Self-Supporting Ordained Ministry
The information below is intended to support clergy engaged in Self-Supporting Ordained Ministry, as well as those who minister / work alongside them: stipendiary clergy, churchwardens, PCC members, etc.
There is also information for those who are exploring Self-Supporting Ordained Ministry, as a possible response to God's vocational call on their lives.
A brief note on terminology...
Although there is no nationally agreed definition of what an SSOM (Self-Supporting Ordained Minister) is, it is generally accepted that they are clergy who hold the Bishop's Licence, but do not receive a stipend. Therefore, they are not 'supported' by the Church: rather, they 'support' themselves through paid employment, and/or other forms of income, including pensions, benefits etc.
Although some SSMs work in paid employment, this does not make them an MSE (Minister in Secular Employment). An MSE is a clergyperson who is either paid by a secular organisation (such as a school or hospital) in order to carry out a role as an ordained minister; or who work in secular employment and their employer recognises and allows their functioning as clergy in that organisation. In both cases, the Bishop's Licence will reference the place of work
Is God Calling You?
Below is a brief Vocations Guide to Self-Supporting Ordained Ministry.
Vocations Guide to Self-Supporting Ordained Ministry
Click here to go to the Church of England website's pages on self-supporting ordained ministry
SSM Handbook
The SSM handbook below contains a wealth of information, advice and guidance to support SSMs and those who minister alongside them.
The template SSMs should use for their Ministry Agreement is below:
SSM Ministry Agreement Template
SSMs and Parish Vacancies
The guidance below details information and guidance SSMs, churchwardens and PCC members will find useful during the various stages of a parish vacancy.
SSMs and Parish Vacancies - Good Practice Guide
Below is an editable version of the 'Supplementary Ministry (and Training) Agreement' for use during a vacancy:
Supplementary MA for use during a Vacancy
SSMs Holding Incumbent Level Appointments
The information in the booklet below is designed to support SSMs who are considering applying for an incumbent level post. It contains a wealth of information to support them through the process, as well as offering practical advice once the appointment has been made.
SSM Incumbent Level Appointments Guide
SSMs who hold an incumbent level appointment (eg as a Priest-in-Charge) should use the Memorandum of Understanding template below:
SSM Memorandum of Understanding
SSMs Moving to PTO
The information in the booklet is designed to assist SSMs (from 65 years of age) make decisions about retirement and whether they wish to apply for PTO
All those in receipt of PTO who were previously SSM should use the Ministry Agreement template below, which is issued by Bishop's House:
Statement of Agreed Expectations Aug 2024
However, when meeting with Incumbents / your 'responsible person', it might be helpful to use the 'fuller' SSM Ministry Agreement (see below), as this could give greater clarity around expectations. This is because many SSMs upon receipt of PTO will often remain in the same Parish to which they were formally licensed.
Ministry Agreements
SSMs currently undergoing IME2 are not to use the template below, but should use the template found on the IME2 page.
Below is the Ministry Agreement template all licensed SSMs should use. This template should also be used by those in receipt of PTO, who were previously SSM:
SSM Ministry Agreement Template
For more information, advice, guidance or support about any of the above, or any other aspects of Self-Supporting Ordained Ministry, please get in touch with the Bishop's Adviser for Self Supporting Ordained Ministry via Church House 01928 643428 or lyndon.bannon@chester.anglican.org