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Roles required to complete the CofE Leadership course every 3 years:
- All clergy holding the bishop’s licence, commission, authorisation, or permission including Honorary/Assistant Bishops and Chaplains
- All Readers and Licensed Lay Ministers holding the bishop’s licence (under Canons E6 & E8), together with all others who hold the bishop’s commission, authorisation, or permission to carry out similar ministerial functions
- Archbishops
- Archdeacons (including Associate Archdeacons)
- Assistant Diocesan Directors of Ordinands (ADDOs)
- Bishops’ Chaplains
- Cathedral Administrators
- Cathedral Chapter Members
- Cathedral Directors of Music / Masters of Choristers
- Cathedral Safeguarding Officers (CSOs)
- Chief Executive
- Chief of Staff
- Deans
- Diocesan and Suffragan Bishops
- Diocesan Directors of Ordinands (DDOs)
- Diocesan Safeguarding Officers (DSOs)
- Diocesan Secretaries
- Directors of Communications
- Directors of Ministry
- District chair / district safeguarding lead of bell ringing guilds/councils
- HR Directors
- Lay ministers in training need to have completed the Leadership course before they are licenced, authorised or commissioned
- Leaders of Religious Communities
- Ordinands need to have completed the Leadership course before their diaconal ordination
- Provincial Episcopal Visitors
- Registrars
- Residentiary Canons
- Safeguarding Officers / Leads including Designated Safeguarding Person in a Religious Community (e.g. PSOs).
- Senior Chaplains to the Armed Forces
- Tower captains at prominent towers (including Cathedrals, towers with frequent visitors or people learning)
- Wardens of Readers / LLMs (Licensed Lay Ministers)
- ANYONE going on to complete the 'Senior Leadership' course
It should also, according to the local context, include such other people who significantly influence the culture of that Church body. These may include, for example, lay ministry staff employed by a PCC or BMO, locally appointed leaders of new worshipping communities, focal ministers, and Churchwardens.
Within the Diocese of Chelmsford it is a requirement for all Churchwardens at parishes in interegnum to have a Leadership certificate dated with 3 years.
Where to view, book onto and access our CofE Leadership sessions
The NEW version of the CofE Leadership course is now booked and accessed only via the CofE National Safeguarding Team’s online Learning Portal (website https://safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org/) and all Zoom sessions are booked as pairs.
This is a new way of providing live courses for us, so we would be very grateful for your patience and understanding during this settling in period. Apologies in advance for any frustation or inconvenience caused.
If you require support or assistance with using the actual CofE National Safeguarding Team’s online Learning Portal (website), you will need to contact The CofE National Safeguarding Team directly by emailing elearning@mail.safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org
Face-to-Face Classroom-Based CofE Leadership Safeguarding Sessions
The NEW version of the Face-to-Face Classroom-Based CofE Leadership Safeguarding Sessions will also now be booked via the CofE National Safeguarding Team’s online Learning Portal (website https://safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org/)
The July 2026 will be added ASAP and included in the quarterly PSO Newsletters as soon as all details have been confirmed.