Council for Ministerial and Adult Learning: CMAL has continued to work on all the areas of its remit. A particular focus during 2006 has been the continuing implementation of the diocesan strategy for mission and ministry, with work to develop opportunities for leadership training for incumbents and for the strengthening of local ministry teams.
Adult Learning: the main activity in 2006 has been supporting was a festival adult education, called Following Jesus Today, culminating in a pilgrimage celebration of St Etheldreda’s day in the Cathedral.
Post-Ordination Training: The programme continues to make provision for some thirty stipendiary and non-stipendiary clergy in their first three years following ordination.
CME: has involved a contribution to the running of the 2006 Bishop’s conference for clergy, the administration of grant requests, assisting those who are preparing for Extended Study Leave, enabling participation by clergy in CME opportunities sponsored by the dioceses of the eastern region, and initial planning for a visit of pastors from the North Elbe church in 2007.
Review of Ministry: The Review of Ministry provision has now completed three years for stipendiary clergy, together with some non-stipendiary clergy and lay diocesan officers, on an annual basis, either by members of the Bishop’s senior staff or by episcopally appointed reviewers. The Ely framework already complies with guidelines for good practice being developed by the national church’s Clergy Terms of Service Implementation Group.
Mission and Ministry Strategy:
Lay Ministry: The programme for initial training of Licensed Lay Ministers continues to be developed organically. We have been preparing to receive moderation of initial and continuing training provision in the early months of 2007.
82 Authorised Lay Ministers were commissioned in October from 36 mission communities across 13 of the 15 deaneries. 69 people are in training in 2006-7 and we are already recruiting for the next programme which will begin in September 2008.
Considerable time was spent in 2006 preparing for two further training opportunities in support of the strategic aim that mission and ministry will be undertaken cooperatively: a programme for incumbents on leadership. 17 are due to take part in the first run of the programme from January to July 2007. The other is a programme offering support for incumbents and local ministry teams to strengthen their effectiveness in enabling the church share in the mission of God in their communities. This is due to run for the first time from September 2007.
The Regional Training Partnership is now established. The networks for the various areas of work (adult education, Reader/Preacher training, POT, CME and work on a new award in Ministerial Theology linking pre- and post-ordination training) are finding opportunities to strengthen regional and ecumenical working.
Revd. Canon Les Oglesby