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Ministerial Development Review

  1. What is the purpose of Ministerial Development Review?

  2. Isn't it all about controlling and checking up on what the clergy are doing?

  3. What is the status of the job description and whose responsibility is it? What needs to be in it? Is it legitimate to change it over a period of time?

  4. Isn't this all unnecessary as bishops already provide good pastoral care for their clergy?

  5. How will Ministerial Development Review change the culture? How to preserve the Church's distinctive ethos?

  6. What arrangements are being made for producing national guidance on Ministerial Development Review?

 

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1. What is the purpose of Ministerial Development Review?

Although clergy are called to be priests, they are also called to do a particular job, and it is right to try and define that job, and for clergy to be accountable as to how it is done. Ministerial Development Review is a way of helping clergy see what is achievable and how it can be done, and clarifying what can reasonably be expected of them. It ensures that any problems are not swept under the carpet but dealt with fairly and sensitively before they become major issues. Ministerial Development Review is not about catching clergy out. Nor is it about putting pressure on them to increase congregational numbers and ensure that parish share is paid promptly. Many clergy are in danger of overworking and some have unrealistic expectations of themselves that lead to unacceptably high levels of stress.

 

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2. Isn’t it all about controlling and checking up on what the clergy are doing?

Ministerial Development Review is not a means of micro-management.

Most dioceses already have ministerial review schemes. We are recommending that all clergy should be required to take part in these, and that ways should be found of involving lay people in ministerial review. The point of this is not to check up on clergy but rather to increase support for them, assist them in setting priorities and identify areas for development. As the Review Group’s first Report put it (para 115), ‘clergy are not called on to meet specified targets but to be faithful and preach the Gospel.’

We live in a much more open society – people expect to know where they stand and how decisions that affect their lives are made. The introduction of Common Tenure provides an important opportunity to clarify clergy terms and conditions of service, particularly their rights and responsibilities.

 

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3. What is the status of the job description and whose responsibility is it? What needs to be in it?  Is it legitimate to     change it over a period of time?         

A role description serves as a non-binding (but well understood) guide to the requirements of the appointment.  It outlines what needs to be done and what attributes are required in the person doing it.  It manages the expectations of the appointed person and the parish/bishop/congregation etc. It is a fluid document that changes as the requirements of the role change and should be discussed regularly at ministerial development review to ensure it continues to reflect the nature and requirements of the appointment.

 

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4. Isn’t this all unnecessary as bishops already provide good pastoral care for their clergy?

No one is suggesting that bishops are not already supporting their clergy, and visitations are good opportunities to do this. However, the focus of these is often the development of the parish rather than the ministry of an individual priest. Regular Ministerial Development Review with a trained reviewer can provide clergy with an opportunity to talk about themselves, to discern God’s presence and activity in and through their ministry, to consider what they do well and what they could do better, and also what help they need to do it better. In the dioceses where ministerial review is established, it is generally appreciated by the clergy.

 

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5. How will ministerial development review change the culture? How to preserve the Church’s distinctive         ethos?

Ministerial development review is not about changing the ethos or culture of the Church.  It is about practising what we preach as Christians – that people are valuable, deserve proper time and attention and are made in God’s image.  If we are saying the Church has no time to undertake careful ministerial reviews what does it say about how the Church cares for its people?

 

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6. What arrangements are being made for producing national guidance on Ministerial Development Review?

Draft Ministerial Development Review Guidelines were sent out for consultation within dioceses over the summer. Responses have been received and are being taken into account as the guidance continues to be developed and discussed.

 

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