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Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD) for Licensed Lay Ministers

There are a number of opportunities for Licensed Lay Ministers to continue their ministerial education and development once they move on from their initial training and formation.

Many years ago, the 'Mind the Gap' report stated that ‘The fundamental purpose of Continuing Ministerial Education is to equip and develop the Church’s ministers in order that they may stimulate and enable the whole Church to participate more fully in the mission of God in the world.’
(Mind the Gap: Integrated Continuing Ministerial Education for the Church’s Ministers. Archbishops’ Council 2001)

Licensed ministers soon realise that you cannot learn everything you need to know and understand about ministry during initial training. Even after many years of service we recognise that if we want our ministries to remain fresh and effective then we need to be engaged in on-going learning and development - lifelong learning has become phrase which Readers, Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) and Clergy understand to be a significant part of their discipleship and commitment to the Church.

The Diocese of York places high importance on all LLMs continually reflecting and learning throughout their active ministry. Ministry Development Review, in which LLMs now participate every three years, encourages us to look ahead and identify specific areas for development and consider how they will be addressed.

There are a number of opportunities for Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) to continue their ministerial education and development once they move on from Initial Ministerial Education (IME):

  • 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 LLMs to attend external courses where appropriate to your learning needs and outcomes from the triennial Ministry Development Review process. CMD grants may be available on request to support this - see below.
  • Taking on other roles: Some Licensed Lay Ministers are asked, or offer, their skills in areas such as mentoring, 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

These are available to all licensed Lay Ministers 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.

  • The CMD Grants Panel

All applications for financial support with CMD 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 Adviser (when in post) and the Grants Panel Administrator.

The panel meets every quarter to process applications. Applications for grants should be sent to the Grants Panel Administrator via training@yorkdiocese.org at least seven days before the Panel meets. 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.

2023 dates for CMD Grant Panel Meetings

  • 10th January 2023
    Application to be submitted by 3rd January 2023
  • 28th March 2023
    Application to be submitted by 21st March 2023
  • 27th June 2023
    Application to be submitted by 20th June 2023
  • 26th September 2023
    Application to be submitted by 19th September 2023

A summary of the criteria and the application process is available in the Guidance document and you are asked to read this before making an application.