Accessing accompaniment

Where do you go when yet another difficult situation arises in your ministry?
Are there times when you struggle to know the way forward?
Would you value the opportunity to reflect intentionally on your own ministry in a safe space?
Are you looking for a clear pathway for development in your work as a minister?
Do you sense the need to put in place a more structured form of accompaniment in response to these needs?

One of the five habits of Continuing Ministerial Development is to engage in some form of accountability through mentoring, pastoral supervision, spiritual direction, coaching, soul friends, or learning communities. This is important from the initial sense of calling to ministry right through to retirement as shown on this infographic.



If you wish to explore a definition and explanation of these different forms of accompaniment, please read Appendix 3 of the  CMD handbook. 

If you wish to access mentoring, please speak in the first instance to your regional association. They hold a list of those trained to act as mentors. 

If you wish to access pastoral supervision, spiritual direction, or coaching, then a list of those colleagues who are trained and qualified to offer these forms of accompaniment can be found here.

This list is intended for accredited ministers, nationally recognised pastors, recognised local ministers and anyone in a clearly defined leadership role in a Baptist church or missional setting. 
Most are those listed as offering accompaniment are themselves accredited ministers. A few are not, but have long shown their commitment to the wider Baptist family. 

You are welcome to make a direct approach to someone who is qualified and willing to help. Please note that we are unable to recommend one pastoral supervisor, spiritual director or coach over another. Rather, we are simply signposting you towards those who have confirmed to us that they have received appropriate training for the accompaniment they provide, and in safeguarding. They have also confirmed they practise under insurance and have the appropriate DBS check. Their qualifications and depth of experience, measured by the hours of supervision or direction they have offered over time, are noted on the list.

Most people are willing to offer accompaniment online as well as in person, and this enables you to reach beyond your own Regional Association into other areas across the country. Whilst the list is grouped according to those offering accompaniment from each Regional Association, their work often stretches more widely across the whole Baptist network. 

These forms of accompaniment have undoubtedly been a growth area in recent years, and have been of immense benefit to those who have engaged with them. There is usually a cost involved, and the recommendation in the CMD framework is that where possible this is met by the church or the employer where you are serving. The details of this would need to be discussed as each individual arrangement is set up. There is also financial support through the CDM grant which is detailed in the opening section of the CMD handbook.

If you are yourself a minister trained in spiritual direction, pastoral supervision or coaching and you would like to be added to the list, please get in touch with the Accompaniment Coordinator (Rev Paul Campion) via this contact form.  Paul can explain the criteria in more detail and send you an application form to join the list. 

If you are a minister looking for training in one or more of these disciplines, please read our Training for Accompaniment webpage.  

A more personal addition from the Accompaniment Coordinator:

Having received accompaniment for several years towards the end of my full-time local church ministry, I then completed the initial training as a pastoral supervisor. More recently I have completed further training in the Advanced Diploma, and I am regularly involved in offering supervision. I am convinced that this is an immensely valuable way to build resilience, deepen understanding and clarify vision in all the many and various challenges of ministry today. I look forward to hearing from you if you wish to join the list of those offering pastoral supervision, spiritual direction or coaching, or if you have any queries regarding any of these forms of accompaniment.

Revd Paul Campion
Accompaniment Coordinator

Accoompaniment Strategy Group

The Accompaniment Coordinator is supported by an Accompaniment Strategy Group that is made up of Baptists with significant experience of providing accompaniment. Members of the group are:
Paul Campion (Accompaniment Coordinator)
Geoff Colmer
Linda Hopkins
Dawn Johnson
Kate Pozzo

 

^{Photo by Christian Bisbo Johnsen on Unsplash}