Sabbaticals and Academic Study

Grants for

Clergy Development,

Sabbaticals and Academic Study.

Grants are available to assist all clergy with training and development needs that have been identified through the MDR process.

Grants are intended primarily for the development of clergy in their leadership in mission, and can be applied not only to individuals, but to teams – for example, for coaching a ministry team, or going together on a course such as Conflict Management or Team Development.

The process is intended to be fair, transparent and accountable.

In all situations, clergy are encouraged to ask parishes to contribute to the costs of their development, including sabbaticals and academic study. They should be mindful of colleagues whose parishes are unable to contribute to their development, and apply only in cases of genuine need.

For all clergy holding a Bishop’s licence, including assistant and NSM clergy (but not curates in training) grants of up to £225 are available in each cycle of MDR (i.e. every 18 months) and may be rolled over for one cycle (i.e. you may claim a grant of £550 after 3 years). Applications are currently considered by the Director of Ministry and Training, taking into account the outcome of the most recent MDR, or particular needs identified by an Archdeacon or Area Bishop. In the case of limited funds, priority will be given to clergy under Common Tenure.

Advice should be sought from the Director of Ministry and Training before applying for a grant, as it is sometimes possible to signpost resources available, for example – in coaching skills, providing consultants, coaches or mentors, courses in conflict resolution and leadership development.

Grants will not normally be given for repeated or routine activity (such as attending an annual conference, going on retreat, or ongoing academic study – for which other funding is available).

The application forms at the end of this document should be used to apply for grants. Please simply cut and paste the relevant form into a new document, complete it and email it to Caroline Wakelam-Jones,

Sabbatical Leave

All clergy are invited to take a six week sabbatical in the seventh year following their ordination to the diaconate (this would normally be in the fourth year of incumbency).

Assistant clergy may take such a sabbatical every seven years thereafter. For this, a “mini-sabbatical”, the funds available are usually only those related to Continuing Ministerial Development (see above). However, in exceptional circumstances, clergy may apply for sums of up to £250 in addition to any outstanding CMD grants.

Incumbent status clergy may take a three month sabbatical in the fourteenth year following their ordination to the diaconate, and every seven years thereafter. There should be a minimum of seven years between sabbaticals, but it is recognised that the timing of a sabbatical may be influenced by, e.g., moving roles, training a curate, family circumstances.

Clergy do not normally take a sabbatical within three years of retirement, or within two years of completing academic study for which grants have been received (see below).

Preparation for a three month sabbatical will normally begin immediately following an MDR – and those who are eligible should highlight this in their preparatory paperwork, so that the possibility can be explored with their reviewer.

There is a limited pool of funds available, so that it is helpful if the Department of Ministry is contacted at an early stage in the process. There is a simple form which can be used to assist in planning and applying for grants – which follows below.

At the 14 year point and beyond, for stipendiary clergy, their stipends continue to be paid as normal. A grant of up to £1,000 is available, together with any unspent CMD funding – although both will be granted only at the discretion of the Director of Ministry.

Academic Study

Clergy with incumbent status, undertaking academic study which can be shown to have an impact on their ministry or leadership for mission, may apply for funding of up to £1,000 per year for up to three years, depending on the satisfactory completion of each year’s study.

There is a limited fund for this type of grant and its payment will depend on the relevance of the study being identified through MDR, and with a strong expectation that it will benefit not only the individual, but the present and future ministry of the parish, the Diocese and the wider church.

Funding for academic study is not usually available to clergy within three years of retirement. Clergy may apply for this funding in the same year as a sabbatical only if the study is ongoing and the sabbatical time is intended to complement it.

Grant Application for CMD

Name
Parish/Chaplaincy/Workplace
MDR Reviewer
MDR Date
MDR Learning outcome/goal
Proposed training/resource/course
(Please give sufficient detail for the Director of Ministry to see the link between your MDR and this development opportunity, including the date of any course or residential training)
Total cost
Sources of remaining funding (parish/personal/grant)

If available, please attach evidence of e.g invoice, booking form etc

You will receive confirmation of the amount of your grant from the Department of Ministry within 6 weeks of receipt of this application.

Funds are paid directly in to the bank account into which your stipend is paid. If the Diocese does not have your bank details, please send them to Sonya Lee (Administrative Officer) in the Finance Department.

Grant Application for Sabbatical

Please confirm that your plans have been notified to

and, if appropriate, approved by the relevant person

Please complete details below / Confirmation
(Just type Yes)
Name
Parish
Deanery + Area Dean
Area + Area Bishop
MDR Reviewer
MDR Date
MDR Learning outcome/goals to be addressed by your sabbatical – please refer to notes below
Specific activities for which grant is requested
Proposed dates of Sabbatical
Total cost of Sabbatical
Remaining funding (parish/personal/grant)

If you are able to provide invoices at this stage, that is helpful. If not, you must supply evidence of your expenditure up to the amount of your grant on return from your sabbatical.

You will receive confirmation of the amount of your grant from the Department of Ministry within 6 weeks of receipt of this application.

Funds are paid directly in to the bank account into which your stipend is paid.

Grant Application for Academic Study

Name
Parish/Chaplaincy/Workplace
MDR Reviewer
MDR Date
MDR Learning outcome/goal
Academic Course to be undertaken
(Please give sufficient detail for the Director of Ministry to see the link between your MDR and this academic course)
Year of Commencement
Year of Completion
Total cost per annum
Sources of remaining funding (parish/personal/grant)
If you are not currently engaged in sharing your learning through e.g. teaching on the Bishops Certificate, IME Programme, or through SEITE, please indicate your areas of expertise and willingness to contribute to learning in the diocese.

If this application is for the second, or subsequent year of an academic course, please attach a transcript showing your achievement in the year prior to this application.

You will receive confirmation of the amount of your grant from the Department of Ministry within 6 weeks of receipt of this application.

Funds are paid directly into the bank account into which your stipend is paid.

Funding Sources

Outside the Diocese

Clergy planning a sabbatical are encouraged to apply for external funding to supplement the Diocesan Grant. Clergy should consider applying to charities that support their own theological position, local charities, and charities with which parishes may have a particular link, e.g. livery companies, patrons.

The following may also be useful:

• The Ecclesiastical Insurance Group Ministry Bursary Awards Scheme is open to those in full time stipendiary ministry and can assist financially with a work-related project, a study course away, or support research in the UK or abroad. Applicants must normally have completed at least 10 years full time stipendiary ministry. Applications must be made in the year prior to taking a Sabbatical. For more detail, see the EIG website

• Sion College makes grants to clergy in London Metropolitan Boroughs south of the River Thames. Membership for at least one year is required for a grant application and costs £20.00 per annum, or £15.00 if you are willing to receive emailed information only. See the College website for more details:

• The English-Speaking Union offer a grant of up to £2,000 to members of the clergy from all denominations to undertake a tour in the US for up to four weeks with the aim of fostering understanding and the exchange of ideas. There is one grant each year and a competitive application process, which is now managed by Ripon College Cuddesdon. More details are available from

• The St George’s Jerusalem Trust offers clergy grants of up to 60% towards courses taken at St George’s College, Jerusalem. Further details can be found at

Women may also make applications to:

• The Women’s Continuing Ministerial Education Trust - contact the Ministry Division at Church House
• The Gilmore Fund - contact the Revd Alyson Peberdy (Email: );

1