I always find myself very encouraged by the title of this section of the Ascend eNews – ‘You are not Alone’. In so many types of ministry, it is easy to feel alone, but one thing that the Church has worked so hard on in recent years is finding ways in which those in the ministries of the church are able to access support and encouragement that helps us know we are not alone.
One of these ways is MDC or Ministerial Development Conversation. As the name suggests, this is a conversation between you and another person who has undergone training as an MDC facilitator. The facilitator’s task is to give you a space where you can raise anything that is on your mind and that you would like to talk through. The agenda for these conversations is yours, and what you talk about is between the two of you. The person you are speaking with does not report the conversation to anyone else. He or she is there to listen to what you say and to ask questions that might help you explore the issue or issues that you bring. They are not there to provide answers to the big questions of your ministry (they couldn’t do that anyway), or to talk about their experience or what they have done, or give their solutions to the problems that can arise in this complex task we are involved in. They are there to help you find the answers that are the right ones for you.
The other word that the title, MDC, throws up, of course, is ‘development’. Behind that word is the implication that there may be something in your life and your ministry that you would like to develop. A skill you would like to learn or grow, a task that you might want to handle differently. It could be something around handling difficult conversations, or dealing with conflict, or initiating change in the congregation. It could be around finding a work/life balance when you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list and people clamouring for your time. It could include finding personal resilience strategies or deciding what to do next. And, of course, MDC is often recommended when you are considering study leave – an opportunity that enables exploration of some of the questions I have suggested. MDC can be whatever you bring to the conversation.
On the Ascend website and the section on MDC, there is a very helpful document that talks you through MDC and suggests areas of life and ministry that you might want to consider in advance of any conversations. It suggests some questions around 3 broad areas – My Role, My Ministry, and My Future. Some people find that structure helpful, while others have more specific issues or issues they want to bring. The important thing is your willingness to set aside some time to engage with this process and to use it as an opportunity to reflect, to consider, to decide, to explore the options you are faced with – whatever it is you need to do at that point in your life and ministry.
The flexibility of MDC is a key feature. These conversations can be as short as 2 hours or as long as 3, depending on the depth and breadth of the topics you bring to the table. This adaptability ensures that your needs and concerns are given the time and attention they deserve.
Investing time in MDC can be a transformative experience. In the midst of life’s chaos, taking a moment to pause, reflect, and plan for the future can equip us to handle the challenges of ministry in a more effective and fulfilling way.
Iain M Goring
Ministerial Development Conversation
