all the lectures are live-streamed here.
Exploring worship
6 June (6.30pm, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford)
This evening of music, discussion and discovery with the Wycliffe Hall creative community is for everyone with an interest in worship music, whether singing in the congregation, leading, playing, writing or facilitating. The event will feature music from Sandra McCracken, Tim Nicholson and David Clifton, plus a time of interactive discussion and opportunity to ask our contributors about their approach to worship. Light refreshments and nibbles will be available afterwards.
Discernment and direction
9 June (10.30am - 3.30pm, St Katherine's Parmoor, Frieth, Henley-on-Thames RG9 6NN)
Chris will help us explore together the theme of discernment in relation to our own contemplative practice and in our capacity of holding space for others. Taking Romans 12 as his theme he will explore with us the cultivation of a way of being that is conducive to discernment, ‘not conformed to the world, but transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you will be able to discern the will of God…
Leader: Chris Blakeley. Cost £40
Hiring and managing staff in churches
24 June (10am - 3.30pm, venue tba Oxford area)
An opportunity to explore good practice for recruiting and managing paid staff and volunteers in churches.
Leaders: Susie Sigsworth (Head of HR), Gill Lovell and members of the HR team at Church House Oxford
Mental Health First Aid (2-day course)
1-2 July (9am-5pm, Archdeacon's House, Stone, Aylesbury)
This course is now fully booked.
This is a two-day course for clergy only, provided by humantalk and sponsored by the Clergy Support Trust. The course will equip participants with a practical framework for supporting those experiencing mental health concerns.
- Grounded in research, and developed with clinical practitioners, MHFA Is designed to enhance participants knowledge and confidence in how best to help others, whilst also looking after their own well-being
- within a church context, this programme can help participants reflect afresh on their theology of suffering, healing and recovery
- all participants will receive a 100 page printed workbook, and access to digital resources for up to three years post training, including the MHFA app which provides 24/ 7 digital support
- the training has been warmly received by cohorts of curates, parish priests, chaplains, area deans, and archdeacons
Sermon crafting
7 July (10.30am - 1.00pm, online)
A College of Preachers workshop primarily for those new to ministry and preaching.
A sermon does more than deliver facts - it tells a story, it encourages, comforts, challenges, exhorts. How a sermon is put together is as important as how it is delivered. In this workshop, we'll look at ways of crafting sermons that tell a story, helping our congregations to think afresh about the scriptures and see how they relate to their own life and faith.
Leader: Revd Dr Jennifer Brown, Director of Training for the College of Preachers
Cost: general, £12; ministry student, £10
Book here When prompted, enter password Preach075
Mental Health First Aid (2-day course)
9-10 July (9am-5pm, Church House, Oxford)
This course is now fully booked.
This is a two-day course for clergy only, provided by humantalk and sponsored by the Clergy Support Trust. The course will equip participants with a practical framework for supporting those experiencing mental health concerns.
- Grounded in research, and developed with clinical practitioners, MHFA Is designed to enhance participants knowledge and confidence in how best to help others, whilst also looking after their own well-being
- within a church context, this programme can help participants reflect afresh on their theology of suffering, healing and recovery
- all participants will receive a 100 page printed workbook, and access to digital resources for up to three years post training, including the MHFA app which provides 24/ 7 digital support
- the training has been warmly received by cohorts of curates, parish priests, chaplains, area deans, and archdeacons
Preaching from Matthew's gospel
4 November (10am - 3.30pm, Church House Oxford) OR 8 November (10am - 3.30pm, venue tba near Oxford)
More details to come.
Click here for a library of resources, including recordings from previous CMD events.