Starting training for ordination in the CofE

[MrsTulip]

As promised new thread now based on training over the next three years.

I'm actually feeling ok about it all. I think it just took me a very long time to settle into a very different way of life, but the support from college staff and my formation group has been brilliant.
I will stay in the same placement next year and the year after but this summer and next summer I will have alternative placements for a block of roughly 6 weeks so this year as I'm placed in a very affluent area I will be going to a very socially deprived estate that has a church plant that does a lot of outreach stuff -really looking forward to it. Not sure about the following summer but at the moment I fancy some kind of chaplaincy,

So a busy few weeks with the college residential week and all the Holy Week and Easter stuff- thoroughly enjoyed it all though. Will be having tomorrow and Tuesday off to recover, then back in parish on Wednesday.

Happy Easter @MrsTulip x

Happy Easter to you too xx

Happy Easter! It's good to see training is going well, it all hoe's by so fast! I'm just about to start my last term, the last two years have flown by.

Wow that has gone fast. Praying for you as you prepare to be ordained (please feel free to message me a photo of your ember card -but only if you want to!)

I've tried to message a copy of my ember card but don't seem to be able to share photos privately and I don't really want it on a public forum like this. Will I find you in an ordinands group on Facebook to message you that way.

So another busy few weeks as I'm also involved with Girlguiding and we and our annual sleepover and a celebration of my 20 years long service award.
4 assignments were submitted on Thursday and I have another two due in a week on Thursday.
We had our last residential of the year at weekend which was a brilliant celebration (although a tad emotional) for our leavers who were anointed with oil by the dean and had their stoles blessed by the chaplain.
Off on alternative placement in 3 weeks time for 6 weeks and only 12 more learning sessions in college left for the year!
But now I need to get ready as I'm off to do a home visit for one of our parishioners soon.

Do you get a break over the summer or is it full steam ahead?

I've booked a couple of weeks off and there won't be any learning sessions but will still have assignments that need writing and things going on as usual in parish.

Just wanted to say thank you for posting on this thread and also the discernment process one.
I'm currently in discernment and hoping to start studying Sept 2026 if I get through all the panels. I've had so many meetings and stage one panel will be this Sept, stage two next Spring.
Reading about the training gives me a lot of hope as it sounds like an amazing journey to be on. I just feel like I'm in a neverending process currently.

Yes I can feel like a never ending process but when I was looking back and reflecting on stuff last week, I realised that next week it will be a year since I went to BAP. It can be challenging at times but we have to remember 1) that the process is long for a very good reason and 2) trust the process.
Holding you in prayer as you continue on this amazing journey.

My discernment process was long and at the time really frustrating, but totally worth it as I'm coming to the end of my training which hasn't been all plain sailing. I'm now just over a week away from leaving and moving for curacy with ordination at the end of the month.
Prayers for you as you move towards stage 1 and selection panel. It's a long journey but totally worth it.

Thank you for both of your replies.
Reading through your post after Stage One Mrs Tulip- it seemed like it all got quite busy, so I will also try and enjoy the slower times now.

Congratulations on both of your journeys, and prayers for both of you as you head towards ordination. Exciting times!

So busy Sunday today, lay deaconed for the 8am BCP holy communion service, flew solo at the 9:30 family service, then led (up to the peace) the 11 am parish communion service followed by lay deaconing a baptism.
Strange how much can change in 12 months.
This time 12 months ago I had not long arrived at the premier inn ahead of BAP the next day. Today I'm embracing robes, sung Eucharists, choral music, coffee mornings and pastoral visits.
On Tuesday I will be off on short alternative placement, in a church plant on an estate with high levels of unemployment, deprivation and numerus social needs -looking forward to it!

It's lovely to hear about your journey and growing confidence. I'm so pleased for you 😀x

I hope your alternative placement goes well and is spiritually fulfilling.

A question from a priest who trained years ago. I can see that you are doing lots of things on your placements. How much study are you doing on the Bible, theology, psychology, liturgy, ecclesiology, mission and church history? Do you get a BA at the end of your training? Also where is formation in all of this? Are you expected to have a spiritual director and regularly practice theological reflection?

Way back when I was trained there we were told that there were three things we needed to have. These were knowing, doing and being. The knowing part was what college was about. The doing part was for curacy and placements where you put it all into practice in a safe place. The last and most important part was being, which is growth into priesthood and relationship with Christ.

Learning to lead worship in a placement is really important as it begins the process of inhabiting the role. We did much less of this when I was trained and that’s a really good change. I just wonder how much there is in training these days to give ordinands the tools to deal with the complexities of being ordained and that identity which is 24/7, rather than the hour or so leading a service on Sunday.

Not critical, but curious.

That's really interesting Mostlydrinkstea.
I have a slightly distant finger in the pie as my DD is starting training in September and I just want to know what she'll be doing and what the stresses on her will be.

So I train mixed mode. One day a week in lectures - 1 module taught AM and 1 PM, this will lead to a BA in Theology Mission and Ministry. Then we are expected to do self led study (linked to modules) 2 days a week. Then there are 2 week days in parish and Sundays in parish with one day a week off. Formation is woven through all we do, even in our private life although there are things like preaching, pastoral care, children's ministry and the likes that we have input for over 5 residential weekends, 1 residential week and 2 formation days.

Oh and I also have a spiritual director, for theological reflection we also keep a reflective learning journal which has to be submitted every term

Mixed mode training was just starting as I finished training. It makes sense to get some practice under your belt as you train. This really helps activist learners. It gives those who struggle with reflective practice more material to work with.

The danger is that the foundation of theology, prayer and study are seen as slightly secondary to the doing of ministry. Ordained ministry is very diverse and you can’t practice everything. What you need to be able to develop a good solid reflective practice so that whatever variation comes your way you have tools in your toolkit to respond. I suspect that MM also feeds into the cult of busy which has burnt out many clergy.

The most important questions for any clergy are: where is God in this? And which member of the parish in the winter has a nice warm house and would like a visit as I can’t afford to put on my own hearting on a stipend?

As Im someone who learns best from doing I'm finding MM really beneficial. Our college gave us a lot of input on theological reflection, reflective practice, our first module was foundations for theology and our college day (and residential days) starts and ends with prayer. I also have a spiritual director who helps me keep good habits with prayer as well a placement supervisor who is hot on prayer and I pray with him in a variety of ways 5/7 days (so not college day or day off).
Our lead tutor for formation and our formation group tutor encourage us to always be asking ourselves where is God in all this, how can I keep in step with what the Holy Spirit is doing in me and around me and who am I becoming in Christ in my present circumstances?
I do have to be really on it with my self study days as the temptation is to do other household jobs.
I think a lot of it comes down to having the self discipline and a good placement supervisor.

Been in alternative placement two weeks now and loving it.
I didn’t know when this placement was agreed that the retired OLM from my sending church has PTO and is linked to the placement, but we will leading and preaching together on Sunday just like old times.
It will be a joy and privilege to minister alongside her again.

Assignment grades back -all fine.
Now to start the extra reading ready for the next lot.
Can't believe we have our last learning sessions of the year in college on Monday, of course self study, reflections, assignments and placements will continue over the summer (although |I have booked a week off).
Can't believe I've done a year already!