To tell us about a forthcomining event you'd like to see publicised here, do one of the following:
share to the facebook group "Chelmsford CMD"
or email Andy at agriffiths@chelmsford.anglican.org
SEPTEMBER OPPORTUNITIES
Churches' Community of Practice 2025
Welcome to the Citizens UK Churches’ Community of Practice. Our purpose is to resource all those, across denominations, involved in Community Organising through their church institution. We aim to share stories, reflections, and practical ideas to make your organising effective and rooted in your faith tradition. We explore community organising as a spiritual practice, embracing themes of holistic missional theology: action for social justice, challenging unjust structures, discipleship, vocation, building relationships across difference, and strengthening our congregations from the outside in and the inside out!
Alison Webster
Mission Theologian in Residence, Citizens UK
Each meeting runs from 4 – 5.30pm. Please subscribe to the Community of Practice and you will receive further details of each session a week or so before it happens.
25th September, Integrity in Leadership – how can the Community Organising model of distributed leadership offer a corrective to ‘dot leadership’, which has had such tragic and unhealthy consequences for many Christian denominations?
OCTOBER OPPORTUNITIES
The Hidden Life of Trees
Discover how trees can deepen our connection with the Creator and enhance our own support systems?
Tuesday 7 October 6pm to Thursday 9 October 2pm
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream”. - Jeremiah 17:7
Researchers see and hear trees communicating, helping and supporting each other via root systems and fungi. How can the trees help us deepen our prayer life and our own support systems?
Come and spend time in the beauty of autumn at Pleshey, discovering together, how we can experience some of the underlying connectedness of all things in God’s creation and being open to God’s wild hospitality. There will be a mixture of learning, sharing, silence and walking amongst the trees.
Rev’d Brigid Main was chaplain to the chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall , Bradwell-on-Sea and retired in 2019. She was ordained in 1999 and before that worked as a Speech and Language therapist specialising in voice work. From 2003-2012 she was Associate Priest at Holy Trinity Pleshey and led the training of Pastoral Assistants in the diocese, whilst her husband Laurie was House Manager at the Retreat House. She now enjoys enabling others in their spirituality and leading retreats around nature and Celtic Spirituality.
https://www.retreathousepleshey.com/events/the-hidden-life-of-trees
Behold, I am doing a new thing: the first few years as a first time incumbent
A three-day/two-night retreat is being held at Ripon College Cuddesdon, near Oxford, for those in their first few years of first incumbency on 15-17 October. We will explore the transition from curacy to incumbency and offer space for people to share their experiences, both challenges and joys. As our conversation partners we will use the stories of Elijah and Elisha and selected poems by the priest poet R S Thomas. We will worship sometimes with the gathered community of the College and sometimes as a small group. There will be space to reflect and create with art resources provided for you.
Led by Revd Dr Sarah Brush, Vice-Principal, Ripon College Cuddesdon.
£175 all inclusive of programme, meals and accommodation.
Women's Ministry Team
Reflection and Coaching Day – Setting Heathy Boundaries
The Women’s Ministry Advisers invite all ordained women to come along to an in-person event on Saturday 11 October, 9.30am - 3pm at All Saints' Church, Springfield.
Su Blanch of 3D Coaching will lead participants in thinking through how to establish boundaries that work for their context. Through a mix of input, small group discussions, and individual reflection, the goal is to give participants the space to reflect and plan—and to leave with greater confidence in how to set healthy boundaries in their ministry. .
To register your attendence please click here
Transforming Pain
A Quiet day of reflections and music, exploring Bishop Guli's new book “Listening to the Music of the Soul”
Tuesday 28 October 10am to 4pm
Through reflections and music, Bishop Guli will explore some of the themes from her new book, “Listening to the Music of the Soul” written for Advent 2025. As we prepare our hearts for the coming of Advent, during the day you will be encouraged to engage with the contradictions and paradoxes faith, embrace nuance over certainty and find meaning amidst the pain and darkness of your own experiences.
The Right Reverend Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani is Bishop of Chelmsford and a member of the Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords. She previously served as the first Bishop of Loughborough, in the Diocese of Leicester, from 2017 to 2021. Guli arrived in this country as a refugee from Iran, aged 14. She was educated at Nottingham and Bristol Universities, training for ministry at The South East Institute for Theological Education. Ordained priest in 1999, Guli served her title in the Diocese of Southwark and has also worked in London and Peterborough Dioceses. She has a doctorate in theology and cross cultural mission, is Chair of the Board of Church Army and the Church of England’s Lead Bishop for Housing.
Guli has written extensively and, among other things, is the author of Cries for a Lost Homeland: Reflections on Jesus’ sayings from the cross and co-author, with Malcolm Guite, of Stations of the Resurrection: Encounters with the risen Christ.
The day can be combined with an overnight stay or two at the House. If you would like this please contact the Retreat House direct 01245 237251.
https://www.retreathousepleshey.com/events/transforming-pain
A Winding Journey
A Quiet Day exploring the spiritual practice of the Labyrinth.
Wednesday 29 October 10am to 4pm
Led by Rev Gill Morgan. The Labyrinth has been used for thousands of years to help people explore and discover more about themselves.
During this day we will explore praying and walking the labyrinth together and individually. The day will offer both the opportunity to understand this ancient practice and will offer time for stillness, reflection as we walk with God. The day gives opportunity for self-reflection and transformation.
Gill's ministry is very much centered on Christian spirituality and encouraging people in their journey with God. She has experience of parish ministry, hospice chaplaincy and spiritual direction.
Ordained 15 years ago, Pleshey Retreat House has a special place in her own journey with God.
The day can be combined with an overnight stay or two at the House. If you would like this please contact the Retreat House direct 01245 237251.
https://www.retreathousepleshey.com/events/a-winding-journey-2
NOVEMBER OPPORTUNITIES
Sleep First: Supporting Wellbeing with Nutrition, Movement and Stress Management
Whenever we ask ministers what obstacles stand in the way of their wellbeing, one of the answers we get is ‘difficulty sleeping’.
So we’ve asked Jen Stanley of Stanley and Davis Wellbeing to lead a 2-hour interactive and engaging wellness session, designed specifically for Anglican ministers, focusing on the key areas that impact daily wellbeing: sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress management. Sleep will be the primary focus, addressing the challenges ministers have identified as a major concern.
The workshop will take place at St Michael’s Church, Galleywood, on the afternoon of 4 November 2025. Registration, programme and more details here.
Participants will leave the session feeling empowered, energised, and equipped with practical strategies to improve their wellbeing. Whether the goal is better sleep, increased movement, weight management, or general vitality, this session provides the tools to take immediate action.
Cost: £50. You will be invoiced for this amount when you register. Licensed ministers (clergy and LLMs) may claim this back from their cmd grant as available
Theological Refreshment in Ministry: 24 – 25 November 2025
Pleshey Retreat House, Chelmsford
Wisdom from the Desert: A Reflective Retreat Inspired by Charles de Foucauld, Carlo Caretto and the Desert Fathers
This, our annual regional short residential conference, is open to all ordained and licensed lay ministers from the participating churches in the eastern regional dioceses.
In the Judaeo-Christian tradition, the desert is a place of transformation—where God meets us in silence and we meet ourselves. This retreat offers space to explore life lessons drawn from the spiritual writings of Charles de Foucauld, Carlo Caretto, and the Desert Fathers, reflecting deeply on how their wisdom speaks to our journey of faith today.
You’ll experience time for personal reflection rooted in desert spirituality and sacred themes, with quiet times to allow for rest or solitude or to walk and spend time in nature. There will be time in community; time to talk and share, to pray, eat and contemplate.
Our lead speaker, the Revd Canon Stuart Batten, has served as the Diocesan Director of Ordinands in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich for four years. Prior to this role he served as a parish priest for 23 years in urban, rural and estates contexts. Over the years he has grown in his understanding, appreciation, and practice of contemplative spirituality. Stuart is married to Karen, they have four children aged 24, 22, 16 and 11 and a rather silly black labrador called Hudson.
Arrivals are from 10.30am on Monday 24 November, and departure will be after lunch (1.00pm) on Tuesday 25 November. The cost of the conference is £125 per person which will cover all costs. It may be possible to reclaim this cost from your CMD grant
Call Lesley Steed for more information: 01473 298510 | 07485 348889
2026 OPPORTUNITIES
Workshops from the College of Preachers
Preaching at Weddings
Monday, 12 January, 10.30-13.00 | online via Zoom
Workshop leader: Jennifer Brown
This workshop will consider the Christian theology of marriage, what preachers hope to achieve through the sermons preached at weddings, biblical texts suitable for weddings, and how to craft a wedding sermon. This workshop is ideal for those starting out in their preaching ministry, and is also suitable for experienced preachers who want to refresh their preaching at weddings.
The workshop will be led by the Revd Jennifer Brown. Jennifer is Rector-designate of the parish of Abingdon-on-Thames and former Director of Training for the College of Preachers. She is also an experienced theological educator.
Booking closes 8 January 2026
Preaching in Lent
Monday, 26 January, 14.00-16.30 | online via Zoom
Workshop leader: A.K.M. Adam
In this workshop, we'll explore some of the Lenten themes found in the gospels of Matthew and John, and the ways in which they point us through Lent, toward the resurrection, and how we can effectively communicate these in our preaching in the season of Lent.
This workshop will be led by the Revd Dr A.K.M. Adam. Dr Adam is a lecturer in New Testament at Oxford University and a Church of England parish priest in the Oxford Diocese.
Booking closes 22 January 2026
Preaching Easter to Pentecost
Saturday, 7 February, 10.30-13.00 | online via Zoom
Workshop leader: Martin Little
Easter is the great festival of the Christian Church - the heart of the good news of Jesus. But the story of Easter doesn't end at Easter. In this workshop, we will explore how to preach for the three festivals of Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost, and will also look at the post-resurrection encounters that take us through the season of Eastertide.
This workshop will be led by The Revd Martin Little, Vicar of Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry, Oxford. Martin has previously ministered in an area of significant social deprivation within Somerset where, together with The Revd Jo Stobart, he was part of the initiative Grass Roots Theology, bringing free open-access theology days to locations around Somerset.
Booking closes 4 February 2026
Preaching with Power: How to Prepare & Deliver Effective Sermons
Thursday, 12 February, 10.30-13.00 | online via Zoom
Workshop leader: Samuel Thomas
Powerful preaching enables us to reach hearts and minds, to challenge, to comfort, and to present the good news of Jesus in a persuasive way. A powerful sermon requires careful preparation, clear structure, and effective delivery. This workshop will look at how we as preachers can prepare and deliver sermons that enable us to preach with power. In our preparation and delivery, Holy Spirit is present with us.
The Revd Samuel A Thomas, MTh, FRSA is an ordained bishop and pastor in the New Testament Church of God (UK) Pentecostal denomination, with over 30 years preaching experience.
Booking closes 9 February 2026
How to Use Humour in Preaching
Monday, 23 March, 10.30-12.00 | online via Zoom
Workshop leader: Paul Kerensa
You may already use humour in your preaching. You may have run a mile from it. You may know what style of humour works for you. You may have no idea. Let’s look at some ideas for writing comedy and using it in your storytelling - as we bring the greatest story ever told to fresh ears. Come ready to write and get creative - and bring some jokes or tales if you like… but no pressure!
This workshop will be led by Paul Kerensa. Paul is a writer, comedian and broadcaster, working in TV, radio, print and the stage. Paul has been on the writing team for numerous BBC sitcoms and other programmes. His books include So a Comedian Walks Into a Church (DLT), Hark! The Biography of Christmas (Lion), and a range of children’s books, including the new Fantastically Faithful series (SPCK).
Booking closes 19 March 2026
Preaching to the Non-Religious
Wednesday, 15 April, 18.30-20.30 | online via Zoom
Workshop leader: Gus Tanner-Ihm
All preachers will have moments when their congregations will include those who are non-religious. How can we preach in ways that will speak to them and communicate the gospel effectively? In this workshop, we will explore this question, looking at language and style of preaching and how we can reach the non-religious with an invitation to hear and respond to the Good News.
This workshop will be led by the Revd Dr Gus Tanner-Ihm. Gus is a Church of England priest in the Diocese of Manchester. He is actively engaged in racial justice initiatives and efforts to help the Church grow younger by fostering greater engagement with children, youth, and young adults. In addition to his parish ministry, Gus is also a theological educator.
Booking closes 10 April 2026
Lessons for the Preacher to Learn from Jack Reacher
Monday, 27 April, 14.00-16.30 | online via Zoom
Workshop leader: Laurence Twaddle
We, as preachers, have a lot to learn from the discipline of keeping our content and presentation tight, stripped of padding, focused on the idea. The Jack Reacher style of communication has pace, vividness, and engagement while avoiding jargon, showmanship and ego. In this workshop, we will explore how we, as preachers, can learn to harness this style of communication to convey the great truths of the Gospel.
This workshop will be led by Laurence Twaddle. Now retired, Laurence was for many years a Church of Scotland minister whose ministry covered parishes in town and countryside and latterly eight years in Geneva. In the course of his ministry, he supervised several new ministers in training. He is a regular contributor to The Preacher magazine.
Booking closes 23 April 2026
Responding to criticism
An interesting article reflecting on how as leaders we respond to criticism positively. The author, Chris Green , has written a number of books on leadership and his blog Ministry Nuts and Bolts is worth looking at as well
Intergenerational Preaching: A video
Roots for Churches present a video by Mary Hawes and others
3D Coaching presents: Effective Conversations
You know how to have conversations. You’ve been having them for a long time.
Using our learning platform FreshLearn, you will be able to watch this set of videos (approx. 85 mins).
In this video set we will be thinking about small practical changes you can make to conversations that will make them:
- Easier for you
- More effective for the people you talk to
Includes: ideas, practice, real-life coaching demo, coaching framework and examples
Claire Pedrick MCC has been coaching for over 30 years. A coach, mentor coach and coaching supervisor, she trains managers, leaders and experienced coaches across multiple sectors to reap the benefits of working more simply. Claire is the Founding Partner of 3D Coaching.
Matt White's new book, "Propelled into Wonder," is out NOW!
50 original poems accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations.
#poetrycommunity #writerscommunity
GoHealth: Rest and Reset
Engaging with new housing
Is there new housing in your parish or area? Do you have questions about *How to be Christlike in New Housing Areas, *How to Deal with Practicalities, *How to Work Together as the Body of Christ, *How to Plan and Evaluate, and *How to Engage in Different Contexts?
These are exactly the issues a new resource covers: Introduction to Engaging with New Housing: a set of How-to Guides – Housing Justice.
We've been building a bit of a library of videos about various spiritual movements, and how they can influence us as ministers in East London and Essex in the 2020s.
Past sessions have looked at Benedictine Spirituality, Dominican Spirituality, two different varieties of Evangelical Spirituality, Ignatian Spirituality, Community Organising Spirituality, and Moravian Spirituality. Browse all this and lots of rubbish at:
http://www.youtube.com/@andygriffiths7654
I've been reading Thrive by Pam McNaughton (London: Church House Publishing, 2023), and I thought I'd post a review.
The subtitle of the book is "Helping your multi-parish benefice to grow", and this is an area the author has serious experience of, having been the incumbent of three different multi-parish benefices (MPBs) in three different dioceses, and having developed a course on the subject (also called Thrive) for CPAS.
The book isn't rocket science, and you won't be surprised to hear the list of things listed as keys to a thriving multi-parish ministry, around which the book is built:
*Prayer
*Mapping and relating stories
*Enabling leaders and great teams (for what it's worth, this seems to me to be the strongest section, and if you did nothing else any MPB would profit from taking this wisdom to heart)
*A culture of discipleship - "shaping the life and activity of our churches around the Great Commandments and the Great Commission." I liked this section, though the community organiser in me would have loved there to be a recognition that we don't just worship God, serve our neighbours and share the good news (crucial as these things are), but also listen to our communities to see what they care about, and enable them to take action for justice. I don't for one moment think that Pam MacNaughton is inward-looking-except-with-regard-to evangelism, but that's such a danger for MPBs that I would want to flag it up.
*Faith sharing. This may be the most challenging section for a number of our MPBs, but it's introduced with gentleness and realism.
*Vision for the future
The value of the book lies not so much in the choice of these topics, which will be familiar, as in the clear, approachable way they are explained and made relevant to multi-church contexts. I liked the way the book often gives several options, rather than a single authoritative template: for example, when starting to move towards vision, we are given
*a template for a formal review of church life, but also
*permission not to use it because there may be one or two areas that clearly need to be worked on first, before the review is encouraging, and
*permission to start with one big project that will get people's imagination firing and raise morale, so that when it is time to review the church(es), the momentum of the project will help people look at possibilities with newfound positivity.
I also liked the way the author often chooses to ask questions rather than to give advice.
I could imagine this being a book that a whole PCC, or a standing committee, looked at together; or perhaps, the wardens and ministers drawn from all the churches in a benefice. There are online materials available as well.
In this Diocese, there are two networks for incumbents (and other ministers) with MPBs or the equivalent - "Four or more" and "More than one". If you'd be interested in being part of such a network, do get in touch with Janet Nichols or Andy Griffiths.
Theological Reading Group
Susannah Brasier writes: "I set up an online theological reading group about 18 months ago. We meet monthly, on Zoom, on the second Tuesday of the month at 2pm for 45 mins-1 hr.
So far we have read a wide variety of books, of varying genres and intensity, and had some very good discussions.
The idea came from one of my own MDRs, where I lamented (not for the first time) that I wasn't getting around to theological reading - so Jill Mowbray suggested I started this group and certainly, even though previously I often thought I didn't have time to read, I now have a discipline whereby I am always reading at least one theological book a month!
It is however not only open to clergy - ordinands, licensed or authorised lay ministers are also welcome, as well as other lay people who have an interest in reading theological books."
Do contact Susannah Brasier if you'd like to get involved.
The institutions and providers below all offer courses relevant to the development needs of Chelmsford clergy.
The Anglican Centre in Rome
The Anglican Centre offers a range of residential courses. Go to www.anglicancentreinrome.org for more details.
The Arthur Rank Centre
A charity that supports and resources the rural church. It offers twice-yearly Rural Ministry Courses and Multi Church Ministry Workshops
It also has resources for the creative use of church buildings
The Buck Stops Here: Leading in MIssion and Ministry in Your First Incumbency
This residential course is offered by CPAS for those moving from a curacy to a first post of responsibility, or for those moving from overseas or sector post to an incumbency or team vicar post.
Los Olivos
A varied programme of courses and retreats in southern Spain, some of which will be eligible for CMD grant – check with your Area CMD Adviser before booking. Travel is not eligible for grant. Go to www.haciendalosolivos.org for details.
LYCIG Leading Your Church Into Growth
A training programme which takes the mystique out of growth and makes it ‘normal’ and do-able. It is likely that a LYCIG course will be run in Chelmsford Diocese in the coming year.
LYCiG is a four-day residential course for lay and ordained leaders. Now in itstwenty-first year, the course was pioneered by Robin Gamble and others, and is led by a team drawn from many different backgrounds, traditions, and ministry contexts. All are practitioners who can speak from personal experience of leading churches into growth. "The most valuable training we’ve ever done", is a typical comment from some of the 70 churches represented on the course.
For the current Conferences programme click here.
Transforming Worship
It offers a series of training events, mostly regional, for those who lead worship - website here
Sarum College
in Salisbury is an ecumenical centre for Christian study and research. It offers a variety of short courses and study programmes in theology, culture, Christian leadership, liturgy and worship, biblical study and sprituality; also singing, music and the arts. Many of these are eligible for CMD grant. For upcoming events or for their whole programme go to www.sarum.ac.uk.
The Society of Mary and Martha, Sheldon
The Society of Mary and Martha in Devon has a varied programme of residential weeks and workshops, including Myers-Briggs and Enneagram, and specifically for clergy, some of which (but not all) will qualify for use of CMD grant. Go to www.sheldon.uk.com.
How to obtain your CMD grant…
Many of these courses are eligible for funding from your CMD grant.
If you have questions about these or other training courses, contact your Area CMD Adviser or the CMD Administrator Sue Denham (01245 294450) .
For information on Sabbatical Leave and Study contact your Area CMD Adviser.
When requesting money for CMD grants, which are available for active clergy (including PTO with a working agreement) and Licensed or PTO Lay Ministers, applications must be received at least a month prior to the event and before booking or attending. To do this fill in an electronic grant form and send it to your Area CMD Adviser, Andy Griffiths, Jane Richards or Julie Couchman-Boor who will authorise and send to Sue Denham who will raise the payment. You do not need to send a copy of the brochure. It is preferred to make payments by BACS. See CMD Funding.
For consultation in advance of applications for any CMD events not included here, please contact your Area CMD Adviser. Please note that where a CMD Adviser, MDR, Archdeacon or Bishop has recommended coaching, this will be funded by a £230 grant, which will not deplete your CMD grant rights for the rest of the year.