“Ministerial Development Review (MDR) is about practising what we preach as Christians - that people are valuable, deserve proper time and attention and are made in God's image.” Clergy Terms of Service
A message from the Bishop of Chelmsford
“In these challenging times attending to this life of vocation and service is demanding. Ministerial Development Reviews are an important opportunity to pause, reflect, and notice what God has done and continues to do in our lives and communities. To enable this our MDR scheme is pared back to enable us over the next few years to have a process that is simpler, less paper heavy and concentrates on well-being and recovery. We have purposefully reduced the preparatory requirements and set a limited number of ‘big’ questions that give space for reflection and discussion. We are thankful for our Diocesan Reviewers, for their gift of service and the time they offer. The MDR with Senior Staff, like the MDR with Diocesan Reviewer, has a simplified focus with space for reflection and discussion.
We have also simplified the process so that you will be contacted in good time to arrange your MDR and you will be sent the relevant paperwork (available on this page) at that time. While this new simplified MDR scheme is in operation, we will be conducting a longer-term review of our approach to ministerial development; learning from the best of what is offered across the Church of England and from this new simplified approach.
A Ministerial Development Review is only one aspect of the relationship of mutual care and support that we offer one another across the life of our diocese. Please continue to speak to us directly and regularly, as bishops and archdeacons we are here to enable you in your life of vocation and service.”
September 2021
FAQs about MDRs
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How often are MDRs?
MDRs happen twice within a three-year cycle, alternating between a Diocesan Reviewer and a member of Senior Staff.
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MDR with a Diocesan Reviewer (DR) - steps and timing
Review steps and timing
- About 3 months prior to your review due date, the MDR Administrator will match you up with a Diocesan Reviewer. This is done on a geographical basis in the first instance. You will have a chance to say if you are comfortable with a particular reviewer. This booklet (available online) will be forwarded to you, to allow for informed, reflective preparation for your forthcoming review.
- Your reviewer will contact you, 4 to 8 weeks prior to your review due date
- A mutually acceptable date and venue (preferably in person) will be fixed
- This date will be sent to the MDR Administrator who will send you a Review Form, via email
- Please begin your preparations using the Review Form (you can see a sample online)
- You send your completed Review Form (sections 1-4) to your reviewer (two weeks prior to your review date) via email
- In addition there are optional questions to give your reviewer a fuller background picture of your ministry to date. Please give as much or as little information as you are comfortable with.
- Your review takes place
- The Review Form will provide a basis for discussion
- Your reviewer is there to facilitate, understand, encourage and challenge where necessary
- Questions 5 and 6 on the Review Form will be discussed and answers agreed
After the Review
- Once wording is agreed, your reviewer will send the completed Review Form to the MDR Administrator via email – no notes are kept by your reviewer post review.
- The MDR Administrator will transfer the form into Nitro Sign*, ensuring data security whilst the form is signed by all parties concerned. The form is then sent to you, via Nitro Sign, for signature.
- Once signed, the form is sent automatically to your Reviewer, via Nitro Sign, for their signature.
- Nitro Sign will automatically send the completed form back to the MDR Administrator.
- *Please note that Nitro Sign is an automated process that is helping us to streamline workloads and document transfer, ensure data security and be more environmentally mindful. This will all appear seamlessly in your email inbox; no special programs are required.
- The MDR administrator sends an electronic copy of the completed review form to:
- Bishopscourt
- Your Area Bishop’s Office
- Your Archdeacon’s Office
- Your Area CMD Advisor
- Appropriate Bishop if you are serving in a parish for which alternative episcopal ministry arrangements are in place
- Your Area CMD Adviser will respond to any specific CMD issues raised
- Please note: You are responsible for taking forward CMD requirements
- The date for your next review will be automatically arranged by the MDR Administrator at the appropriate time
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MDR with Senior Staff (SS) - steps and timing
Review steps and timing
- Your Area Bishop’s or Archdeacon’s office will be in touch to set a date when needed and inform the MDR Administrator.
- A Review Form and this booklet (available online) will be sent to you by the MDR Administrator (4 to 8 weeks prior to the review date) via email
- Please begin your preparations, using the Review Form (you can see a sample online)
- You send your completed Review Form (sections 1-2) to your Archdeacon’s or Area Bishop’s office, depending on who is conducting your review (2 weeks prior to your review date) via email
- In addition there are optional questions to give your reviewer a fuller background picture of your ministry to date. Please give as much or as little information as you are comfortable with.
- Your review takes place
- The Review Form will provide a basis for discussion
- Questions 3 and 4 on the Review Form will be discussed and answers agreed
After the Review
- Once wording is agreed, the relevant Area Bishop’s or Archdeacon’s Office will send the completed Review Form to the MDR Administrator via email
- The MDR Administrator will transfer the form into Nitro Sign*, ensuring data security whilst the form is signed by all parties concerned. The form is then sent to you, via Nitro Sign, for signature
- Once signed, the form is automatically sent to your Reviewer, via Nitro Sign, for their signature and any final comments
- The completed, signed form will be sent automatically via Nitro Sign to the MDR Administrator
- *Please note that Nitro Sign is an automated process that is helping us to streamline workloads and document transfer, ensure data security and be more environmentally mindful. This will all appear seamlessly in your email inbox; no special programs are required.
- The MDR Administrator sends an electronic copy to:
- Bishopscourt
- Relevant Area colleague to the reviewer
- Your Area CMD Adviser
- Appropriate Bishop if you are serving in a parish for which alternative episcopal ministry arrangements are in place
- Your Area CMD Adviser will respond to any specific CMD issues raised
- Please note: You are responsible for taking forward CMD requirements
- The date for your next review will be automatically arranged by the MDR Administrator at the appropriate time
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Scope and purpose of MDR
The purpose of Ministerial Development Review (MDR) is to support and encourage all ministers to flourish in their journey of discipleship, out of which their ministry will develop.
An MDR with a Diocesan Reviewer may focus more on the personal than the outwardly ministerial.
An MDR with a member of Senior Staff is a chance to talk to Senior Staff about your context and ministerial development.
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Use of reflection
Ministry is a vocation. Vocation is a joyful response to God, but it comes with a wide range of expectations and sometimes, impossibly high demands. To be called to ministry is both privilege and sacrifice which is to be lived out and experienced in the context of the local church, community and Diocese.
MDR is a process of reflection to support those who are called and ordained to ministry and who exercise it with the Bishop’s license and authority. It is not ‘appraisal’ since ministers are not employees. Rather, it is a demonstration of the pastoral and professional care of ministers by the bishop. It is about sharing in that responsibility which God has entrusted to His Church for the well-being and effectiveness of all our ministerial and missionary efforts. MDR is intended to be an empowering process to support and encourage ministers through a guided discussion framed around an office holder’s role.
The purpose of the review is to look back and reflect on what has happened over the 18 months, to consider the minister’s wellbeing, through the use of the Review Form. Informed by that, the outcome of the review is the development of a clearer vision for what lies ahead, enabling planning for the minister’s personal development.
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Who participates in MDR?
Clergy who participate include: clergy with enhanced leadership and oversight responsibility, such as Area Deans and Team Rectors; incumbents, including Priest-in-charge and House-for-Duty; Interim Ministers and LLMs in charge; Pioneer leads including SDF/SMMIB funded clergy and lay ministers.
All clergy who hold office under Common Tenure will be included in these arrangements and the same invitations will be made to freehold clergy with the expectation that all clergy will benefit from review.
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Who are the reviewers?
Diocesan Reviewers are appointed because of their skills and gifts in listening to others, in summarizing and helping ministers to reflect on what has been said, thus deepening their reflection on their ministry. They are both ordained and lay members of the church. All Diocesan Reviewers are trained and supported by the Diocesan MDR team. Before meeting your Diocesan Reviewer, you will be sent their contact details and a short introductory paragraph of background information.
The Senior Staff reviewers are Bishops and Archdeacons.
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Continuing Ministerial Development
MDR is a process and not just a conversation. A central focus of the review is to identify development priorities. The outcomes of your review may include priorities for further study or training. Your Area CMD Adviser will be pleased to work with you to discern the best way to meet your particular development needs.
MDR is part of a package of support which includes development through:
- A Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD) grant
- Transitional Mentoring (new Incumbents and Area Deans)
- Action Learning Sets or Learning Communities
- Coaching or Work Consultancy
- Resilience and Refreshment Days
- Courses
- Spiritual Direction
- Extended Study Leave
- Access to Counselling and Therapy
Further information about these support elements is available through the Diocesan web site or by contacting your local CMD Advisor.
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Confidentiality
A cornerstone of the MDR process is confidentiality. Returned forms remain confidential to Area Bishops, Archdeacons, Area CMD Adviser, MDR Administrator, and your personal MDR reviewer. You are free to share information with others if you wish.
Reviewers will respect your confidentiality as far as it is lawful to do so. Reviewers are not at liberty to disclose the content of review discussions or preparatory forms outside the MDR system. No notes or copies of forms are held by Diocesan Reviewers.
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What happens if a Reviewer and Reviewee are unable to proceed?
If you or the reviewer find that it is impossible to proceed with a satisfactory review, the matter is to be referred to the Diocesan MDR Adviser. They will consult with both you and the reviewer before deciding how to proceed, and if considered necessary refer it to the Area Bishop. If the issue concerns an Area Bishop or Archdeacon, the matter will be referred to the Diocesan Bishop for resolution.
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What happens if a member of clergy serving under Common Tenure declines to participate in MDR?
The MDR Administrator will notify the Diocesan MDR Adviser in the first instance, who will then speak with the member of clergy.
As a diocese we are committed to the principle of mutual flourishing. MDR is a vital expression of our shared commitment to growth, development, and flourishing in our discipleship and ministry.
If a difficulty around MDR relates to choice of reviewer we will work to resolve that.
If a difficulty around MDR is a matter of timing, e.g. around dates of maternity leave, or Extended Study Leave, then the timing and review cycle can be adjusted.
If after a conversation with the Diocesan MDR Adviser the member of clergy continues to decline to participate in an MDR, the Diocesan MDR Adviser will speak with the Area Bishop.
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Contacts
Ministerial Development Review (MDR) for clergy in the Diocese of Chelmsford is the responsibility of the Diocesan Lead Adviser on MDR, Revd Andy Griffiths and the MDR Administrator, Sarah Wilson.