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Safeguarding
Overview
The Ministerial Development Review (MDR) will facilitate a guided discussion framed around the bishop’s ministry. The purpose of the review is to look back and reflect on what has happened over the last eighteen months of ministry and, informed by that, to plan, anticipate, and develop a clearer vision for what lies ahead. In looking back there is an opportunity to acknowledge all there is to be thankful for and anything that is a matter for lament. In looking forward there is an opportunity to anticipate the changing demands of the role, identify future objectives, and establish areas for potential development.
MDR is founded in the assumption that all ministers are responsible to God for the ministry entrusted to them and that they are accountable to the Church and to one another for the way in which it is exercised. Accountability includes a preparedness to grow and develop on the basis of experience and the learning gained from it. It is about affirmation and encouragement, as well as challenge, and includes an agreement for a plan for personal ministerial growth and development.
The MDR seeks to encourage ministers to revisit the promises made at ordination to “be diligent in prayer, to study the Holy Scriptures, and to equip yourself for ministry in the Church” and to reflect on the relevance of these promises in their current ministerial practice and context. It will be carried out not less than every eighteen months and is designed to encourage:
- an ongoing process of reflection and learning based on support, scrutiny, affirmation, and accountability
- a culture of life-long learning and ministerial development
- reflection on ministerial practice
- the setting of challenging, yet achievable, objectives
If you have any questions about the details below, please contact Revd Canon Dr Trystan Owain Hughes, Director of Ministry Development
MDR Booklet
The MDR for Bishops booklet explains the process clearly and gives a step-by-step guide to the process. Please read the booklet carefully – it can be found below.
The forms necessary for the MDR are also below.
Reviewers will also need a copy of the charge from the Church in Wales ordinal (appendix 4 in booklet), see below.
The Review Form itself is divided into 4 Sections
Section 1
This section comprises a set of common questions which are to be answered by every minister across the Church in Wales, under the following headings:
- Prayer life
- Engagement with Scripture, study, and learning
- Welfare and well-being
- Safeguarding
- Vocation in the Church
There are further questions which are relevant to the bishop’s individual vision, strategy, and context under the following heading:
- Ministry in the Church
Section 2
A summary of the conversation held at the Review Meeting around each set of questions should be agreed between the bishop and the reviewer and recorded in section 2.
Section 3
A record of any goals and objectives agreed for the future should be noted in section 3.
Section 4
Both reviewer and minister should sign and date the form, preferably before the Review Meeting ends. This may be done electronically.
A copy of this Review Form is to be given to the bishop being reviewed at the time of the meeting or, failing that, no less than 1 week later. This should be in electronic format (via email).
A copy of Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the review form will be placed on the bishop’s personal file which is held at the Archbishop’s Registry in Callaghan Square. Section 1 is not normally retained without the express permission of the reviewee.
The MDR Process
Step 1 - Setting a date for the review meeting
It is the responsibility of the bishop to initiate their MDR. Having been through the process of choosing a suitable reviewer, the bishop and the reviewer will agree a date for the review. If the review cannot be in person, then the review will take place online.
Step 2 - 360 Degree perspectives
Six weeks before the review meeting is due to take place, the bishop will choose three individuals who have direct knowledge of their ministry. After agreement with the reviewer about those chosen, the bishop should complete the form in appendix 2, detailing the reasons for choosing both their reviewer and those providing 360 feedback. This form should be emailed to both the reviewer and the director of ministry development.
The reviewer will then email those chosen to give 360 feedback and ask them to complete the 360 form (see appendix 3) and return it to them no less than 10 days before the review meeting. Once they are all returned, the completed
forms will be collated by the reviewer and forwarded to the bishop, to reflect upon as part of their preparation for the meeting.
Step 3 - Preparation for the review meeting
A month before the review meeting, the bishop should reflect upon the questions in Section 1 of the MDR form (see appendix 4) and write notes where space has been left to do so.
The review form, with answers to Section 1 completed, should be emailed to the reviewer no less than 10 days before the date of the meeting, to allow the reviewer adequate time for preparation. Along with the completed review form, the bishop should provide a one- or two-page document outlining the diocesan vision.
Step 4 At the review meeting
A brief summary of the review meeting is written in Section 2, with both the bishop and reviewer having agreed what should be recorded. This summary need not cover every topic that has been discussed, but should be an accurate reflection of the conversation.
It is anticipated that the review meeting should last approximately 2 hours.
Any specific goals or objectives which are agreed should be noted in Section 3, and both the bishop and reviewer should sign and date Section 4 of the review form (and complete any disagreements, if there are any) before the meeting is brought to an end. The reviewer should provide to the bishop a copy of the completed review form at the time of the meeting or, failing that, no less than one week later. This should be in electronic format (via email).
Step 5 Following the review meeting
A copy of Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the review form will be placed on the bishop’s personal file which is held at the Archbishop’s Registry in Callaghan Square. Section 1 is not normally retained without the express permission of the reviewee.
Training for Reviewers
Reviewers play a key role in the MDR process. The Church in Wales has committed to ensure that all reviewers are suitably skilled and trained. The following suite of tutorials are available to help and equip reviewers for that task and can be accessed at any time.
In the following tutorials, on one or two occasions the term ‘priest’ or ‘cleric’ is used rather than ‘bishop’. The content of the videos are equally relevant for reviewers who are training to review bishops. Please note that these tutorials concern the MDR process generally in Wales. As such, they will be helpful to you, but for the specific details of the process for the Welsh bishops, please prioritise information in the MDR for Bishops booklet.
Training Videos
There are a total of 7 tutorials which are designed help you prepare for the review conversation.
1.How to create a great review? (31 mins)
What are we looking to achieve in our conversation?
2.What makes a great question? (5 mins)
How do you ask questions skilfully?
And what do you do with the answers?
3. Keeping the diocese and the Kingdom in the room (4 mins)
Bring the community, diocese and Kingdom together in your conversation.
4. Pastoral Conversations and Review (7 mins)
What if a pastoral issue emerges?
5. Grace and Truth (5 mins)
Ensuring that challenge is offered with grace.
6. Listening differently (7 mins)
Listen carefully to gain fresh insight.
7. Agreeing Future Goals and Intentions (6 mins)
Agree achievable objectives with the reviewee