Training for Ministry in the Methodist Church

Queen’s is recognised and approved by the Methodist Conference to prepare women and men for ordained ministries within the Methodist Church. It is one of five core training institutions in England, and one of three which are able to prepare presbyteral and diaconal candidates in full-time and residential training. All its programmes are validated under the educational validation process for the churches as well as by the University of Birmingham.

When the Handsworth College in Birmingham united with the Anglican Queen’s College in 1970, it brought a long and distinguished history and tradition of Methodist ministry and mission activity. With this background, and its present resources, Queen’s is well placed to meet the challenges and opportunities of ministry in the Methodist Church for the 21st century.

Training for Presbyteral or Diaconal Ministry

For those who have been accepted as student ministers for presbyteral or diaconal ministry, Queen’s offers training within a community of learning that draws on two forms:

1. Day-time, ‘college style’ programmes

This form of training is usually full-time and residential (or part-residential) for two years.

Evening and weekend, ‘course style’ programmes.

This form of training is always part-time where your existing employment or home and church continue to be a vital context for the exploration, testing and practice of ministry. This form of training is normally for two years.

At Queen’s we represent the breadth of Methodism with students and staff coming from many different streams within Methodism. The presence of senior and experienced Methodist ministers from the wider world church who are sponsored for study within the Selly Oak Centre for Mission Studies means that foundation training and pre-ordination training is always set within the context of the world-wide family of Methodism.

There are normally five Methodist members of staff as well as others who count Methodism an essential part of their tradition within united churches or who are recognised and regarded or authorised ministers. One tutor is the Methodist Tutor with Oversight Responsibility, who has a special role in the oversight of Methodist students and in liaising with the connexion. The Oversight Committee, made up of ordained and lay members of the Church, has a particular role in ensuring that there is oversight, support and care for Methodist students during their training.