In for the long haul

Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40.30-31)

Amazingly – no-one more surprised than me – I became reacquainted today with the bottom of my in-tray for only the second time in recent history, the snowy weather having occasioned the last known sighting. And so at long last I have this evening been able to turn my attention to a task that has been awaiting attention, and one in whose company I look forward to spending the next few days: drafting a CMD handbook for the diocese.  

As well as protocols and procedures, I look forward to getting down to thinking hard about the thorny issue of providing ongoing vocational stimulus, encouragement and refocussing to clergy, especially those in the middle and later years of service, Canon Bayne being happily engaged in addressing the issues confronting those in the first years of service. 

The C of E report From Frustration to Fulfilment lists some of the former groups’ issues:

We need to consider to what extent the Church helps clergy to feel and know that they are valued, irrespective of whether they have become part of the hierarchy. How can the Church develop a culture which cherishes its ordained human resource? How can we ensure that review and appraisal systems lead to action, development and growth – not just of the clergy but of the parishes/sector ministries? Many clergy feel alienated by the review process and/or by the appointments system(s), which leads to a radicalisation and marginalisation of otherwise talented people. Demotivation may be particularly acute for able candidates who see younger candidates chosen ahead of them in open competitive procedures. Beyond this, there are several ‘glass ceilings’ in place which affect different groups of clergy …

I take comfort from the fact that this is not something G and G will be tackling in isolation; the Whole Church Mission and Ministry Policy outlined at Synod last week lists among ‘the principal further work identified’: the development of creative responses to the needs of mid-career and late-career clergy – including the provision of sabbaticals, training and study opportunities and the provision of wider ministry opportunities at diocesan and provincial levels. It will be just grand to work in partnership with both the Province and with neighbouring dioceses on these issues.

But I do have anxieties about the level of weariness expressed by some clergy at General Synod last week, and not just by the middle-aged or elderly either. It’ll take more than the space and time afforded by a temporarily empty in-tray to address that.

See also for information, as advertised in last week’s Friday Mailing from Joanna Cox: http://www.churchofengland.org/clergy-office-holders/ministry/ministerial-education-and-development/continuing-ministerial-development/resources,-reports-and-guidelines/mid-ministry-resources.aspx