Click here for a library of resources, including recordings from previous CMD events.
Autumn courses at Sarum College
Further information and dates. Don't forget you can claim your CMD grant to fund external courses such as those provided by Sarum College.
We long for His Coming in Glory
15 October (10am - 3.30pm, Yarnton Manor, Yarnton, OX5 1PY)
The season of Advent, with its readings,
How do we preach and teach about this in our (post)modern age? This day will focus not just on key Biblical texts, in both Testaments, but also on the Common Worship liturgy, in order to prepare both for the Season of Advent and for preaching and teaching throughout the year.
Lunch included.
Leader: Revd Dr Darrell Hannah
Buildings and faculties for clergy
16 October (10am - 4pm, All Saints Church, Wiltshire Road, Wokingham, RG40 1TN)
Experts from the Diocesan Advisory Committee will teach the essentials of looking after church buildings. They will also explain how to navigate through the Church of England’s faculty system.
Please bring a packed lunch.
'Dwelling in the Problem': An Exploration into Authentic Flourishing Clergy Consultation
7-11 October (St George's House, Windsor Castle)
A week of lectures, shared conversations, practical workshops, and individual reflection for clergy with at least five years’ ministerial experience.
Seeking immediate solutions to problems is often a first instinct in the face of challenges. People depend on those engaged in ministry and pastoral care to provide timely solutions when problems arise. But what if, through our desire for efficiency, we do more harm than good? How can we be attentive to people’s stories and experiences, genuinely engage with our cultural moment, and dwell in the problem without getting stuck there?
Leaders: Cody Crawshaw, Iona Curtius and Zoe Strong (Doctoral Researchers from the University of Aberdeen)
Cost: £225
Further information and to book.
Single Friendly Church Workshop
23 Oct (11am - 12.30pm, online)
Single Friendly Church Network is a charity on a mission to encourage all churches to welcome and value single adults at every stage of life.
This free, interactive workshop explores how to become a Single Friendly Church.
The workshop will cover:
- Messaging: How to adapt church language to ensure everyone feels valued
- Welcome and Belonging: How to welcome and include people coming on their own
- Teaching: How to ensure teaching is relevant for everyone
- Leadership: How and why to include single people in leadership positions
Beyond Calling? Addressing the demands of modern ministry
24 October (10.30am - 4.30pm, St Barnabas Church, 50 Cardigan Street, Oxford OX2 6BS)
This workshop, part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024, will be of interest to clergy in the Church of England from Curates to Area Deans who are, or have recently been, practising parish priests or priests-in-training. The aim is to bring clergy together to hear from social scientists who have conducted research in the area and to provide a ‘safe space’ to discuss these insights and share experiences. Using various creative techniques, group discussions will generate ideas that clergy can implement directly and immediately for themselves but will also stimulate more general ideas for change in the Church that can help with managing demands on clergy. The organisers will summarise and feedback anonymised outputs of the event to various stakeholders in the Anglican Community.
Lunch and refreshments provided.
Organisers: Prof Gillian Symon (Royal Holloway, University of London), Dr Rebecca Whiting (Birkbeck, University of London) and Dr Rebecca Taylor (Southampton University)
Additional presenters: Liz Graveling (Living Ministry Project, Church of England); Gail Kinman (Birkbeck, University of London), Neil Conway (Royal Holloway) & Michael Clinton (King’s College)
This event is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024 and was made possible thanks to funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Day 2 of Digging Deeper into the NT Texts on Same-Sex Relationships – The Gospels and Jude
5 November (10am - 3.30pm, Kidlington Baptist Church, High St, Kidlington OX5 2DS)
Participants in our recent Digging Deeper training days have requested that we complete the in-depth the NT texts that have been central to the debates in Living in Love and Faith as on each day we have only had space for the Pauline texts. So, we will address the texts in the Synoptic Gospels and Jude on this study day. If there is time, we may also address some recent discussion of the Gospel of John. As this will be in-depth study, we will move at the pace of those attending. We will be contextualising the texts we study in their literary and cultural contexts in second Temple Judaism and Hellenism. Please bring your Bible. You are also welcome to bring your Greek New Testaments, but no knowledge of Greek will be necessary to fully participate in the day.
Lunch provided.
Leader: Revd Dr Andy Angel
SSM ministers training day: issues and transitions
9 November (9.30am - 4pm, Christ Church, Abingdon)
This is a training day for all SSMs, both curates and those more experienced.
Our Area SSM Advisers will be presenting workshops on transitions for SSMs and several other issues.
Experienced SSM clergy will share their stories and there will be opportunities to discuss questions, issues, problems, and opportunities that are particularly important for SSMs.
Preaching from Luke's Gospel
12 November (10am - 3.30pm, Yarnton Manor, Yarnton, OX5 1PY)
Luke wrote with a purpose – to reassure his audience in the face of crisis that God was with them in and through it all. Perhaps, in this sense, Luke’s gospel has something quite important for the contemporary church to listen to as we face our own challenges. With a view to preaching it as the lectionary gospel, we will explore:
- the way Luke structures his story of Jesus and the church to console, challenge, and encourage people facing crisis
- the way he focusses on Jesus’ ministry of blessing and why, given his main purpose
- the ministry of the Spirit leading God’s people in mission.
Please bring your Bible (in whatever language or languages suit you).
Lunch provided.
Leader: Revd Dr Andy Angel
Meetings and governance for clergy
18 November (10am - 4pm, Church House Oxford)
On this day we will have two sessions of guidance from the Rector of Dorchester Abbey covering how to manage PCC meetings and APCMs, in the context of a large church with established structures. There will also be a session from a village vicar, talking about how to lead PCCs in a village, small church context. Another presenter will give a lay perspective on leading meetings, and the day will end with a lightning tour of Church of England governance, showing how parishes fit in to the diocesan and national ‘big picture’.
Please bring a packed lunch, or you can book lunch at the CHO cafe.
Can we use the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF)?
20 November (10am - 3.30pm, Kidlington Baptist Church)
A full day workshop for clergy and LLMs in Oxford diocese exploring how the Prayers of Love and Faith (PoLF) resources might be used in a parish context.
The day aims to be a pragmatic exploration of the resources from a pastoral and liturgical perspective and will focus on the PoLF resources as they have been published (Dec 23), rather than participating in the ongoing debate about whether they should exist. Participants will familiarise themselves with all three sections of the PoLF and work together on case studies using the resources. We hope those who wish to use the resources in their own contexts will explore how to do so well and within the constraints and processes that the House of Bishops have established.
The PoLF were commended by the House of Bishops and published in their current form in December 2023. Copies of the resources will be available on the day and can be downloaded here. The day is based on the new Grove booklet 'Can we use the Prayers of love and Faith?' by Mark Earey and Phillip Tovey.
Leaders: Revd Canon Dr Phillip Tovey, Hannah Ling (Social Justice Adviser) and Revd Gill Lovell (CMD Adviser) Lunch provided.
Lunch provided.
Mission and ministry in multi-faith Britain
26 November (10am - 4pm, St Mary's Church, Slough)
This day is hosted by the Rector and team of the Upton-cum-Chalvey benefice in Slough, who have a very active and important inter-faith ministry. There will be interaction with representatives of other faiths and discussion of mission and ministry in today’s multi-faith Britain.
Please bring a packed lunch.
2025
Ministry with Schools
28 January (The Marcham Centre, Marcham, and Marcham C of E Primary School)
This is primarily a training day for curates, although other clergy, and LLMs, who would like a ‘refresher’ training day are welcome to participate.
There will be a school visit and a chance to learn from a successful long-term church and school relationship. Leading figures in the ODBE will give presentations on different aspects of schools ministry, and there will be school-appropriate worship.
Community Organising
8 February (St Frideswide’s, Water Eaton)
This is primarily a training day for curates, although other clergy, and LLMs who would like to know more about this area are welcome.
Community Organising is an important form of Community Outreach, and a diocesan priority. The diocese is in partnership in this area with Citizens UK and this day includes Citizens UK involvement. The day gives an introduction to Community Organising, its history and methods, and how churches can get involved.
Environmental Theology
26 February (Church House, Oxford)
This is a training day for curates, other clergy, and LLMs.
Interest in environmental theology is on the rise across the churches. Martin and Margot Hodson, who have researched and taught in this area for many years, will give an overview of the science and theology involved. Alison Riggs and Hannah Mann will give presentations on diocesan resources and approaches that can be of help to parishes wishing to take action.
Exploring Chaplaincy
4 March (Church House, Oxford)
This is a training day for curates and other clergy who are interested in chaplaincy.
Chaplaincy is evermore important in our increasingly secular country. It can take many different forms and we will explore a number of these on this day. We will have presentations from military, school, university, hospital, police, and prison chaplains. We will also discuss other kinds of chaplaincy, routes into chaplaincy, and associated topics.
Mental Health First Aid (2-day course)
9-10 July (provisional dates, Church House, Oxford)
This is a 2-day course for clergy only, provided by humantalk and sponsored by the Clergy Support Trust.
Booking link and more information to come.
Click here for a library of resources, including recordings from previous CMD events.