Having completed my 4 meetings with the vocations team member my information was passed onto Blackburn diocese's diocesan director of ordinands (DDO) who then contacted me and arranged a meeting at my house so he could talk to my wife and myself.
He came around on a Monday night and after my pet cat Bonnie had decided his paperwork was the perfect seat we got down to business.
He explained to me exactly what the next steps are. First I will meet with a member of the DDO team and explore the selection criteria in depth with them. Then, when that team member was happy to do so I'd be sent to the Bishop Phillip, the bishop of Burnley to undergo further examination. At the moment it is unclear what that will involve as he has only recently become bishop and has yet to set in stone decisions around ordination, though chances are I am going to be the guinea pig for them.
In the past the diocese has run its own mini Bishops advisory panel (BAP) before sending candidates to the real BAP.
Once I'd got through the three day BAP I would then begin training at the college of my choice, with the options of living there full time/commuting if it is a traditional theological college or participating in the newer St Mellitus course which functions much like a teacher training PGCE. You do most of your learning 'on the job' and have one day a weeks reflection at university. Whichever I choose I would be there for 3 years and would get a BA (Hons) Theology degree.
After that it is 3 or 4 years as a curate, studying under an incumbent in the diocese. This involves taking on many of the duties of a vicar as well as reflecting on my learning in essays and working on specific areas as part of the training course, ultimately building a portfolio to prove I meet the criteria for ordination. Should I succeed at that I would be awarded a masters in Theology but much more importantly I would become an ordained minister and be able to find my own place to become incumbent!
He answered our questions regarding funding and living expenses. The diocese calculates how much it will provide you with to ensure you have a roof over your head and food in your bellies, it also covers the cost of training and any travel expenses incurred.
He also reassured my wife that as the vicar's wife there is no longer the expectation she be heavily involved in the church, it is up to her what she wants to do and upto me to ensure the congregation respect that.
It was a very pleasant meeting and culminated with him passing my information on to his team member who would get in touch with me shortly.
He came around on a Monday night and after my pet cat Bonnie had decided his paperwork was the perfect seat we got down to business.
He explained to me exactly what the next steps are. First I will meet with a member of the DDO team and explore the selection criteria in depth with them. Then, when that team member was happy to do so I'd be sent to the Bishop Phillip, the bishop of Burnley to undergo further examination. At the moment it is unclear what that will involve as he has only recently become bishop and has yet to set in stone decisions around ordination, though chances are I am going to be the guinea pig for them.
In the past the diocese has run its own mini Bishops advisory panel (BAP) before sending candidates to the real BAP.
Once I'd got through the three day BAP I would then begin training at the college of my choice, with the options of living there full time/commuting if it is a traditional theological college or participating in the newer St Mellitus course which functions much like a teacher training PGCE. You do most of your learning 'on the job' and have one day a weeks reflection at university. Whichever I choose I would be there for 3 years and would get a BA (Hons) Theology degree.
After that it is 3 or 4 years as a curate, studying under an incumbent in the diocese. This involves taking on many of the duties of a vicar as well as reflecting on my learning in essays and working on specific areas as part of the training course, ultimately building a portfolio to prove I meet the criteria for ordination. Should I succeed at that I would be awarded a masters in Theology but much more importantly I would become an ordained minister and be able to find my own place to become incumbent!
He answered our questions regarding funding and living expenses. The diocese calculates how much it will provide you with to ensure you have a roof over your head and food in your bellies, it also covers the cost of training and any travel expenses incurred.
He also reassured my wife that as the vicar's wife there is no longer the expectation she be heavily involved in the church, it is up to her what she wants to do and upto me to ensure the congregation respect that.
It was a very pleasant meeting and culminated with him passing my information on to his team member who would get in touch with me shortly.
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