Despite the weather forecast, it did not deter the 32 delegates from 13 dioceses who had booked to attend the fourth FCL Regional Consultation, Ministerial Development Review in the Diocese of Blackburn, held at Whalley Abbey, Tuesday 6th January 2009.

The programme commenced with Bishop Nicholas Reade introducing ‘Why Start from Scratch’; their early thinking. Sandra Cobbin then gave a very stimulating presentation about the Blackburn Ministerial Development Review, a programme that Sandra herself had devised and implemented. Sandra’s Powerpoint Presentation

As part of Sandra’s presentation Revd Dr Alan Leeson and clergy who had taken part gave their view of the MDR project which raised a number of questions from the interested audience. The afternoon session gave the delegates opportunity to probe further into the MDR project through group discussion, facilitated by Revd Canon Sue Penfold, around the two questions “What have we spotted that you’ve missed” and “What have we missed that you have spotted”. Flipchart Discussion Notes

FCL Trustee, Bishop Trevor Willmott concluded the day with the following “We are meeting on the Feast of the Epiphany when we continue to remember the significance of God’s choice in taking human form - ‘The Glory is revealed in God made flesh’. This forces us to take seriously the concept of the human being in society and the role of Christianity and its ministers in the Divine Plan.

It is essential that theology undergirds the ‘hospitality’ which is evident in the warm response from clergy to well developed and sensitively applied Ministry Development Review programmes such as the one here in Blackburn.

We have to ask what Ministerial Development Reviews are for. Are they primarily to care for and develop the individual - or are they also a way of developing care for the institution of the Church - or the Church as a caring institution?

There is an appropriate place for the bishop to exercise a ministry of oversight in the ministerial review process. It is unfortunate if negative ‘top down’ feelings of hierarchy are the primary perceptions. We need to explore more about the anxiety which surrounds this method of applying the review process.

Effective Ministerial Development Reviews are about capacity building for the individual and for the whole Church. They are not primarily for creating a more efficient church; they are part of what is needed for building up the whole Body of Christ.”

Supporting Documents

Invitation Letter to Clergy from The Revd Dr Alan Leeson, Clergy Support and Development Officer and Ministerial Development Review Co-ordinator Alan Leeson Letter