Learning for People Exploring Vocation
It’s exciting to find that our discipleship journey leads us to take our place in the mission and ministry of the Church. That calling to mission and ministry belongs to every baptised Christian but of course, there are distinct roles that each of us is called to play as part of the Body of Christ. In the Church of England and here in the Diocese of Ely we recognise some particular callings and train people for them.
Authorised Lay Ministry
It might be that you are beginning to sense a calling to a specific sort of ministry in your local church – such as a worship leader, or a children’s or pastoral minister – and are wondering about becoming an Authorised Lay Minister (ALM) either in a traditional church setting or in a pioneering context (in a new form of church or mission that complements our parish churches). The Diocese of Ely College of Mission and Ministry undertakes that training through ten-week courses we deliver ourselves through a blend of in-person and online learning. You can find out more about those learning resources by clicking on the link below, but please remember that your calling will need to have been discerned and confirmed by your local church before you can embark on that training.
Licensed Lay Ministry
Perhaps you are sensing a calling to take more of a leading role as a layperson in your parish or deanery, or in a new setting as a pioneer minister, and are considering Licensed Lay Ministry (LLM). Training for LLMs is overseen by the Diocese of Ely College of Mission and Ministry but delivered by our partner Theological Education Institutions (TEIs). These programmes are delivered over two years part-time by the Eastern Region Ministry Course (ERMC) and or two years full-time by Ridley Hall in Cambridge, depending on the particular specialism you will have as an LLM. Again, you can access information about that training below, but to join one of those courses, your vocation will need to have been discerned and affirmed both by your local parish and one of our discernment panels.
Ordained Ministry
It may be that you are wondering whether God might be calling you to serve the Church by seeking ordination as a priest or deacon to serve in a parish, as a chaplain in health, education or another public service, or as an Ordained Pioneer Minister (OPM). Training for ordained ministry is undertaken at one of the Church of England’s TEIs either here in Cambridgeshire or further afield. There is information about ordination training below. These programmes can be undertaken by those who have had their calling discerned and affirmed at one of the national Church’s Shared Discernment Panels, with discernment prior to ordination continuing throughout training.
The Religious Life
Finally, it might be that you are feeling drawn to living full-time in a resident community committed to a rhythm of prayer, work and fellowship and are considering the religious life. We don’t offer training for that, but our short courses on spirituality might help you explore the concept of a ‘rule of life’ and help you begin to try living in a more monastic way at home.
The Vocations Course
One of the ways you can explore these possibilities is by joining the Vocations Course, which is delivered remotely online in the Autumn, Spring and Summer terms. Click the link below for more details. To start a conversation about your calling, email vocations@elydiocese.org. Before you begin training for Authorised Lay Ministry, we will need you to have completed a recognised discipleship course, either our own Growing as a Disciple or an equivalent in your own parish. Prior to training for Licensed Lay Ministry or Ordained Ministry, you will need to undertake the Foundations for Ministry course from our partner ERMC, unless you have equivalent prior learning.
Learning Resources for Growth
As you continue to explore, you might want to consider joining some of the range of Learning Resources for Growth on topics including life with God, community engagement, church life and worship, and church organisation. These will be coming on stream over the next three years. Use the link below to see what training is in development.
Safeguarding
If you are involved in work in your church or in the neighbourhood on behalf of your church, with children or adults with vulnerabilities, there is training from our National and Diocesan safeguarding teams to enable you to ensure you keep yourself and others safe. This is required for everyone training for recognised ministry of any kind. Use the link below to access this training.
Check back here as we bring new courses online and let us know what courses you think would be helpful by emailing learning@elydiocese.org.
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