Clergy Terms of Service

Support for Clergy and stipendiary Licensed Lay Workers

Clergy Terms of Service (CTS) is the term for a package of changes made to the way clergy and Licensed Lay Workers (LLWs) within the Church of England are deployed, which came into effect on 1 February 2011.

Clergy and stipended LLWs benefit already from many of these provisions, but the CTS legislation ensures that all holding the Bishop’s Licence enjoy the same rights and responsibilities, and that support and accountability are balanced. These changes are a natural evolution of current best practice, and are tools to enhance the wellbeing of clergy and LLWs, and to create an environment in which individuals flourish and are able to develop their God-given gifts and skills.

Statements of Particulars were sent to those transferring during February, whilst newly appointed clergy will also benefit from a Role Description to which they will have had access prior to interview. These Role Descriptions follow a competency-based model worked out following Focus Groups of clergy and laity held with New Testament scholar Dr Paula Gooder in 2010. 

The Diocesan Clergy Handbook has been re-written to act as an online source for Diocesan policies and essential background information.

As more material becomes available, these web pages will be built so that you will be able to find information on how CTS may affect you. Meanwhile, here is a link below to the national Common Tenure web pages: www.commontenure.org. 

We encourage you to give feedback on this legislation and on how you think these changes may best be implemented.

Please find more information in the 'Resources' box on the left (below 'In this section').