Starting training for ordination in the CofE

[MrsTulip]

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

Everyone's training is different and depends on various, personal factors. I'm training mixed mode so one day in college, 2 self study, 2 weekdays plus the Sunday in parish and a rest day. It works really well for me. I'm training for incumbent level and doing 3 years training as part of my training is doing a BA.

Booked some time off this week (F, Sa, Su) so did some baking yesterday, off to a girl guiding leaders event today and going out for lunch tomorrow.

So officially at the half way point of three years of theological college! Although there have been some big challenges and changes since Christmas, I'm still feeling this is the right path.
Had some family time this week whilst it's half term including an overnight stay in London with DS.
Strange to think that in 6 months time half of my formation group will be ordained.

Congratulations on your half way mark, Mrs Tulip. That's to be applauded.

So had to have a new placement and started it today. Was nice to be in the congregation after a few busy weeks, and everyone was very welcoming. Also need to start making plans for my short alternative placement over the summer term. Then after Easter we have our college residential week.

I've been quietly following with interest @MrsTulip, my own Dad did the training many years ago when I was little, so it's interesting to have an insight to what the training involved.

What kind of alternative placements can you do?

We can choose from a wide range of things including church plants, BMOs, chaplaincy (hospital, education, sport, airport, waterways, railways, prison). Some people who are in evangelical contexts for their permanent contextual placement spend time in a Anglo-Catholic context and vice-versa. Others who are deprived areas go to more affluent contexts and again vice-versa.
Last year I spent time in a church plant on socially deprived estate and whilst I don't think I will be a church planter I loved every second of it and would consider estates ministry in the future.

So had a couple of weeks to settle into new placement and get to know people, seems to be going well and I will deacon at tomorrows service (actually need to give alb a quick run through the wash and iron as it's not been worn in a while).

So how is this placement different from your sending church context and what are you hoping to learn? I went to a conservative church for a long placement which was really interesting. They didn’t allow me to do anything as I’m a woman but I learnt a lot. Then I was in a hospice for three months. Loved it. I hope your placement challenges and enriches you.

Thank you.
It's different in that one of the two churches is more Anglo-Catholic in its theology and that in addition to the incumbent we also have a retired priest with PTO and a non stipendery minister, plus a priest who is licensed to the parishes as missioner to the Farsi speaking community. I hope to learn more about occasional offices especially weddings and funerals as well as dealing with aging buildings/ grants for aging buildings.

So residential week went well. Got a residential weekend next weekend, which is when we will say goodbye to half of my formation group, as they are on a two-year pathway and will be ordained at the end of June. Can't believe how fast we are heading towards the end of another academic year.

After spending some time getting to know everyone and how the two churches do things I led my first in this placement KS2 collective worship earlier this week and preached this morning (it was lovely because some of my friends from college came along to support me). I have some college input sessions for starting my independent learning project (dissertation) in a couple of weeks, followed by 2 assignments that need finishing and submitting, the final residential of the college and a week long placement with the hospital chaplain all before the end of the month! And then that will be another year finished! Praying for all those who will being ordained this Petertide.

This is such a busy time of year when training, I hope you get some time to rest too over the summer.

Yes, I have a week of leave booked for mid July and a week towards the end of August.

And that's college learning sessions for this academic year finished!
Had a great week last week shadowing the hospital multifaith chaplaincy team followed by a friends ordination at the weekend. It was an amazing joy filled service.
Placement and reflective learning journal are ongoing over the summer and independent learning project proposal to submit, but also a couple of weeks leave booked.
Curacy paperwork and talks should also be starting soon.

Enjoy the break from college and your holiday. Prayers as you begin to explore curacy options. Which ordinations were you at? I went to the deacons ordination at Blackburn and then my own this weekend just gone.

I went to Leeds deacons at Bradford cathedral on Saturday.
Thanks for your prayers as I begin to explore and be open to where / what God is calling me to for IME 2

Congratulations on getting this far and enjoy the break. I remember this summer at the end of year 2 as a really tough one. There were very few curacies in my sending diocese and I was released early as the bishops knew I was looking for an stipendary (paid) urban curacy and there wasn’t one. If you are on the self supporting track it is much easier. Discernment is still needed for a decent fit in curacy but it doesn’t come with the stress of trying to find a paid curacy that works for you and your family. I was very fortunate and got a really good one in a team ministry in a nearby diocese where my children could commute back to their schools.

If you will accept some advice from someone who has been in ministry for a very long time….

Have a look at the jobs advertised in the Church Times https://jobs.churchtimes.co.uk . It’s a bit thin at the moment but unless you are going down the self supporting ministry route and can fit into a local church, you will be applying for jobs before you know it.

Look at what is out there. What calls to you? What experience do you need to allow that to happen? The harsh reality is that at the end of curacy you will be competing for jobs with people like me who have 20 years experience under their belt. There is a shortage of clergy but it is regional. I’m rural now and we have a vacancy rate of 20%. This is not true in the cities that I’ve worked in where there are far more curates than posts at the end of IME2.

Hopefully your area will be different. I’ve worked in four dioceses now and the placement of curates has been tricky. I’m in the south though. Good luck!

My DD has just completed her first year of two.
I know she's having doubts about going into ministry, for a range of reasons, none of them to do with her faith.
Prayers for her and any advice would be welcomed.

Hope all goes well in your last year before ordination Op and praying for the person whose DD has doubts.

Thank you this is good advice. I'm hoping to get a stipend and those that have applied for it have managed to get placed the last couple of years so will have to wait and see what I'm offered. I'd like to stay fairly local as our 12 year old is very settled at school (which wasnt the case at primary). Will keep praying, listening to God and discerning

Prayers for your daughter.