Robin Brown

Ministry Development Officer

Robin was ordained in 1969 and has worked in four very different parishes over a period of over 30 years. In his last parish post he was a training incumbent, his colleagues being both stipendiary and non-stipendiary ministers, and also Rural Dean for six years. Robin was a counsellor and education worker with Relate Marriage Guidance for 25 years. He has been the Diocesan Local Ministry Officer since early 2000, fostering the growth of Local Ministry in the diocese. He is also responsible for Adult Christian Discipleship. Robin also leads Away Days for PCCs and other church groups on any subject related to new patterns of ministry and what it means to be the Church today and, say, in the next 10 years or so.

Dennis Stamps

Ministry Development Officer

Dennis was ordained in 1992 and worked in parish ministry in Birmingham. In 1994, he was appointed Director of the West Midlands Ministerial Training Course which is part of the Queen's Foundation, Birmingham. In 2001 he was appointed Dean of the Queen's College and later Acting Principal for the Queen's Foundation. In September 2002 he began his work as Ministerial Development Officer for St Albans Diocese and as Residentiary Canon of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban. He also lectures in New Testament studies and in many other areas of theology and ministry. His primary work is to help clergy and Readers to develop their professional and personal ministry and he is happy to meet with anyone to offer advice or explore possibilities. Dennis organises the CME 5+ programme and also helps the CME Officer with CME 1-4. He is also available to provide assistance and guidance with sabbaticals, post-graduate, and other formal study programmes. He is happy to assist with any learning or development event you may wish to organise at the parish, deanery or diocesan level.

Ysmena Pentelow

CME Officer

At the end of November 2006, The Revd Ysmena Pentelow joined the Ministry Development team as the CME (1-4) Officer. She is also half-time priest in charge at St Paulís, Langleybury. Ysmena brings a wide range of ministry experience having served in various ways at the Cathedral, as well as in Hatfield and Stevenage. She did post-graduate work for her MLitt at St Andrews University. Her special area of interest is biblical studies, especially the Old Testament. She will have particular responsibility coordinating the CME 1-4 programme for clergy and Readers, as well as helping to implement the changes in training brought about by the Hind report.

Lauryn Awbrey

Reader Ministry Officer

Lauryn is a Reader in Harpenden and is a qualified teacher of Religious Studies. She holds the degree of Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, New York, USA.

Lauryn joined the team as the Reader Ministry Officer in February 2008. She is responsible for the current diocesan Reader Training Scheme and, together with the others members of the Ministerial Development Team, for the development of Learning for Discipleship, a new diocesan programme to promote growth in faith and ministry, open to anyone.

Laura Hart

Administrator

Laura has worked as the administrator for the department over eleven years. Among other things, she administers the training grants and the training events run by the team. If you need information about grants, training and further study opportunities, or to book in to events do get in touch with her.