Support for clergy

“You cannot bear the weight of this calling in your own strength, but only by the grace and power of God.” (Ordination service)

If you are currently serving as a member of clergy in the Diocese of Rochester, then this page is for you. We know that life in ministry - whether it's your full-time role or something you balance with other work and commitments - can be hugely demanding.

On this page we cover the support available to you as you serve your communities, and continue to grow and develop in your ministry:

The Mission and Ministry Development Team
Bishop's Guidelines
Bishop's Advisers
Grievances
People System - Church of England
Parish Management
Clergy wellbeing
Free confidential coaching service for clergy
Clergy Personal files Privacy Notice

We also have dedicated pages on:

Clergy housing
Continuing Ministerial Development
Ministerial Development Review
Curacy training and formation (Initial Ministerial Education)
Grants and funding
Your wellbeing
Liturgy and Rites guidance
Ministries and initiatives
Events and Training

The Mission and Ministry Development Team

The Mission and Ministry Development Team develops and delivers vocations, selection, initial and in-service training, consultancy and support for authorised and ordained¨ministries; and theological education and ministerial formation resources for adult Christians in the Diocese of Rochester.

Alongside the bishops and the archdeacons, the team is on hand to help you throughout the course of your ministry here in the Diocese.

Please don't hesitate to contact them if you need assistance. 

Bishop's Guidelines

You will find much of the information and guidance you need as a member of clergy in the Bishop's Guidelines - a handbook providing answers to the most commonly asked questions you may have. It covers pragmatic issues such as money, housing, pensions and discipline, as well as matters of doctrine.

The handbook is compiled by the Bishop's Chaplain and is regularly updated.

• Bishop’s Guidelines

For all other documents relating to clergy issues and doctrine please visit the Documents section of this website or our Liturgy and rites guidance page.

Clergy Personal files Privacy Notice

This notice explains how the information about you, that Bishop of Rochester holds in your personal file, is used, managed and your rights with respect to that data.

Further guidance can be found in the Personal Files relating to Clergy policy and several other policies and procedures which support this privacy notice, these are listed in Clergy Personal files Privacy Notice

Bishop's Advisers

We have a number of advisers on some specific matters who can be contacted for advice or support on their specific areas of concern:

• Bishop's Adviser for UK Minority Ethnic / Global Majority Heritage  - The Rev Canon Jeremy Blunden
• Bishop’s Advisor for the Ministry of Ordained Women -  Rev Judi Hammill
• Bishop’s Adviser for Retired Clergy - The Rev Canon Jane Edwards
• Bishop's Adviser for Self Supporting Ministers (SSMs) - The Rev Canon Sarah Partridge
• Bishop's Adviser for Disability - The Rev Rachel Wilson

Grievances

As a family of faith, we seek to foster relationships of the utmost integrity, truthfulness and trustworthiness, and to provide a supportive, caring environment in which the wellbeing of individuals are respected and each person is treated with dignity at all times.

The Diocese's Anti-bullying and Harassment policy (2024), sets out the indicators of what constitutes both bullying and harassment behaviours, and explains the process by which you can make a complaint if you consider you have been subject to unacceptable behaviour, and what will happen.

You can also find more in section A27/28 of the Bishop's Guidelines

• Rochester Diocese Anti-bullying and Harassment policy (2024)
• How we relate to one another (Church of England)
• Vexatious complaints policy

People System

The new People System for the Church of England is replacing MyView and is the system that holds the information that will be presented in the National Register of Clergy. 

The National Register of Clergy was published on the Church of England website in mid-May. It shows all clergy who hold a Bishop’s Licence or Permission to Officiate (PTO). It will not include contact information. As well as being the data source for the National Register, the People System will manage the payment of clergy stipends and hold some key pieces of information.

For more details please visit: People System (Church of England)

Parish Management

The For Parishes section of this website brings together a range of important matters of church life such as safeguarding, church buildings, finance, community engagement and much more.

 The Parish Administration section particularly deals with practical resources and guidance around:

• people management,
• recruitment processes, 
• data protection; and,
• management tools available to help you are you work with others in your church team to serve your congregation and communities.

The Church of England's Life Events team offers churches advice, encouragement, resources and insights into mission and ministry around these occasions. The Life Events Diary is available free of charge for all churches within the Church of England to help streamline the administration of baptism, weddings, banns, and funerals so that they can focus on the ministry and mission of the life events services. See the national Church of England Life Events resource website for more detail.

Clergy wellbeing

Your well-being as clergy is very important to us.

Well-being is more than just 'feeling good'. A positive well-being involves the interplay of a number of factors.

Physical, emotional, physical and spiritual health, together with the availability and quality of personal and professional relationships, within the wider context of vocation, all contribute to an overall sense of well-being.

The Covenant for Clergy Care and Wellbeing is the expressed view of the mind of the Church of England on issues relating to clergy care and wellbeing. The Covenant was made an Act of Synod at the February 2020 Group of Sessions of the General Synod. Read the full text

You can also find discussion documents and other supporting resources on the Church of England website.Beyond the responsibility that clergy have for maintaining their own health and well-being, there is support available within the diocese.

It includes:

• Pastoral supervision
  The diocese is committed to enabling all clergy to have the opportunity to engage in Pastoral Supervision groups through as part of our vision and strategy for supporting clergy in their work.
  
  Pastoral Supervision groups offer an opportunity to reflect on any challenging experiences or relationships which form part of ministry, in a safe, supportive and confidential space with other clergy.
  
  As such, they are intended to be places which promote clergy wellbeing, whilst helping clergy develop as reflective practitioners, with benefits for all in their care.
  
  We believe this work is vocational as God cares for God’s people and we are called to seek God’s Kingdom together with courage, compassion and creativity.
  
  The hope is that these are spaces to reflect on aspects of their work, to unload, and to hear the perspectives of peers. If you would like further information or would like to join a pastoral supervision group, please contact Rev Claire Allwood claireallwoodpsychotherapy@gmail.com
   
• One to one supervision
  The Diocese has partnered with St. Luke’s Centre for Clergy Wellbeing who to a deliver 1-1 pastoral supervision across the country. There are a limited number of time limited spaces for this.
  
  If you would like to take up the opportunity for 1-1 pastoral supervision through St. Luke’s. Please read the invitation letter and respond to ACR@stlukesforclergy.org.uk for more information or if you wish to take up this offer. This will be confidential between you and St. Luke's.
   
• Counselling service
  The Diocesan Counselling Service is a free confidential service to provide well-being and counselling support. other support, please visit our Your wellbeing page to find out more.
   
• Cascade Wellbeing project
  Cascade is a joint wellbeing initiative between the Diocese of Rochester and the St Benedict’s Centre in West Malling.  Launched in 2025, it focuses on the flourishing and wellbeing of leaders within churches (lay and ordained).
  
  Find out more on the Your wellbeing page
   

Free confidential coaching service for clergy

Clergy considering a new direction in their ministry can now access a professional coaching service run by the Church of England. The Clergy Transitions Service offers online confidential coaching to help with job applications, interviews and gives people the chance to discover their strengths. Run by certified coaches Catherine Cuffley and Clare Endicott, the service is rooted in the context of life-long discernment and formation.

Find out more or email: clergy.transitions@churchofengland.org

Key Contacts