Bishop's Permission to Preach

The BPP Programme

BPP is undergoing a review and is not therefore on offer for the academic year September 2024 to July 2025. However, we expect to open again for applications in spring 2025 for a September 2025 start.  If you wish to register interest for the September 2025 programme, please contact Wendy Atkinson wendy.atkinson@winchester.anglican.org to receive next year’s dates when they are released.

What is BPP?

As a Diocese we want to equip members of our church communities to live the mission of Jesus   and to take the opportunity to share the love of Christ through the ministry of preaching.  This programme is a way of recognising and affirming the preaching gifts of lay church members.  The year-long programme provides the opportunity for training in biblical studies from tutors on the Winchester Licensed Ministry Training team as well as through participation in supervised regional preaching teams.  It seeks to equip laity so that they “with care and sincerity can minister the word of truth  for the glory of God and to the edification of the people” Canon B18.3.

Pat Wooten - BPP Testimony Video

Pat Wooten BPP

BPP Open Evenings

If you are interested in finding out more about the BPP programme, we hold open evenings each year.

At these open evenings, you will be able to hear from a previous participant, hear about the course content and the commitment involved and there will be plenty of opportunity to ask any questions you may have.  Attending the open evening does not commit you to go on to take the training.

The BPP programme has been created to support the work of benefices and deaneries by equipping lay people to preach in their home parishes on a regular basis.  Currently, lay members should preach no more than once a quarter with the agreement and supervision of the incumbent, unless they are LLMs or LLWs.

No, but you do need to be able to say yes to the following:

  • Are you in good standing with your church community?
  • Have your church leadership recognised your preaching potential?
  • Do you have a love for God’s word?
  • Do you have a desire to build up God’s people through teaching and preaching?
  • Are you prepared to step outside of your own church to preach across a benefice or deanery?
  • What evidence can you bring to demonstrate the above?

The BPP programme is a big commitment, particularly of your time.  There are tutorials, study days and of course private home study, written assignments and practical preaching.  Please think and pray about this.

It is likely you will need to drop some of your regular commitments to make time to study.  How do you feel about that?

  • Are you prepared to commit to attend all tutorial dates and study days?  Can you honestly fit studying in with your other life commitments?  If not, maybe this is not quite the right time for you.
  • Are you comfortable with uncomfortable ideas?  Studying theology can open your eyes to issues you may never have come across in devotional study of the Bible.
  • How are you at essay writing?  You will be expected to complete written assignments to first year undergraduate level. Study skills training will be provided.
  • Do you have a computer and can you use it?   Much of the material you will use and the work you submit will be done online.  You cannot complete BPP without access to a computer and the skills to use it.

Speak to your incumbent and PCC because you will need their support to take this training.  There is a cost involved – this is £390 for 2023-4, but may be subject to change. Your PCC will have to cover this cost.

Contact us to register your interest and attend our open evening to find out more and ask your questions.  This will take place in March 2024.  We will advertise the date when it is arranged.

We have a limited number of places available on the BPP programme and we expect applications to outnumber places.  There is therefore a selection process in place.

The timetable is:

  • Application window is open April to May
  • Interviews take place in June
  • The programme begins in September and runs until the following July.

Please contact wendy.atkinson@winchester.anglican.org to register your interest, for further programme information and an application form.