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Education for Ministry
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Is God calling you to Ministry?
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Arnold Harrison Yorkshire Moderator
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If you feel God may be calling you,
talk with the Minister or an Elder
of your church
and then with your Synod Moderator
The Moderator can discuss what you should do, and the process to help become clear about your calling
To contact Arnold Harrison
phone 0113 289 8490
or email moderator.yorkshire@dial.pipex.com
Enquirers' Conferences about Ministry are held
3 or 4 times a year in different parts of the country.
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Education for Ministry - phase 1
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The course suitable for each candidate is discussed at an Assessment Conference and decided by Synod.
Since Assembly 2006, the courses for any new URC candidate for the Ministry will be arranged by one of the three Learning Resource Centres.
All courses are with people of other denominations, so before embarking on the main programme there is an Introductory Course on the United Reformed Church - Worship, Structure, History, Ministry. It consists of 6 units of home study, discussions with the Development Officer or another tutor appointed by Synod, and a residential weekend at Westminster College, Cambridge.
The main programme of study is likely to be 4 years full-time or 6 years part-time, with a variety of practical placements. Progress is monitored in annual reviews which include a representative of Synod.
Towards the end of this main programme of study, the Synod decides whether the candidate is ready and eligible for a call from a local church pastorate to be their Minister, and for ordination.
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Education for Ministry - phase 2
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For the first three years after ordination, there is a programme of support and continuing education, called EM2.
- A Pastoral Adviser meets with the new Minister every six weeks or so
- Synod holds gatherings of EM2 Ministers four times a year, to talk over subjects of concern in their new positions of responsibility
- EM2 Ministers take part in two training weekends per year arranged by the Assembly EM2 Officer
- Subjects studied are discussed with the Pastoral Adviser and Synod training officer, and learning is reviewed annually
- Other subjects can be studied through access to some EM3 provision
- Progress is monitored by Synod.
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Learning is a lifelong process, so the United Reformed Church makes EM3 provision for Ministers in this third phase, the rest of their Ministry
- Annual Spring School, organised by Synod, fees paid by pastorates
- An annual personal allocation of up to £700 for up to 2 weeks of study
- A sabbatical of up to 3 months, with up to £1200, every 10 years
- Extra provision for overseas experience, through Assembly's Belonging to the World Church programme
- Refresher Course for a week every 7 years provided by Assembly
The individual's choice of study relevant to ministry and personal development are decided in consultation with the Synod Development Officer, whose approval is needed. Yorkshire Synod pays one-sixth of what is used from the £700 and £1200 allocations, and Assembly five-sixths.
Click downloads below for guidelines and application forms
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URC Ministers in Yorkshire are expected to conduct
self-appraisal using the booklet Taking Stock
and discuss it with an Appraisal Partner
These are made available through
the Ministerial Accompanied Self-Appraisal Scheme,
organised by URC Assembly Ministries Committee,
administered in Yorkshire by Rev. David Batchelor
Arising from the self-appraisal, ministers may want to discuss further study with the Development Officer
Until a new Development Officer is appointed
contact the Synod Moderator
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Study opportunities in Yorkshire
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Christians Learning Across Yorkshire
leaflet of study days and short courses in Yorkshire offered ecumenically by the CLAY Group of Training Officers
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Download (602k)
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Download forms
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G1 guidelines and application for
study days, short courses and further degrees
using annual EM3 allocation
Send applications to the Synod Moderator
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Download (40k)
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Vocations Sunday material
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Use to encourage more people
to respond to God's call
to be Ministers or
Church Related Community Workers
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G2 guidelines and application for
Sabbatical approval and grant
Send applications to the Synod Moderator
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Download (50k)
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