Dan Clark, training at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, comments:
If you and your DDO decide that residential training is most appropriate, you will go on to select a theological college which best suits your training needs.
If you want to train with a non-residential course, you will enrol with the regional course for your area.
If you are training for Ordained Local Ministry, you will train with the local diocesan scheme.
All training institutions will arrange an interview before offering you a place.
Theological Colleges
There are 11 residential colleges in England and one each in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Students live in college for the 2 or 3 years of their training (though in some institutions it is possible to live in commuting distance of college).
Full-time residential training gives the opportunity to dedicate your time to academic and theological study within the context of a worshipping Christian community. However, practical experience does not get neglected - colleges have a system of weekly placements, long summer placements (what else are you going to do with those long summer hols?!) and college missions.
Colleges tend to have more distinctive identities than courses, be it in terms of theological persuasion or status of student training (single or married etc.), although virtually all are happy to accept any student recommended by a bishop. Many of the colleges offer exchange schemes to different parts of the world, and many also have independent students studying theology for other forms of ministry as well.
Dan Clark, training at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, comments:
"Spending two or three years at college can be great fun - there is plenty of opportunity to establish deep friendships and have a laugh, as well as being able to study with all the facilities (libraries, computers etc.) easily to hand. Theology and ministry can be discussed over the dinner table and at the pub, as well as in the classroom.
"I particularly appreciate the opportunities for placements in a variety of settings (churches and elsewhere) around Oxford (and further afield), and the chance to work together with staff and other students in churches running services and missions. It is a great privilege to work alongside other Christians as we grow and learn together in our service of Christ."
Of course, residential training has its problems as well - it can become too introspective, and the chances are raised that you lose contact with the 'real world'. Many also find the beginning 'de-skilling' - they've been in a recognised position in home or church, and now they're just a student like everyone else. But if you're aware of them, these problems are easily surmountable.
Non-Residential Courses
There are 12 regional non-residential courses in England. They are designed for people who remain in employment during training or have caring responsibilities. Many students will be training for non-stipendiary ministry, though some students training for stipendiary ministry will also choose this method. Non-residential courses are open to people who are aged over 30. Training usually takes three years.
Formal training will include residential weekends (perhaps 6 a year), a residential summer school, weekly classes or tutor groups, study days, parish placement. Academic assessment will be through essays and assignments.
Meg Gilley, training with the North East Oecumenical Course, says:
"I am really enjoying training with NEOC. I like the way that training seeks to integrate my work, my family and the other aspects of my life into training for ordained ministry. It helps me to think theologically about all aspects of my life and not just the holy bits.
"The students are very diverse, from different backgrounds and occupations and different church traditions. That helps to enrich my experience. Our course is ecumenical, with Methodist and URC students and teachers. This is also a blessing.
"People used to refer to non-residential training as part-time. Don’t you believe it! Everything you do becomes part of your training. It is very much full-time.
"What are the problems? The juggling act of trying to respond to so many different demands. There is also quite a lot of travelling as our course covers such a large geographical area."
Ordained Local Ministry Schemes
There are 15 OLM schemes at present, though these are increasing each year as new schemes are approved.
Cliff Latimer, training with the Ordained Local Ministry Course of Lichfield in Staffordshire, describes his course:
The Lichfield course has as its prerequisite the two year "Bishop’s Certificate Course". Following this course candidates for Local Ministry having been accepted through a selection conference commence a 12 month common syllabus for Readers, Pastoral Carers, OLMs etc. Towards the end of the year the OLM candidates go forward to a local Ministry Division of The Archbishops' Council selection conference. If selected the candidates then undertake the next 18 month part of the course which is specifically for OLMs.
Because the OLM students come from all parts of the Diocese (which extends from Oswestry in East, Tamworth in the West, Mow Cop in the North and Walsall in the South), we meet at a different location each term to even out the travelling time for the cohort. The training consists of one evening per week in each term, about one weekend per month, and a one-week Summer School.
The workload is pretty high, with most evenings spent working on the homework for the next session. So we are constantly living in an environment where theological reflection not only takes in our own lives at home and in the parish, but also our working environment. Sometimes these bring up difficult conflicts of interest, but this will be part of our ministry for many years to come, so we all consider it a valuable part of the training program.
We all started this course thinking that it would be a challenging learning experience. It has certainly been that, but what came as a surprise to many of us was the way that our own thought processes and life style would be moulded by the material in the course and the work that we are set to complete on our own at home or at work. We will certainly be twelve very changed people by next Peter-tide.
Variations
Some institutions train both residential and non-residential students together, for example the Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church (TISEC).
Special training programmes may be agreed by The Ministry Division of The Archbishops' Council to suit individual needs.
Consideration is being given to developing mixed-mode training, incorporating residential and non-residential elements.
Many courses train people from different denominations. Some courses, particularly OLM schemes, train people for lay (e.g. readers, pastoral assistants, etc.) and ordained ministry together and may also include people who are seeking the form of ministry to which God is calling them.