If you’re thinking about entering the discernment process for ordained ministry or if you’ve already been selected for ordination training, the following will give you some information on what it might look like to train for ordination as part of the Winchester Licensed Ministry Training (LMT).
The summary of the annual, external examiner’s report of Winchester Licensed Ministry Training with the other three delivery centres that make up the South Central TEI affirms that:
“Winchester provides a fine theological education and formation for your students. You are enabling your students to be theologically informed, missionally orientated, reflective, engaged, pastorally sensitive and appreciative of what their several callings might mean.”
It’s worth noting that our training is contextual and is delivered part-time. Many of our candidates fit this alongside other full-time or part-time work.
What is Ordination Training?
Ordination training involves learning and reflecting; observing others in ministry and practising new skills; discussing, debating, and sharing the journey with others along the way; being stretched, accepting our imperfections and (hopefully!) learning how much we need to depend on the Holy Spirit! Training includes the following:
- Contextual training
- Theological training
- Worship-centred learning
It is important to remember that there are many essential roles in the life of the Church, and ordained priests and deacons make up a small part of this number. For more information on non-ordained roles, you can visit our Licensed Lay Ministry Training and Authorised Preaching Training pages.
Contextual Training
When it comes to ordination, being rooted in a local church context is key. This includes being supported by a training minister, whom you’ll meet with regularly. As part of your training, you’ll also be able to experience two other placements – a short missional placement, and in your final year, a longer placement to experience a different church tradition to your own. The missional placement could include a hospital chaplaincy, an outreach initiative, a Christian return-to-work scheme, or even an overseas trip to one of our Diocesan partner links, such as in Rwanda.
The idea is that your local ministry experience will complement the theological study, so that, over time, combining theory and practice in your ministry becomes second nature.
Theological Training
Stepping back into the world of study was a daunting venture into the unknown and yet, with the guidance of an immensely supportive staff team and the friendship of an eclectic and caring bunch of fellow students, I have found it to be stimulating, enriching and immensely helpful to my church ministry.
Former Ordinand at Winchester
Alongside contextual training, we hope to inspire you through high quality learning. Our theological training enables everyone to grow in a friendly and stimulating atmosphere, with helpful, welcoming tutors and additional support should you need it.
Ordination training is usually a three-year pathway, leading to a Diploma of Higher Education in Theology, Ministry and Mission (awarded through Durham University). See an example below:
If you have prior theological learning and/or ministerial experience, we’re able to offer a bespoke training programme that suits you best.
Our training is delivered using a blended approach of in-person and online study, with around three Saturdays of tutorials in person each term, Thursday evenings online and around three residentials per year including at Wycliffe, Oxford.
All students have access to a fully resourced online learning platform with an online library of books and articles to hand, as well as access to books from our library at Wolvesey. The new year begins together each September with a weekend residential in Winchester.
Worship-Centred Learning
Worship is at the heart of who we are as a community, and is a key priority in our gatherings – both in-person and online. As a former student said at the end of training:
All I know is that these new colleagues have become my closest friends and soul mates – and that I thank God daily for the absolute privilege of accompanying each other onwards – as we are together dazzled by the light of Christ…. the author and perfecter of our faith. We travel as pilgrims together, journeying, discerning, learning, obedient and faithful to the core – obedient to the call of Christ.
Most of our worship is student led, and leads to familiarity with both the ancient daily rhythms of prayer within the Church of England as well as celebrating contemporary expressions of worship. Special celebration services throughout the year include in-person gatherings at the end of each term and a much-loved annual service to celebrate the completion of the previous year’s students’ completion of training.
Here’s what some of students say about Ordination Training at Winchester…
Lorraine, an ordinand at Lovechurch in Bournemouth says ‘I would recommend anyone to do Winchester School of Mission, because the quality of the teaching is second to none, and I think just being able to learn in a creative environment with like-minded people, and people that also think differently to me, and just broaden my horizons to the breadth and depth of the Church of England.’
Lorraine also praised the pastoral support of WSM. ‘All my tutors have looked after me as a person – they’ve seen me as a person, beyond me as a student and beyond me as an ordinand, and for us as a family, that has just spoken volumes of how they just shine Jesus. They have loved us as a family so much over the last year. I don’t think I would have been able to study and keep going, and I don’t think I’d still be a student today, if it wasn’t for the pastoral support at Winchester School of Mission.’
Charlie, who fit his training around his day job in Winchester, said that he ‘came into training not really knowing where I might end up. I wanted to broaden my understanding of the Christian faith and [embrace] the opportunities […] as I’ve gone through the training and as I’ve gone through my formation.’
Charlie said he had ‘the opportunity to broaden my knowledge in a number of areas, which has boosted my confidence when delivering that Gospel message, but also facing some difficult questions that I certainly wouldn’t have been able to answer three years ago!’
If you have any questions about our Ordination training, please contact Helen O’Sullivan – helen.osullivan@winchester.anglican.org