IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2...

16
Diocese of Chelmsford IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Westfield Shopping Centre Southend Pier

Transcript of IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2...

Page 2: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

2

Contents

Page Welcome from Graham Hamborg 3 Annual Residential Weekend 4 An IME Phase 2 Day for all Curates 5 Church School Placements 5 IME Phase 2 for Year 1 Curates & LLMs 6 – 8 IME Phase 2 for Year 2 Curates 9 – 11 IME Phase 2 for Year 3 Curates 12 – 13 IME Phase 2 for Year 4 Curates 14 Evening IME Phase 2 Sessions 15 – 16

Page 3: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

3

Welcome from Graham Hamborg MissionandMinistryarebecomingevermorecomplex.Inheritedwaysofdoingthings,andpatternsofministrywhichhaveservedtheChurchwell,arenotalwaystherightwayforwardinhowwearetoministerandleadtoday.Thediversityofordainedministries,too,iswidening:somestipendiarycurateswillgostraightfromcuracyintosignificantandcomplexincumbencyroles.Otherswillhavebeenselectedandtrainedforassociateministryintheirownhomepatch.Somewillbeinchaplaincyroles,orwillcontinuetobeinsecularemployment.PuttingtogetheraprogrammeofdiocesanIMEPhase2trainingwhichhassomethingforeveryoneisnoteasy.Itmaybethatinfutureyearsweshallneedtofindamorediversewayofproceedinginthisrespect.Butforthisyear,aprogrammeisofferedforalltosharein.ThisbrochuresetsouttheIMEPhase2trainingdaysforSeptember2016–June2017.Mostarebyyeargroup,butwecometogetherfortheannualresidentialweekendinJanuary,andforadayinMay2017on‘RenewalforMission’.Thoseinfull-timesecularemploymenthavesixThursdayeveningsessions,plusforfirst-yearcuratesaSaturdayon‘FuneralsandBereavement’.Theyalsoparticipate,ofcourse,intheresidentialweekend.AdevelopmentthisyearisthatLicensedLayMinisterswhowerelicensedinOctober2015andwhohavenowcompletedsomeothertrainingareinvitedtoparticipateinsuchdaysasarenotclergy-specific.Pleaseenteralltherelevantdatesinyourdiary,andensurethatyourincumbenthasthemintheirstoo.TheIMEPhase2isamandatoryelementofcuracy,andifthereareclasheswithparishactivitiesthenthetrainingdaytakesprecedence.Bestisifthereisnoclashanyway,andgettingthedatesinthediaryatoncewillenablethis.Mostdaysbeginwitharrivalsandcoffeeat9.30,withtheprogrammegettingunderwayat9.50or10.00.Thelatestfinishtimewillbe4.00pm.Youcanassumethistobesounlessitisspecifiedotherwise.Usuallyyouneedtobringasandwichlunch,butdrinksarealwaysprovided.TheThursdayeveningsessionsforthoseinsecularworkstartat6.30pminChelmsfordCathedral,whereweshareacookedsupperwithStMellitusCollegebeforeoursession,whichfinishesat8.30pm.Twoorthreeweeksaheadofeachdayorevening,Ishalle-mailtoyoutoconfirmarrangements.InmostcasesIshallattachaprogrammefortheday.Thise-mailwillaskyoutorespondtoourCMDAdministratorSueDenhamtoconfirmyourattendance,ortogiveapologies.Itismostimportantthatyourespondtothisrequest:weneedtoknownumberstoprimeourspeakers,forthelayoutoftheroom,fornumbersofhandoutstocopy,andsometimesforcateringpurposes.Itisalsoabasiccourtesyandefficiencytodoso:failuretoRSVPpromptlydoesnotreflectwellonus.Iamlookingforwardtosharingthesedayswithyouoverthecomingmonths,andtotheencouragementandequippingthatIbelievetheywillprovide.GrahamHamborgMay2016

Page 4: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

4

Annual Residential Weekend for Curates in Years 1, 2 & 3 Being a ‘Transforming Presence’ in a Multi-Faith World Date 20-22nd January 2017 Place High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. The Diocese of Chelmsford is large and varied. Some parishes have other faith-communities within them, while others have few adherents of other faiths. Whoever and wherever we are, we need a theology, and a pastoral and missional practice, which take account of the presence of other faiths in our society. We shall welcome Revd Mark Poulson, vicar of St John’s, Southall and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Adviser on Interfaith Relations as a main contributor. Mark will share his thinking and practice around the heading of ‘The Great Commandment, the Great Commission’. We shall also welcome Suzanne Mitchell of the London Presence and Engagement Network, who will be with us throughout the weekend. All three Area CMD Advisers will be there, and the Bishop of Chelmsford for part of it. The weekend will include some ‘input’ sessions, some Bible Study, some conversation and discussion, some worship and prayer, and some time simply to be away together. The weekend will begin with arrivals from 5.00pm on Friday and will end with lunch on Sunday. It is recommended that you take the rest of Sunday off, and do not take part in an evening service back in the parish.

Rev Mark Poulson High Leigh Conference Centre

Page 5: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

5

A Day for All Curates: Renewal for Mission Date Wednesday 3rd May 2017 Place The Orchards, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow We shall be led by Kevin Roberts and Alison Morgan of ReSource. This will be a day to re-charge our spiritual batteries as we continue in the work of mission and ministry.

Kevin Roberts Alison Morgan

Church Schools Placements As described in Handbook for Curates and Training Incumbents, it is now a regular feature of curacy for Year 2 stipendiary curates to undertake a week’s block placement in a Church School. Dates will be negotiated between the curate and the headteacher of the school with which the curate is linked, but all will be in the term between Christmas and Easter 2017. There is a preparatory seminar ahead on the afternoon of Tuesday 29th November 2016, and a follow-up reflection seminar on Tuesday 28th March 2017. While this is normative for all stipendiary curates, any self-supporting curates who wish to undertake such a placement may do so. Please be in touch with Graham Hamborg to ask to be included. Equally, there may be one or two stipendiary curates whose previous experience would make this of limited value: this should be discussed with your Area CMD Adviser.

ReSourceworksfortherenewalofpeopleandchurchesformissioninthepoweroftheHolySpirit–acrossalltraditions,Churchesanddenominations,butwithanAnglicandistinctive.

Page 6: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

6

IME Phase 2 for Year 1 Curates and Licensed Lay Ministers

Funerals and Bereavement Leaders Revd David Tudor and Mrs Pat Scott Date Wednesday 21st September or Saturday 3rd December 2016 Place The Orchards, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow (21st September) The Library, Diocesan Office (3rd December) Some full-time parish curates will, by the time these days take place, already have conducted several funerals; and some curates who have previously been readers will have longer experience still. Others will not yet have taken one. Whether we are refreshing our skills and reflecting on our practice, or preparing for what will be a new ministry, this day gives opportunity to consider the purpose of funerals, the context in which we minister, and our own beliefs and feelings in respect of death, funerals and bereavement. David Tudor is Team Rector of Canvey Island and Area Dean of Hadleigh. Pat Scott is Reader at St Mary’s, Bocking. There is some preparatory work to be done for this training, details of which will be sent to you in July.

Ministry in Schools Leaders Revd Canon Tim Elbourne, Ruth Everett and colleagues from the

diocesan Education Team Date Thursday 10th November 2016 Place Christ Church, Warley Parish-School links can and should be a vital part of the Church’s mission and ministry. We need to understand how schools work, what different kinds of school there are, how we can build links, and what kinds of opportunities may be open to us as clergy.

Taking school assemblies will be something that some of us enjoy and do well, but which others find daunting, demanding and stretching.

This day will recognise that participants come with varying degrees of experience of school life, from some who have been teachers and governors to others who have had little, if any contact with a school, and it will aim to have something for everyone. If you have worked in a school, please let us know ahead of the day.

Tim Elbourne is the diocese’s Director of Education. Ruth Everett is one of three diocesan Schools Advisers.

Page 7: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

7

IME Phase 2 for Year 1 Curates and Licensed Lay Ministers (continued)

Training in Safeguarding and in Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy Leaders Danielle Law and Amanda Goh of the diocesan Safeguarding Team

will lead the morning and Elwin Cockett, archdeacon of West Ham, the afternoon.

Date Wednesday 30th November 2016 Place The Chapter Room, Chapter House, Chelmsford The morning will be a session on issues of Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. Prior to this participants will have been given the web-address with which to complete the basic-level Safeguarding training that several thousand church members in the diocese will also have undertaken: this session will be higher-level provision for clergy. In the afternoon Archdeacon Elwin will lead us in consideration of the recently revised booklet Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy. You will have received a copy of this booklet on the New Deacons Day in July. This afternoon is clergy-specific, and LLMs are welcome to leave at lunchtime or to stay on for interest if they wish. Strategic Priorities in the Diocese of Chelmsford Leader The Bishop of Chelmsford Date Thursday 2nd February 2017, morning 9.30-12.00 Place The Chapter Room, Chapter House, Chelmsford Bishop Stephen values the opportunity to share a session with the deacons of the diocese, and discuss with them current issues and developments in the diocese – and this year recently licensed LLMs are also invited. A valuable opportunity for us all.

EIG Financial Seminar Leader Mr Richard Wood, Ecclesiastical Insurance Group Date Thursday 2nd February 2017, afternoon 13.00-16.00 Place The Boardroom, Diocesan Office

Please note that this session will be of primarily for those in stipendiary ordained ministry. Self-supporting clergy are welcome to come, but need not. A sandwich lunch will be provided in the Boardroom after the Bishop of Chelmsford’s morning session for those staying for this afternoon seminar.

Page 8: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

8

IME Phase 2 for Year 1 Curates (continued)

Ministerial Identity: Inhabiting the Role, Adapting to Public Ministry Leader Graham Hamborg Date Thursday 23rd February 2017 Place Christ Church, Warley

Seven months in, what is ordained life doing to our sense of who we are? And to our prayer lives? Can we be professional in our conduct and also be ourselves? How are we finding it being clearly in the public eye? And what professional guidelines do we particularly need to be aware of?

This day will be a mixture of input and conversation, with some space to reflect on where our ministry is up to. Preparing to Preside at Holy Communion Leaders Graham Hamborg and invited speakers Date Tuesday 13th June 2017 Place The Retreat House, Pleshey This is not a “how to do it” day – we assume that training incumbents provide instruction on this – but a reflective day on which three speakers of different traditions share their thoughts, and invite conversation, on questions such as:

• What it means to them, and what they feel, when they preside at Holy Communion; • Their theological view on what is happening in the Eucharist, and all that goes with it; • How their personal perceptions have changed over time (if they have); • How they think the Eucharist is viewed by their congregation(s); • The Eucharist as a context for pastoral care, healing and mission; • The place of children at Holy Communion;

• What ‘ceremonial’ ingredients they do or don’t include, and why they do or don’t include them (e.g. hand-washing, elevation).

Page 9: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

9

IME Phase 2 for Year 2 Curates Understandings of Mission Leader Graham Hamborg and invited speakers Date Thursday 15th September 2016 Place Christ Church, Warley It is readily agreed that ‘Mission’ must have a high priority in the church’s life. But what do we understand ‘Mission’ to be? On this day three speakers from varied church traditions and sociological contexts will share their views with us. The speakers will be asked to address questions such as:

• What are your own personal priorities in mission? • What balance do you hold between Christian presence in the community and building up the

Christian community? • When you speak of ‘Growing the Church’, what are your priorities among growth in

numbers, growth in spiritual depth and reality, growth in community, growth in effectiveness of discipleship, or any other kinds of growth?

• What part do Evangelism, Pastoral Care, and Social Concern play in your understanding of Mission?

• What part does Sunday worship play in forwarding your priorities? • How does your engagement with people through the occasional offices relate to your

priorities? What are your practices and policies relating to them? (e.g. open baptism policy, or requirement to attend a course and/or church; marriage after divorce)

• How do you see your ministry contributing to the priorities of ‘Transforming Presence’? • How do you help lay people develop as disciples? • How do you help lay people to articulate their faith? • What else is important for you in your participation in the Missio Dei? • How much does your congregation (or congregations) share your understanding of mission?

The Church as a Healing Community – Issues of Mental Health Leader Revd Nigel Copsey and colleagues

Date Tuesday 4th October 2016 Place St Cedd’s Hall, Chapter House, Chelmsford Clergy are not mental health professionals, but we nevertheless find ourselves alongside those struggling with mental health issues. This day will aim to increase our understanding and awareness, and to help us know how we and our churches can support people.

Nigel is Team Leader for Spiritual Care at the East London Foundation Trust, which provides mental health services to East London; prior to this he was priest-in-charge at the Ascension, Victoria Dock.

Page 10: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

10

IME Phase 2 for Year 2 Curates (continued)

Personal Safety in Ministry Leader Mr Paul White Date Wednesday 23rd November 2016, morning only 9.30-1.00 Place The Orchards, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow As ordained ministers we wish to be available to others. But we also need to be aware of the risks to us in the course of our ministry, and how we may take sensible and practical steps to minimise such risks. Paul White worked for the Metropolitan Police as head of the Counter Terrorism Security Unit that advises businesses and individuals on protective security strategies and measures, a role which he now heads up nationally. He is also a regular member of his Anglican church, just outside our diocese. The Archdeacon of Stanstead, Robin King, will chair this session.

Church Schools Placement Preparation Seminar Leaders Revd Canon Tim Elbourne and Lallie Godfrey Date Tuesday 29th November 2016 1.00-3.45pm Place The Library, Diocesan Office This is for those curates who will be undertaking a church schools placement. Sandwiches will be provided at 1.00 for a 1.45 start to the seminar.

Caring for Life, Preparing for Death Leaders Revd Lucyann Ashdown & Pastor Vickie Peters Date Tuesday 7th March 2017 Place Farleigh Hospice, Broomfield, Chelmsford Lucyann Ashdown is chaplain of Farleigh Hospice, Broomfield. Vickie Peters is a chaplain of St Helena Hospice, Colchester This day will invite us to look at our own attitudes to and feelings about death. A consultant specialist in palliative care will outline the history of the hospice movement, and lead us into discussion of current issues in palliative care, such as the growing pressure from some to legislate for assisted suicide. We shall understand the role of a chaplain in such a setting, and engage with true-life scenarios.

Page 11: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

11

IME Phase 2 for Year 2 Curates (continued)

Church Schools Placement De-brief Seminar Leaders Revd Canon Tim Elbourne and Lallie Godfrey Date Tuesday 28th March 2017 1.00-3.45pm Place The Library, Diocesan Office This is for those curates who will have undertaken a church schools placement. Sandwiches will be provided at 1.00 for a 1.45 start to the seminar.

Making Peace with Conflict in the Church: June 2017 The work of Bridge Builders, is highly regarded, and several clergy of the diocese have benefited from their full residential week’s course. Some from within the Diocese of Chelmsford have been trained as Bridge Builders trainers, and they will lead this day. The day will be introductory, and will take us into exploration of our experiences of conflict in the church, and into consideration of constructive and destructive patterns of behaviour. It will help us understand ourselves better, in terms of how we behave in conflict situations, and will introduce us to some ways in which conflicts may be resolved. This day is for Year 2 curates and their incumbents together. If your incumbent cannot come, we ask if someone else in leadership in the church can join you. Because of numbers in this year-group, there will be two separate days offered:

• Tuesday 20th June 2017 in St Cedd’s Hall, Chapter House, Chelmsford • Wednesday 21st June 2017 at All Saints, Woodford Wells

The first day will be led by Revds Graham Hamborg, Susan Iskander, and Paul Wilkin. The second day will be led by Revds Graham Hamborg, Jill Mowbray, and Mandy Elmes.

www.bbministries.org.uk

Page 12: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

12

IME Phase 2 for Year 3 Curates

Community Development, Community Engagement Leader Revd Richard Jordan Date Wednesday 14th September 2016 Place The Orchards, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow

The Church frequently talks about the need to be involved in our communities. Sometimes this will lead us into opportunities for partnerships with statutory or voluntary agencies, or with local authorities. What are the opportunities and pitfalls of such partnerships? What do we need to know and be aware of? Before that, what theology of community engagement do we hold? What models of community working are available to us? What do we mean by terms such as ‘Community Work’, ‘Community Development’, ‘Community Action’? What resources are there to support us? Richard Jordan is the Faith in Action Adviser of the Bradwell Episcopal Area.

Giving, Stewardship and Finance in Christian Discipleship Leaders Revd Canon Martin Wood and Mr Robin Stevens Date Thursday 17th November 2016 Place St Cedd’s Hall, Chapter House, Chelmsford The perception of some people is that ‘the Church is always after your money’, and perhaps that’s why some clergy find it difficult to talk about money or teach about giving. Anyway, how do we approach the whole topic? Is it simply a question of needing to pay our bills and give a bit away? Or is giving a discipleship issue? How can PCCs and diocesan synods be good stewards? What resources does the Church of England and the Diocese of Chelmsford have to offer to help us? Martin Wood is Mission & Ministry Adviser for the Bradwell Episcopal Area. Robin Stevens is a Reader at All Saints, Springfield, and has been the Church of England’s national Stewardship Adviser, and Stewardship Adviser to the Barking Episcopal Area.

Page 13: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

13

IME Phase 2 for Year 3 Curates (continued) Moving On Leaders Jill Mowbray & Graham Hamborg; Archdeacon of Barking Dates 21-22nd February 2017

Place Chigwell Convent The conference will run from mid-morning on Tuesday until Wednesday afternoon. Self-supporting curates intending to move into an associate ministry post need not stay for the second day, but should be there on the first. At this point in the curacy it is time to think about “What next after the curacy?” For stipendiary curates, it is likely to be a move to an incumbency-level post. For others it may be a change to an Associate Ministry post in a different parish or within the same parish. What are the options? How do we find the right move? How will things change for SSM curates? This event will explain the appointments processes of the Church of England. It will allow participants to reflect on their curacy so far, and on what they sense their next step may be. There will be opportunity to ‘decode’ advertisements in the Church Times, and interpret parish profiles. Attention will be paid to writing applications and to the interview day. There is some preparatory work to be done for this event. The Area Bishops will meet with each stipendiary curate in or around March, and SSM curates later on. They ask that curates wait to take part in this conference and have that meeting with their bishop before applying for posts. “Church” – but not as we know it Leader Revd Charlie Kosla & invited speakers Date Tuesday 14th March 2017 Place St Cedd’s Hall, Chapter House, Chelmsford The Year 2 day on ‘Understandings of Mission’ sought to probe how the local parish, within the established parochial system, can be effective in mission in a variety of ways. This day investigates some of the ways in which new forms can reach out with the gospel. Experience of practitioners from within the Chelmsford Diocese will be drawn on. Charlie Kosla is diocesan adviser on Mission and Evangelism, and oversees the diocesan programme of training for Evangelism Enablers.

Buildings for Mission? – There will be a final Year 3 day in the programme, probably in June, which has yet to be arranged, and of which details will be given early in the New Year.

Page 14: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

14

IME Phase 2 for Year 4 Curates

Moving into Incumbency Leaders Graham Hamborg and Jill Mowbray Date Tuesday 27th – Wednesday 28th September 2016 Place The Retreat House, Pleshey This conference is for those moving into an incumbency post; and any already appointed to an incumbency, or who may even have moved, are still invited to this event. It will run from mid-morning on Tuesday to tea time on Wednesday. It will explore the opportunities and challenges of moving into incumbency. The day will explore questions such as

• How is life different when the buck stops with you? • How do you maintain your sanity, and a balanced life? • What spiritual discipline or rule of life will sustain you? • Where do you get the help and support you need? • What church law and regulations do you need to be aware of?

Growing into Associate Ministry Leaders Graham Hamborg and Geoff Read Date Thursday 1st December 2016 Place The Library, Diocesan Office This day is for those who will be moving into a post as an Associate Minister at the end of curacy, either in the same parish or in a different parish. The day will explore questions such as

• How will ministry be different from being a curate? • How do you see your ministry in relation to other ordained and lay colleagues,

including stipendiary colleagues who may hold oversight in the parish or benefice? • What expectations of you are held by church members and by the local community –

and are these expectations which you welcome? • What spiritual discipline or rule of life will sustain you?

Page 15: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

15

Evening IME Phase 2 for Curates in full-time Secular Work These sessions are specifically provided for those unable to attend midweek IME Phase 2 days. They are all held on Thursdays, so that we can share supper (full hot meal) with St Mellitus College before our session. Times for all of them are: 6.30 Supper in the Cathedral (enter through vestry door, north side) 7.10 Leave to go over to the Boardroom or Library in the Diocesan Office 7.15 Session 8.30 Finish

In order to send out an e-mail about each evening two or three weeks ahead, we need to know who is unable to attend midweek days and therefore needs to be invited to these sessions. Please contact Sue Denham (01245 294450 or [email protected]) to let her know if that includes you. Ministry in Secular Employment Leader Revd Tom Keighley Date Thursday 29th September 2016 Tom has long been passionate about the importance of ordained ministry in the workplace, and has undertaken doctoral research relating to it. Last year he was appointed as Dean of Self-supporting Ministry for the Barking Episcopal Area. He can be controversial: expect to be stirred up! The Future Shape of Curacy Leader Rt Revd John Wraw, Bishop of Bradwell Date Thursday 1st December 2016 Bishop John is currently chairing a review of curacy on behalf of the Senior Staff of the diocese. This session will give opportunity for him to engage with those curates who are in secular work, to explain some of the possible ways in which curacy might be re-shaped to meet their needs better, and to hear their views.

Page 16: IME Phase 2 Programme 2016-17 Diocese of Chelmsford · This brochure sets out the IME Phase 2 training days for September 2016 – June 2017. Most are by year group, but we come together

16

Evening IME Phase 2 for Curates in full-time Secular Work (continued) Leading from the Second Chair Leader Revd Graham Hamborg Date Thursday 9th February 2017 How can those who are curates or associate ministers exercise leadership in the church? What does it mean to lead when you are not in overall charge? This session will work with ideas from Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson’s book Leading from the Second Chair.

Patterns of Prayer Leaders Rt Revd Peter Hill, Bishop of Barking Date Thursday 16th March 2017 How do clergy with demanding jobs and busy lives develop a pattern of prayer which is do-able, nourishing, and which honours their priestly vocation? Bishop Peter will share some thoughts, and invite conversation on this important topic. Nurturing Grass Roots Growth Church Leader The Ven Elizabeth Snowden, Archdeacon of Chelmsford Date Thursday 27th April 2017 Before coming to Chelmsford Elizabeth was vicar of Emmanuel with St Mark, Bestwood, Nottingham, and Area Dean of Nottingham North Deanery. The Bishop of Chelmsford said of her when she came: “She knows how to make church work at the grassroots; and growth won't really come from anywhere else. In her new role as Archdeacon of Chelmsford she will help our parishes to flourish.” Can we use the Old Testament in Preaching? – and if so, how? Leader Graham Hamborg Date Thursday 8th June 2017 Graham has a longstanding interest in the Old Testament, undertaking a Masters’ degree as part of his initial training, and gaining a doctorate from the University of Nottingham in 2009. But scholarly study is one thing: can we actually preach on these sometimes violent and sometimes obscure texts from so many centuries ago…..?