There are a number of opportunities for clergy to continue their ministerial education and development once they move on from IME.

  • Moving Forward Programme: This programme, which provides support for new clergy (SSM and stipendiary) in the first two years post IME Phase 2. Contact Mandy Coutts, Start of Ordained Ministries Adviser, for more information.
  • Archdeaconry and Diocesan events: These will notified to all licensed and PTO ministers via the Diocese of York's fortnightly email The Journal, or by emails sent directly from the Lifelong Learning team.
  • External courses and training days: We encourage clergy to attend external courses such as those run by the Arthur Rank Centre on rural and multi-parish ministries, Leading Your Church into Growth, Church Army, CPAS and many others. CMD grants may be available on request to support this - see below.
  • Taking on other roles: Some clergy are asked, or offer, their skills in areas such as mentoring, consultancy, teaching on diocesan courses, spiritual direction etc. These are a vital part of personal development as well as contributing to the development of others.

Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD) Grants

  • The CMD Grants Panel

All applications for CMD, Advanced Study Leave and Extended Study Leave (Sabbatical) funding grants are now administered through the Lifelong Learning Team’s CMD Grants Panel. The panel currently comprises the Director of Lifelong learning, The Director of Mission and Ministry, the CMD Advisor (when in post) and the Grants Panel administrator.

The panel meets on a quarterly basis to process applications. Applications for grants should be sent to the Grants Panel Administrator via training@yorkdiocese.org at least 7 days before the Panel meet. Following the Panel meeting the administrator will contact all applicants to communicate the outcomes of the meeting and to advise about next steps.

Applications should be made on the downloadable forms (available below) and in the case of courses and events external to the diocese accompanied by supporting information.

2024 dates for CMD Grant Panel Meetings

  • 12th January 2024
    Application to be submitted by 5th January 2024
  • 22nd March 2024
    Application to be submitted by 15th March 2024
  • 28th June 2024
    Application to be submitted by 21st June 2024
  • 4th October 2024
    Application to be submitted by 28th September 2024

A summary of the types of grant available is outlined below. Further details – including the application process - are available in the relevant Guidance documents and you are asked to read these before making an application.

CMD Grants

These are available to all licensed clergy who have completed IME Phase 2. CMD grants are centrally budgeted and approved by CMD Grants Panel. The fundamental criterion is whether making a grant will help broaden and deepen the ministry of the individual requesting it, in the light of consultation and reflection about their recognised learning needs. Grants may be used to develop ministry skills, to deepen faith, and to nourish spirituality. There will usually be an explicit connection between the use of CMD grants and the individual’s Ministerial Development Review.

Currently grants are allocated on a personal basis, administered over a three-year period (triennium). The triennium grant for 2024-2026 is £240 per annum, which can be used between January 2024 and December 2026. Ministers coming into the diocese and those completing IME 2 receive a pro-rata grant for the remainder of the triennium.

CMD PTO Grants

The CMD grant allocation described above is available only to licensed clergy. However, clergy who hold ‘Permission to Officiate’ in the Diocese can apply for discretionary minor grants up to a maximum of £100 per year, where the proposed training enhances their benefit to their ministerial context.

IME Phase 2 Minor Grants

Curates in IME Phase 2 are not eligible for a CMD Grant until the 1st January after they have completed their training. If a curate, in conjunction with their training incumbent, identifies a need for training outside of the parish or IME 2 programme a minor grant of up to £100 may be available to help meet a clearly identified training need.

Advanced Study Grants

Each year there are a limited number of grants available for those undertaking advanced study (which usually means studies at Post-Graduate Diploma, Masters or Doctoral level) where there will demonstrable benefit to both the individual and their current or future ministry for the Church.

Extended Study Leave (sabbatical) Grants

The opportunity to devote time to a period of study or a personal project, which includes rest completely free from parish duties can be an enriching and affirming experience. It need not necessarily be for a long period, though a month would be the minimum for any real benefit.

For some, it may only prove possible when a person is between jobs, but it should be a period genuinely away from the demands of day-to-day work. At present clergy are encouraged to take a sabbatical of 3 months at a suitable point in their ministry. All clergy office holders in the diocese are eligible to apply for Extended Study Leave of 3 months every 10 years in ministry.

Evaluation Forms

Miscellaneous Grants

Most application for funding towards continuing ministerial development will be made via the CMD, Advanced study or Extended Study leave Grants application process and in accordance with that guidance. On occasions the request for funding will not meet the criteria for those grants, but the diocese and/ or sponsoring Bishop may still be willing to support the request.


Other potential sources of CMD funding

  • Ecclesiastical Ministry Bursary Awards (MBAs)
    MBA grants are awarded by Ecclesiastical Insurance Group to individual clergy in the Anglican Church in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland who have been in ordained ministry for at least 10 years and not taken a sabbatical in the previous 7 years. Awards are provided for extended study leave only. Further information is available at their website:
    www.ecclesiastical.com
  • The Women's Continuing Ministerial Education Trust (WCMET)
    Exists to support the ministerial development of women in the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church. They administer the provision of grants to female clergy, female accredited lay workers, and religious sisters in need of financial support for their continuing training. Grants are primarily awarded to cover course fees and are not normally available to those in IME phase 2. Further information is available at their website:
    www.churchofengland.org/resources/diocesan-resources/ministry/womens-continuing-ministerial-education-trust
  • St Boniface Trust
    The Trust is a small charity established to advance the Christian Religion in accordance with the principles of the Anglican faith in all parts of the world, especially for the provision of education and training of clergy and lay people by the award of scholarships and maintenance allowance or any purpose concerning their spiritual or temporal welfare.
    www.stbonifacetrust.org.uk
  • St George’s Trust
    The Trust gives grants to Anglican clergy, seminarians and students. The awards are currently worth up to £350. Each year the Trustees set a budget for the total amount that can be awarded and distribution is made until the limit is reached. Applications early in the calendar year are therefore encouraged.
    fsje.org.uk/the-st-georges-trust
  • St Luke’s College Foundation
    Grants are awarded to individuals for research and taught postgraduate qualifications in these fields; and to eligible organisations for related initiatives and facilities. The “Awards” area of their website contains details about the various awards that the Foundation makes and it also explains how to make an application. Please note that applications can only be made between January and 1st May each year. Grants are made for the following academic year.
    stlukescf.org.uk/awards