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<p>All ministers on common tenure – whether women or men - have the right to request
time off work or adjustments to be made to the duties of their office in order to
care for a dependant. As clergy office holders do not have defined hours of work,
they already have greater flexibility than most employees over how they carry out
their duties, which can often enable them to carry out their duties whilst caring
for dependants without the need to request time off or adjustments.</p><p>As office
holders, clergy are responsible for arranging their own cover while they are absent
for any reason, (although the area dean or a member of the Bishop’s staff may assist
clergy to arrange such cover where necessary). Support for caring for dependants and
assistance with cover is not provided for centrally, as arrangements for this are
best made locally – whether within the parish, or arranged with the assistance of
the area dean or archdeacon. The Church Commissioners do not, therefore, have details
of the level of support provided locally.</p><p>Women clergy are also supported at
diocesan level by Deans of Women’s Ministry whose role is to promote the full inclusion
of women in their diocese at every level of church life. As well as supporting female
clergy with caring responsibilities, they are advocates for the ministry of women
clergy in the diocese, listen to ordained women, identify the gifts, skills and potential
among women clergy, and encourage these to be developed, used and fulfilled.</p>
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