Help shape the future of CMD

As part of Baptists Together’s commitment to supporting healthy, effective and lifelong ministry, we are taking time to listen to accredited ministers about their experience of Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD) and lifelong formation. 

Every minister’s journey is different. Formation and development can happen through formal learning, mentoring, pastoral supervision, coaching, reading, retreats, peer relationships, theological reflection and many other ways. We want to ensure that our approach to CMD reflects the realities, opportunities and challenges of ministry today. 

Over the coming months, we will be developing a refreshed approach to CMD, with the aim of launching this in January 2027. Before we do that, we want to listen and we would really value your help in shaping what comes next. 

How can I contribute?  There are two ways to get involved: 
 

Complete the CMD Survey 

Our anonymous survey takes around 10-15 minutes to complete and asks about your experience of CMD, wellbeing, the opportunities and barriers you encounter, and how Baptists Together might best support your ongoing formation. 
The survey is completely anonymous and we are not collecting names or email addresses. We want ministers to feel able to respond openly and honestly. As individual responses cannot be identified, please complete the survey only once. 

Complete the CMD Questionnaire   – Fill in form. Questionnaire closes on the 19th October 
 

Join an Online Listening Event 

 
We will also be holding a number of online listening events, providing an opportunity to explore some of these themes in greater depth, share your experience and contribute to the future direction of CMD across Baptists Together. 

Whether you engage regularly with CMD or find it difficult to make time or space for it, we want to hear your perspective. 

• Session for NAMs Only -  15 September at 11:30
• Session for ministers in the middle of their ministry 15 September at 12:30
• Ministers approaching retirement 16 September  at 10:00  
• 18-35 ministers 16 September at 11:30  
• Pioneers 16 September at 13:00  
• General open session for all ministers 16 September at 14:00 
• Chaplains 16 September at 17:00

Bookings for listening events close on the 10 September. 

We particularly want to hear from those who find CMD difficult. If you are not currently engaging regularly with CMD, your contribution is especially important.  Understanding what can make ongoing development difficult – whether that is time, cost, workload, accessibility, church expectations, finding suitable opportunities or something else, is just as important as hearing about what is already working well. Your experience will help us identify barriers, challenge assumptions and develop an approach to CMD that is realistic, accessible and genuinely supportive of ministers in different contexts and at every stage of ministry. 

Our hope is to build a culture across Baptists Together in which lifelong formation is not simply something ministers are expected to do, but something that is encouraged, valued and supported as part of healthy and sustainable ministry. 

Thank you for taking the time to contribute. Your experience, wisdom and insight will help shape how Baptists Together supports ministers in the years ahead.