Probationers and Early Years

Probationers and Early Years in Ministry group convenor

Hello, my name is Rev.Tom Read, and I’m delighted to serve the Sheffield Methodist District in its commitment to nurturing and supporting ministers as they begin – and grow into – their calling. I do this through my role as the District Probationers and Early Years Secretary. Through this role I seek to quietly but significantly underpin the life and health of ministry across the District.

Working closely with the District Chair, I help ensure that every minister on probation is properly supported and that all the practical arrangements for their probation are in place and working well. This includes keeping a careful eye on the detail, while never losing sight of the bigger picture: helping new ministers flourish in their vocation.

A key part of the role is bringing people together. The Secretary convenes the probationers’ group, shaping programmes that are relevant, supportive, and rooted in the realities of ministry. They also make sure that the right resources are available for training and development, enabling probationers to learn, reflect and grow with confidence.

The role also acts as an important bridge between people and structures – serving as a point of liaison between probationers, their circuits, and the District Chair. In doing so, the Secretary helps ensure good communication, shared understanding and timely support when challenges arise.

Among the more visible moments in the year is the organisation of the District Ordinand’s Testimony Service, a significant and celebratory milestone in the life of probationers and the wider District. Alongside this, the Secretary convenes the District Probationers’ Committee, helping to hold together the District’s collective responsibility for those in probation.

Beyond probation itself, the role has a wider and ongoing focus. Throughout the year, the Probationers and Early Years Secretary provides opportunities for ministers in the first ten years of their ministry to gather together, whether that is on Zoom, an annual quiet day or retreat or over a lunch. These gatherings offer space for encouragement, shared learning, honesty about the joys and pressures of ministry, and the building of supportive peer relationships.

I am so privileged to be a part of reflecting the District’s conviction that ministry is never meant to be undertaken alone. By investing in ministers at this crucial early stage, the Sheffield Methodist District continues to affirm its commitment to healthy, sustainable and hope-filled ministry for the long term.

If you would like further information or need to contact me about any of the above my email address is: thomas.read@methodist.org.uk