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Curate Groups

All curates belong to a group of those ordained with them. These may be convened by the Area CME Advisers for those in their Episcopal Area, or they may be convened by an experienced minister within the Diocese.

These groups meet a minimum of three times a year, and in some cases more frequently. The use and content of group times is worked out by group members and conveners together.

They are an important expression of the collegiality of those in ordained ministry, and form part of the CME Programme at which the bishops expect attendance.

The Curates and Training Incumbents Handbook says this:

Historically the Chelmsford Diocese has, for many years, put curates into Theological Reflection Groups. As from 2007 we shall not be doing so, in the belief that theological reflection is and needs to be a way of life in all of ministry, and not least in the working relationship with the training incumbent,

However, we do not wish to lose one important aspect of these groups, namely the opportunity to develop a sense of collegiality and mutual belonging among those ordained together as deacons and then priests. For this reason the three Area CME Advisers will be arranging to meet once a ‘term' with the curates within their Episcopal Area as a group. It is up to each Area CME Officer to choose whether this is by separate year groups, or across year groups, and up to them to use these gatherings as they see fit. It is possible that in the first or second year they may ask for one piece of written theological reflection, possibly written collaboratively by three or four curates together.

 

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