The diocese of St Albans has a policy to encourage continuing learning and development among its active clergy. In order to facilitate this, the Ministry Development Officer and the Ministry Development Team (Local Ministry Officer, CME 1-4 Officer, and the Administrator) provide advice, resources and events. We try to help people to take responsibility for their own continuing learning and development. We will help people to identify their needs, to find resources that address those needs, and to help with funding. There are a very large number of groups and agencies inside and outside the diocese that provide high-quality training. Our aim is to encourage and support them, rather than to compete with them, and most of our direct provision is therefore to do with professional "nutsand- bolts", and is aimed at clergy in particular stages of ministry.

CME 5+ Study Day Programme
A yearly diocesan programme of workshops, seminars and consultations (CME 5+) is arranged for any interested clergy and Readers (sometimes including lay persons as well) on a variety of subjects. The programme comes out each autumn for a year ahead. It is expected that Clergy attend several of these. Every year, each Archdeacon organises an archdeaconry study day. Clergy in the respective archdeaconry are expected to attend.

Every other year, the Bishops call together the licensed clergy and Readers for a Bishop’s Day Conference. In alternate years, the Bishop invites all those in ministry to attend a major Ecumenical Study Day. This is organised by an ecumenical group that includes the Ministry Development Officer.

CME for individual clergy
All clergy who hold the Bishop’s license are entitled to a personal training allowance (currently £100 a year), to put towards a course or conference of their choice. This can be rolled over to the next year on two occasions, making it possible to build a maximum balance of £300. You apply for the money on a form, which is circulated every December in the Bundle for use the following year or forms may be obtained from the Ministry Development Office. The criteria for defining eligible courses/events are very flexible.

There is also a yearly reading grant (currently £40) towards the cost of a journal subscription or book purchase. This is for a work of recent theological or biblical scholarship or of importance to the development of your ministry. This does not
include prayer books, worship resources, or The Church Times. Application forms are distributed each year in the autumn for the coming year; additional forms are available from the Ministry Development office.

Clergy in stipendiary posts are normally invited to take three months paid Sabbatical Leave once every ten years. Further details regarding this can be found elsewhere in the Handbook.

For those who embark on a postgraduate degree course (MA, PhD, and similar), there is a postgraduate bursary (currently £500 per calendar year). This fund is also used to support recognised courses in spiritual direction or counselling. You must contact the Ministry Development office to apply for the bursary before you apply for any such course.

Retired clergy may apply for one-third of the cost of a course or conference on a first-come first-served basis. Forms can be obtained from the Ministry Development office.

CME for groups of clergy and others in ministry at particular stages or in new roles
Twice a year we run a New to the Diocese briefing day for those who recently moved into the diocese and for those taking pastoral charge of a parish/benefice for the first time ("new incumbents").

A programme of professional development and support is provided for those in their First Incumbency. This has three dimensions: a peer support group, mentoring, and topical workshops. A residential regional conference is also offered. Details are available from the Ministry Development Office.

The Ministry Development Office together with the DDO and ADO also provide regular training events for those who are training Incumbents.

Together with the Eastern region dioceses, we run several residential conferences.

At present, there is the New Posts Conference for those who have moved to a new parish in the last 6-18 months, the Rural Deans Conference for those who are experienced or newly appointed to this role, the Managing Conflict Workshop, and the Retirement Preparation conference for those who are nearing retirement. Information regarding these conferences can be obtained from the Ministry Development office.

Readers, Licensed Lay Ministers, and those in recognised lay ministry
The Ministry Development office provides a grant towards one-third the cost of a course or conference on a first-come first-served basis. Other ongoing learning and development for Readers is organised by the Warden of Readers.

Other CME Provision
If you plan to go to a course or conference outside the UK, you may apply for a discretionary grant from the travel bursary fund. This will typically pay half the travel costs, up to a maximum grant of £200. There are also grants available to Deanery Chapters as well who wish to organise a CME event for the whole chapter or with another chapter.