Would you like to have someone as a mentor?
The diocese has a team of trained mentors (available free of charge) to offer support to clergy. We see a mentor as one priest standing alongside another priest in order to share experience and wisdom, to encourage and advise, to reflect and challenge as a fellow priest in God’s church.
It is a diocesan expectation that all curates who become incumbents should have a mentor but there are many other reasons people might consider using a mentor including the following:
- Transitions - for example from one size of church to another size, from one tradition of church to another.
- Development - a growing desire within a person to develop/grow beyond where they currently are.
- Life-stage - navigating a new life stage and the changes it brings.
- Vocation - a sense of wanting to explore new possibilities in vocation.
- Isolation - many clergy feel isolated and long to have someone to explore issues, discuss concerns, and share thoughts.
- Opportunity - as clergy consider new possibilities a mentor provides a safe place to share dreams and ideas.
For a conversation about this please contact either your archdeacon or the department for apostolic life.