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The Training Incumbent

Most training and learning in the first four years takes place in the home parish and with the support and encouragement of the training incumbent. Regular meetings of incumbent and curate for Supervision and Reflection are a key element of the training relationship.

The CME Advisers provide two residential conferences of preparatory training for those identified by the bishops as training incumbents. Dates for 2008 are 26-28th February and 13-15th May.

There is also an annual day or half-day for training incumbents thereafter to reflect on their developing practice.

The following extract from the Curates and Training Incumbents Handbook sets out the qualities that bishops look for in a training incumbent:

In choosing clergy (usually incumbents) to be training incumbents, bishops and their staff will be looking for someone who:

a) has a vision for the mission of the church in the parish which involves the development of lay ministry;

b) is a person of prayer who can inspire others to pray;

c) is a good listener and enabler;

d) is able to act as guide, adviser and consultant rather than benevolent dictator or efficient delegator;

e) is possessed of a mature degree of self awareness and understanding of his/her own strengths and weaknesses in ministry;

e) has a secure but not rigid faith and spirituality that can be shared with a colleague who will not necessarily have the same views or traditions;

f) is theologically acute enough to be able to help the assistant in the process of integrating theological study with ministerial experience;

g) is prepared to take into consideration a curate's experience in terms of previous employment and responsibilities;

h) is able to share ministry with a colleague, including sharing difficulties as well as successes;

i) is capable of allowing an assistant to develop in ways different from him/herself;

j) is still prepared to learn, and particularly to undertake in-service training;

k) will give priority to attending training and meetings provided for training incumbents;

l) has, or is willing to acquire an understanding of learning styles and cycles in adult learning, and of psychological make-up and personality;

m) is able effectively to mobilise resources for training the assistant over a three year period and prepared to allow others to be involved in that training;

n) is willing and has the time to devote to regular training, supervision and reflection sessions with the assistant, distinct from staff meetings and informal contact;

o) will develop a pattern of staff meetings, supervision meetings, prayer and worship which is mutually convenient for the incumbent and the curate;

p) is aware of the importance of the diocesan POT/CME Years 1-4 programme and will ensure that the curate gives it priority;

q) will be committed to staying in the parish for at least the diaconal year of the assistant, and expects to be there for the greater part of the training period;

r) has good working relations with fellow clergy, lay leaders and officers in the parish, and those outside the church.

The role of the Training Incumbent is complex and demanding. It calls for gifts of sensitivity and generosity and the skill to identify and foster all the gifts and interests that their colleague brings. At the same time there is a need to encourage the curate not to specialise too early. Both incumbent and curate should be able to look beyond the needs of the immediate situation to the development of the curate's ministry throughout life.

It is within the parish context that the curate really learns the skills of ordained ministry and will develop a style of ministry. The taking of services and the celebration of the occasional offices are obvious examples of this. Similarly learning professional courtesies involved in visiting and working with others is developed. However, the curacy time is not simply about the acquisition of skills: rather, it is essential that the process of Theological Reflection, begun in pre-ordination course or college, is continued and developed in the interactions between practice, prayer, conversation in supervision, and continued theological study.

Agreement to become a Training Incumbent is, in fact, agreement to take on a significant training responsibility on behalf of the diocese and of the whole church.

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