Programmes focusing on residential weekends and evening classes

This formational pathway is shaped around residential weekends and week long periods of residence, together with weekly classes.  Within this pathway there are six formational building blocks which provide the context for the taught programmes. 

1) Six residential weekends each year

These residential events gather a year group and are nomrally held on campus, providing deep opportunities for the integration of heart, mind and hands, or being, knowing and doing.  Along with module teaching, each weekend contains the following formational components:

• A community meeting and small reflection groups
• Shared worship throughout the weekend
• Meals and time for relaxation

2) Weekly evening classes

Classes run on Tuesday evenings, from 6.45 – 9.30.  These classes cover a broad range of biblical and theological disciplines, and are preceded by a meal (from 6.00) and Foundation Worship (from 5.00).  Wherever possible ministerial candidates on this pathway are encouraged to attend Foundation Worship.

3) An annual Easter School

The first Easter school is only for the first year group and includes an experience of the Triduum (Maunday Thursday to Easter Sunday).  The second and third Easter Schools are shared by those in their second and third years.

4) Work based learning in your home church

The expectations for this work are set and agreed in discussion with the home church minister.

5) Placements and attachments

A church based placement, in a church of your denomination, is undertaken in the second year.  In the third year you do an attachment that widens the experience of mission and ministry in contexts beyond the congregation.  This may be in a chaplaincy setting or in work-based environments where there is potential for effective oversight.

6) Personal tutorial oversight and support

You are allocated a personal tutor whose task is to focus on your ministerial formation.  This enables the personal tutor to take the lead in preparing the end of year summative report which goes to the relevant people and bodies in your sponsoring church.