Monday 7th October
2pm – Derbyshire Suite
Arrivals & Registration
Head straight to the Derbyshire Suite to register. Refreshments available in the bar area.
3pm – Derbyshire Suite
Session 1: Worship, Word & Welcome
Welcome to Conference! We’ll be gathering to begin the conference with sung worship and Bishop Paul’s opening address. This will reflect on life and ministry within the diocese at this time, as well as setting the scene for the next couple of days.
5pm
Access to Rooms
6.15pm – Dining rooms
Dinner
7.30pm – Derbyshire Suite
Session 2: Inspiring Worship
“Because coming together to meet with God should be the most captivating hour of anyone’s week.”
An interactive hour reflecting on how we encounter God in worship across our many traditions, with teaching from Revd Dr Mark Wreford (Trinity Church Nottingham), table discussions and reflections from clergy on being worshippers even as we lead others in worship. This session will close with a short contemporary compline led by Lauren Simpson.
9pm
Bar Open
Tuesday 8th October
7.30am – The Chapel
Eucharist
An optional morning eucharist service led by Revd. Louise Holliday.
8am onwards – Dining rooms
Breakfast
9.15am – Derbyshire Suite
Opening Worship
Start the second day of diocesan conference worshipping together.
9.30am – Derbyshire Suite
Session 3: Healthy Leaders with Dr Kate Middleton
Dr Kate Middleton will be leading us through two sessions this morning: Healthy Leaders, Healthy Leadership. In this first session we’ll explore the question, ‘what building blocks do we need to make sure we have in place to exercise our own leadership?’
Kate is a Director at the Mind and Soul Foundation, as well as a psychologist with a particular interest in the way our emotions affect us. She’s passionate about helping people keep emotionally healthy in spite of what life throw’s at them, & making sure they reach their full potential. She’s a church leader, speaker and author, and is also project leader of Headstrong, an online wellbeing space for teenagers and young people. Kate spends a lot of time explaining that she isn’t married to Prince William but enjoys reading about her good dress sense in the newspapers. She lives in Hertfordshire with her husband, two children and (at last count) three cats.
10.45am – Bar Area
Coffee
Head down to the bar area to get yourself a hot drink.
11.30am – Derbyshire Suite
Session 4: Healthy Leadership with Dr Kate Middleton
Dr Kate Middleton will be leading us through two sessions this morning: Healthy Leaders, Healthy Leadership. In this second session we’ll explore the question, ‘how can we foster healthy cultures in the teams we lead?’
1pm – Dining Rooms
Lunch
1.30pm
Free time & consultations
Spend the afternoon however you wish – catching up with colleagues, heading out for some fresh air, or taking the opportunity for a rest.
The following members of the central support team will also be available in the bar area, should you wish to chat.
- Martin Cooper (Chief Executive)
- Katrina Proctor (Director of Finance)
- Jason Riley (Senior Finance Officer)
- Anne Coyne (Digital Giving Adviser)
- Neil Peake (Programme Manager)
- Stephen Watson (Church Buildings Support Officer)
- Imogen Mellor (Project Support Officer)
- Janet Brothwell (HR Manager)
- Jonathan Pickett (DAC Secretary for the Care of Churches)
- Robert Cleave (Diocesan Environment Officer)
- David McCoulough (Diocesan Lead Chaplain)
- Safeguarding Team (rooms for private consultation in the Derbyshire Suite)
3.30pm – Derbyshire Suite
National Safeguarding Standards: Setting the Scene
This session will include a brief outline of why the national standards have been developed the link to other initiatives emanating from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse commissioned by the Government in 2014 following the death of Jimmy Savile. The National Safeguarding Standards were published by the Church of England in October 2023, and every diocese needs to evidence that they are compliant by the end of December 2027. Parishes have been asked to start implementing the standards from January 2025 giving two years to cover each of the 5 standards. The diocese will be audited in January 2026 by INEQE against these standards with progress evidenced and detailed plans for implementation post audit.
The session will briefly outline each of the five standards and look in more detail at one standard to illustrate the resources that have been developed for parishes to use with PCCs to evidence that they are compliant or working toward compliance. This session is relevant to all Incumbent clergy and Area Deans or Archdeacons covering parish vacancies.
5pm – Derbyshire Suite
Session 5: Growing Leaders
“Because the harvest is plentiful.”
An interactive hour reflecting on how we can keep our eyes open and be proactive about raising up vocations in all their forms. Teaching from Revd Joanna Seabourne (St Giles West Bridgford), vocations stories, live testimonies and discussions with one another.
6.15pm – Dining Rooms
Dinner
7.45pm – The Chapel
Contemporary Worship (optional)
Spend time in worship and prayer in this session led by Archdeacon Tors Ramsey. Prayer ministry will be available (led by the curates).
9pm
Bar Open
Wednesday 9th October
7.30am – The Chapel
Morning Prayer
An optional morning service of morning prayer led by Revd. Lee Dunleavy.
8am onwards – Dining rooms
Breakfast & Checkout
Please note, you must have checked out of your room before the first session at 9am. Please bring your room key to the Derbyshire Suite.
9am – Derbyshire Suite
Session 6: Enabling Commitment
“Because there is nothing better anyone can do with their life than become a follower of Jesus.”
Revd Tim Parker (East Leake Benefice) will offer our taught input for this session, before Frances Finn chairs a panel discussion on what evangelism and discipleship can look like in different contexts across the diocese.
10.15am – Bar Area
Coffee
Head down to the bar area to get yourself a hot drink.
11am – Derbyshire Suite
Session 7: Worship, Word & Sacrament
Our conference draws to its conclusion with input from Bishop Andy (including updates on a number of things coming up in the next season) and a closing eucharist led by Revd Zoe Burton.
1pm – Dining Rooms
Lunch & Depart
Grab some lunch before you head home. Don’t forget to hand your room key and lanyard in at the Derbyshire Suite.