The Ministry Education Centre is committed to ministry formation - to equipping women and men for lay or ordained ministry in the Anglican Church, and to explore their Christian vocation.
Ministry Education
"A Theological Culture for Ministry Education"
Ministry Education is centred within our practices as a learning community of faith. There are three strands:
- Theological education – learn to reflect theologically through the study of the scriptures, theology and ethics, the Church’s history, its ministry and mission and pastoral care.
- Christian spirituality – learn about personal growth and ministry, nurture your relationship with God through prayer and worship, enjoy an annual retreat, and join with other members of the College community life and parish and in supervised field placements.
- Ministry praxis – develop and nurture ability to work at all levels within our faith communities to enable the development of effective leadership and mission.
In these ways, students participate in a learning community in which they learn more about giving voice and body to the gospel of Christ Jesus, to represent the Christian people and Christian traditions, that is, to serve God's mission in the world.
Ministry Education comprises:
The Academic Program
Students undertaking Ministry Education normally complete either a BTheol or MDiv (especially but not only those in the ordained stream). The following units in Practical Theology are the core units for the Ministry Education Program offered over the course of two years at Trinity College Theological School:
- Spiritual Formation in the Christian Tradition (DS3100T/D8300T): a wide-ranging introduction to the riches of Christian spirituality through time and across cultures. It covers some of the main movements and contemporary interests, and provides firm foundations for developing a rule of life deeply engaged with Christian wisdom.
- Ministerial Formation in the Anglican Tradition (DA1100T/DA8100T): an exploration of Christian understandings of discipleship and formation for ministry. Formation is an umbrella term referring to aspects of personal vocation, professional learning and growth in ministry. Its focus is on baptism and ordination, and public representative witness, giving special attention to the Anglican ordinal.
- Mission and Leadership for Contemporary Australia (DP1300T/DP8300T): an exploration of Anglican understandings of mission and evangelism, and how they engage and are challenged by contemporary Australian cultures, with special reference to the Five Marks of Mission and the global migration of “mission-shaped church” initiatives to create church for the unchurched.
- Practices of Ministry (DA1600T/DA8600T): a guide to major day-to-day concerns of Christian leadership; contextual study, mission auditing, listening and pastoral conversation.
As well as other academic units in Biblical Studies, Theology and Church History, the following additional units of practical theology are required to those seeking ordination:
- Introduction to Liturgical Thought and Practice (DL1200T/DL8200T)
- Preaching in the Liturgy (DP2100T/DP9100T)
- Prayer Book Studies (DL3200T/DL9200T)
- Theology and Practice of Pastoral Care (DP2500T/DP9500T)
- Developing a Theology of Mission Today (DM1000P/DM8000P)
Apply to join the Ministry Education Program
Arrange a time to talk to the Director of the Ministry Education Centre, fill in the Ministry Education Application Form (270KB PDF) and forward it to the Theological School office.
Ordinands and Year-of-Discernment candidates are usually eligible for a Theological Studentship. This will cover the cost of providing the Ministry Education program, and sometimes also provides a small stipend of up to about $2,000. To be considered for a Studentship, please complete the separate Scholarship application form, available on the Scholarship page.
Contact
Director of the Ministry Education Centre: The Revd Dr Fergus King (fking@trinity.edu.au)
Theological School office: 03 9348 7127.
Education for Ministry (Australia)
The Ministry Education Centre encouraged Education for Ministry (EfM) for parish and church ministry education.
The Parish-based Trinity Certificate in Theology and Ministry is no longer offered by Trinity College Theological School. A revised program - the Australis Certificate of Ministry - has been created by the Diocese of Bendigo. The certificate is designed to equip people to reflect on their faith, ministry and discipleship in the context of their everyday lives. For more information visit the website: www.bendigoanglican.org.au/australis-certificate-of-ministry or email: australiscm@bendigoanglican.org.au.