Ministerial Development Review

After careful consultation and work by the Ministries Committee, Ministerial Development Review (MDR) has been reworked to take into account the importance of contextual ministry and connectivity with Reflective Supervision. 

MDR is part of a suite of support and accountability tools for ministers within the Church. This support is built on the foundation of the covenant relationship that shapes ordained ministry within Methodism. It is rooted in the covenant relationship between the Conference and its ordained ministers and its aim is to provide an opportunity for structured reflection on ministry within individual contexts. 

MDR applies to all ministers (deacons and presbyters) in a circuit appointment or district appointment, and to all district chairs. It also applies to every minister who has entered into an agreement with a circuit to undertake pastoral responsibility in one or more local church. 

A key feature of MDR is the annual review meeting where each minister is supported by a lay contributor and an ordained contributor as they reflect on their ministry. This provides an important opportunity for ministers to share their reflections, insights and hopes with others who have a responsibility for their well-being and for their growth in ministry. They will often work with others to obtain feedback from local church members and circuit post holders around aspects of ministry and consider the responses together in the meeting. 

New guidelines and support forms were re-developed in 2022 and have been in use since September of that year.

The materials can be found here and the forms can also be found separately below. 

The guidelines will be available in an online format only but Braille and large print copies can be supplied should you need them and copies can be obtained from mvw@methodistchurch.org.uk 

The Learning Network will be able to offer training support to districts that feel it would be helpful. This training is linked to 2 videos outlining the reasons the church still values MDR and the revised processes.

They can be found here:

Video 1 - MDR1 - What is Ministerial Development Review 

Video 2 - MDR2 - The Process  

The forms can be found here.

If you would like to know more about MDR then please contact Jane Bingham on binghamj@methodistchurch.org.uk