Assistant IME 4-7 Officers
Organise two residential conferences a year for curates
and visit six months after ordination and midway through
the second year.
The Revd Lydia Wells
The Vicarage
Kingston road
Intake
Doncaster
DN2 6LS
Telephone: 01302 343119
Email: lydia.wells@sheffield.anglican.org
The Revd Jan Foden
The Vicarage
Barnby Dun
Doncaster
DN3 1AA
Telephone: 01302 882835
Email: janfoden@hotmail.com
What We Do
Research shows how crucial is the experience of the first three
years of ministry - a ‘make or break time’….Bath
and Wells diocese talks of curates ‘on loan’ from
the diocese to the parishes.
In the Parishes
Most of the training takes place in the parishes with incumbent
or line manager.
Every curate with their training incumbent completes by the end
of September in the first year a Working Agreement, a Training
Plan derived from a Checklist, an agreement to ‘An Accompanied
Conversation’ (a chosen third person to give support to
the relationship between curate and incumbent). Every curate
in their first year also completes a Parish Survey which is submitted
to Sheffield Hallam University. Before priesting an Appraisal
Form goes from both the curate and the incumbent to the Bishop
of Sheffield
Tutorial Groups
IME 4 - 7 organises monthly Tutorial Groups for curates and Church
Army evangelists with approximately ten people in each group.
These groups include people from all three years unlike some
dioceses. This gives maturity and experience in the group for
handling issues and giving each other support. The disadvantage
is that skills belonging to each year cannot so easily be programmed
in – there is bound occasionally to be some dislocation
between the years accentuated by choices they can make on topics
to discuss. The Tutorials meet mostly from 12-3.00 pm and include
time for sharing and support, and time for doing theology around
a chosen topic or one of the member’s situation.
Three times a year the tutorials are extended from 10-3.00pm
for a Day Conference in September and June and a Quiet Day in
March. Resourcing from the Church Army is often used.
Residential Conferences
IME 4 - 7 organises a weekend residential conference in
each academic year. From the autumn of 2008 some of the IME 4-7 Training for years 2-3 will take place within the Yorkshire Regional Training Partnership alongside curates from other Dioceses. Modules will be accredited to HE level in Church in Local Context and Leadership and Change in Church.
Induction Days
IME 4 - 7 organises a first induction day for curates and incumbents
in the week following ordination.. This is for curates and incumbents
and covers Working Agreements, Training Plans derived from a
Checklist, ‘An Accompanied Conversation’, a Parish
Survey, Appraisal forms prior to ordination to the priesthood,
and issues to do with child protection, personal finance and
clergy housing. A further induction day for curates and Church
Army evangelists is held in September and includes a tour and
talk on the work of Sheffield Cathedral by the Dean, a tour and
profile of the diocese, and a tour and introduction to the Diocesan
Office at Diocesan Church House in Rotherham.
Incumbents Training Day
This is held in May of each year with the Bishop of Doncaster
and introduces new training incumbents to material to be presented
at the first Induction Day. The afternoon has a review of the
year for training incumbents completing their first year.
Pastoral Care
IME 4 - 7 organises pastoral care by a visit from the Director
to every curate and evangelist and their spouse/family before
they come to the diocese. An Assistant IME 4 - 7 Officer visits every
new curate six months after ordination to pick up any questions
around the Working Agreements, Training Plans derived from the
Checklist. ‘Accompanied Conversation’, Parish Survey,
and Appraisal Forms. The Director visits every new evangelist
six months after commissioning. Otherwise the pastoral care of
Evangelists is largely through the Church Army network. Pastoral
care is also exercised within the Tutorial Groups and by the
Tutors. A further visit to curates is made by an Assistant Officer
in the Spring of the second year and in the third year becomes
part of the Episcopal Review process leading to a first appointment.
The Bishop of Doncaster also visits during each of the years
Church Army
The Area Co-ordinator for the Church Army has day to day and
overall care of the evangelists and a similar system to the Diocesan
clergy Working Agreements, Training Plans derived from a Checklist, ‘Accompanied
Conversation’, Parish Survey and ‘Appraisal Forms’.
The Co-ordinator works closely with the Director and the IME 4 - 7
Team as well as the Diocesan Director of Ministry.
CME
IME 4 - 7 dovetails into the work of the Diocesan Director of Ministry who has charge of the further skill training needed for first incumbencies or similar posts.
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