ACR Programme 2024 – 2028
St Luke’s Advancing Clergy Reflection Programme is an ambitious, 
five-year initiative to develop greater clergy wellbeing support in 24 Church of England dioceses and 6 within the Church in Wales.
The Henry Smith Foundation has generously funded this pastoral supervision programme. In line with our mission as the Church’s independent evidence-based wellbeing advocate, the Foundation has also included financing researchers from York St. John & Bournemouth Universities to provide external evaluation, building upon evidence to support a change of culture across the Church.
What are we delivering?
This initiative supports and encourages dioceses to embed pastoral supervision into their practice as part of the long-term commitment to those serving.
Further to the Church of England’s ‘Covenant for Clergy Care & Wellbeing’, our programme helps new to mid-career leaders in parish ministry and chaplaincy, through 1:1 pastoral supervision and reflective practice groups.
We will provide 650 clergy with the opportunity to reflect on their ministry and the impact their work has on them through individual pastoral supervision sessions.
It really is a bit of a lifeline, the programme. I do hope the church adopts it on a wider level , it’s something that has been really lacking and is so needful, especially as clergy workload and stress levels increase and the role seems to become ever more complex. Thank you so much Mother V, Team Vicar
To support this, we are training over 100 new pastoral supervisors in partnership with the Association for Pastoral Supervision and Education approved training partners – Wesley House, Spurgeon’s College and the Institute of Pastoral Counselling & Supervision.
Alongside the programme, we are establishing St Luke’s Community of Practice for clergy wellbeing. This includes continuing development opportunities, research dissemination and masterclasses.
Our final objective is to ensure that this valuable resource is sustained, supporting dioceses from the outset of initial conversations to consider how long-term use of reflective practices can be incorporated into ongoing wellbeing strategies.
We believe this work enables clergy to flourish, leading to a healthier church and ultimately transforming communities.
How can I get involved?
Get in touch on ACR@stlukesforclergy.org.uk to have a conversation with St Luke’s, whether that is about supporting your diocese, training to be a pastoral supervisor, joining our books as a qualified facilitator or you are clergy looking for support. We hope you will be able join us in some capacity, as we all work to advance clergy reflection and the wellbeing of those who minister to us.
The numbers
A 5-year programme
Training 100+ new pastoral supervisors
Facilitating 75 reflective practice groups
Collaborating with 30 dioceses in England and Wales
Providing 650 ministers with 1:1 pastoral supervision
I have started meeting with my Pastoral Supervisor and I confirm that this is a great benefit to me in my ministry. I am able to take an aspect of ministry I am currently experiencing and with the help of the PS explore the different facets of it and reach a greater sense of clarity and understanding. This opportunity has been hugely beneficial in allowing my ministry to feel more effective, which also results in an increase of wellbeing and purpose. This has proved to be a really valuable tool for me Father Glenn, Parish Priest, West Midlands