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 If the Church recognises your sense of call to be a
priest, you will be given training before you are
ordained—then you will continue to receive training as a
curate [glossary], and there will be opportunities for
further development throughout your ministry.
The
purpose of training is to equip you for a ministry in
which you are continually learning. Quite rightly, it’s
a demanding experience.
Throughout their working life,
each priest experiences considerable growth in their
skills, experiences and abilities. Each setting and
situation calls upon and teaches different skills.
DURING THE DISCERNMENT PERIOD
You’ll be
encouraged to do some theological learning and explore
styles of ministry during the discernment phase. This
may involve reading, a placement in a new parish, or
even accredited learning via a college, course or
diocesan programme.
IF YOU’VE BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR TRAINING AT A BAP
You
will need to consult your diocesan director of ordinands (DDO) before applying to a theological
college or course. They will help you find the best
place to suit your training needs, previous experience
and family commitments.THEOLOGICAL TRAINING
Training usually lasts two or three years, depending on
your previous academic training and age. It can be
full-time and residential, part-time and
non-residential, or a mixture of the two.
- Full-time college courses: The Church of England
has a variety of theological colleges, which offer
full-time training courses. For the most part,
training is residential.
- Part-time college courses: The Church of England also has a national
network of theological courses offering part-time study.
Candidates starting to train part-time are normally over the age of 30, and are not required
to move house or change job during training. Training takes place through a combination
of weeknights, weekends and summer or Easter schools.
- Mixed mode: People training for ordained pioneer ministry will do a mixture
of residential and non-residential training, often whilst being deployed as a lay worker in a local church.
- Diocesan training schemes: Candidates for ordained ministry who will be deployed
locally might train on the diocese’s training scheme. The training is similar to a
course, but with greater emphasis on ministry in the local context and on the development
of the local ministry team.
PAYING FOR YOUR TRAINING
Candidates will never be prevented from doing their
training through lack of funding. Training grants are
available from central church funds, and your diocesan
director of ordinands will explain in detail
how your training will be financed.
FORMATION AS A MINISTER
Training does include formal education, such
as learning about theology and the Bible. But it’s also
about formation: growing to reflect the priestly aspects
of Christ, and learning to be disciplined about prayer.
Formation as a minister involves:
- growth in your faith in Christ
- a deepening of your personal
relationship with God and learning to be disciplined
about prayer and spiritual reading
- acquiring the
skills you need to be a minister, and understanding how
they might be used as you share the gospel within the
culture of the world around you
- awareness of the sort of person you are, and how you
relate to others.
CURACY
Part of your training,
and your formation as a minister, is working as a
curate - usually for around four years. Curates work with
the incumbent at the church to which they
have been appointed as they continue with their training
‘on the job’, and also meet regularly with others who
were ordained at the same time, to support each other
and to continue to study (this is called initial
ministerial education, or IME). Further training
opportunities - and grants to pursue them - are available
throughout a priest’s working life.
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is a great way to explore your calling. Check out our list of
recommended reading, or ask around!
Read the stories of some young people going through
ordination training...
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