Recognising that leadership is a lifelong journey, the New Beginnings programme is offered to anyone who has recently transitioned from one position to another.
Leaders learn best in a community of people who are going on a similar journey. This leadership development programme aims to provide a place where leaders can theologically reflect on their leadership whilst encouraging and equipping them to lead more effectively and confidently, giving them a place to learn more about the diocese and make links with colleagues that will enrich their ministry.
New Beginnings is part of this leadership journey in the Diocese of Chelmsford, for those new to and established in leadership roles (both lay and ordained). It offers the opportunity to hear from speakers and leaders from across the breadth of different church traditions and locations within the Diocese, enabling participants to make links that will offer greater understainding of self, others and how to lead in a changing church.
For more information see the questions below, or contact Julie Couchman-Boor, Course Leader.
To book a place on the next cohort, contact Sarah Wilson, CMD Administrator.
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What is New Beginnings?
New Beginnings is a leadership development programme aimed at helping leaders transition from one role to another whilst developing their skills and knowledge in the areas of understanding and leading yourself, others and your context.
It will focus on applying biblical and theoretical insights to each participants particular context. The content will differ according to the group but will include spiritual input, key leadership topics, and reflections on the Diocesan Values as presented in the ‘Travelling Well together’ material.
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Content of the programme
Broad themes:
Understanding Self & Leadership:
- Having an Emotionally Healthy Spirituality & using it to lead
- What is leadership and is Christian leadership different? How does this link to vocation?
- Developing my own style – what has been my journey so far?
- What called me here? What am I finding difficult?
- Insights Tool – understanding me and how I work with others
- Wellbeing - What helps me to thrive?
- What about if I don’t know where I’m going? Leading in the in between – liminal leadership
- Change – leading it and designing it
- Developing & Communicating Strategy
- Keeping going for the long haul
Understanding Others:
- Understanding personality styles – Insights tool
- How do we work together?
- Values and beliefs
- Conflict
- Managing well
- Difference including heritage, abilities, neurotype
- Discipling and developing others
- Building Emotionally Healthy Relationships
Understanding your Context:
- Power
- Missional design – where is God working and how do we join in?
- Systems, processes and complexity
- Designing meetings that work
- Working within the Diocese and its values
- Identifying and setting culture
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Who is it for?
Whilst all first time Incumbents are expected to be part of a cohort, anyone holding a Chelmsford Diocesian licence can apply to join the programme.
Where the programme is over-subscribed, priority will be given to those who are identified as moving into a different phase of leadership/place of responsibility e.g. Curate/Associate to Incumbent, New - LLM, new to diocese, new post, trying something new in a current context.
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How is New Beginnings delivered?
It is delivered through fifteen facilitated learning sessions over two academic years (nine in year 1, six in year 2).
Each session will include prayer and worship, theological reflection, practical ideas, personal experience, theoretical input and the space to work on real time scenarios/issues. A variety of leaders (including the Bishops and Diocesan staff) will facilitate, and participants will be encouraged to express their vocation by leading elements of the programme.
Utilising a coaching style, participants will go away from each session having reached some new understanding that they can immediately employ in their ministry.
Mentors – all participants will be encouraged to meet with an identified mentor to help them apply learning to their reality and gain insights from a different perspective.
Insights tool – all participants will have the opportunity to have their own Insights Discovery Profile and time for 1:1 conversation with a trained facilitator.
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Dates of next available course
2027 - 28th September,19th October, 23rd November
2028 – 25thth January, 22nd February, 28th March, 23rd May, 20th June, 18th July, 19th September, 21st November
2029 – 16th January, 20th March, 15th May, 17th July