Formerly known as 'Adult Christian Education', Education for Discipleship has become the generic title for learning which is provided primarily for lay members of the Church of England. In St Albans it continues to be the response to the third of the Diocesan Goals mentioned above. The ecumenical centre at St Andrew's Church in Bedford, called BELIEF (website); the Centre for Christian Studies, based at St Albans' Abbey (website), and Learning Together - Thinking Christianity, based in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield (website), make an enormous contribution to the provision of Education for Discipleship. The Eastern Region Training Programme also provides information about courses available in the Eastern Region Dioceses for lay and ordained people. You can link to their website here: www.ertp.org.uk/courses
The Ministry Development Department at Diocesan Office positively encourages the work of these Centres and also provides opportunities for learning and training for all members of the church. The Local Ministry Officer is happy to lead Away Days for PCCs and church groups and to help with other learning and training events. Also available from the Local Ministry Officer at the Ministry Development Office are the following:
This is a course of Christian nurture and discipleship. Several centres throughout the diocese have hosted the course since its launch in 2001. Over 700 people have participated in the course and, as a result, it was completely revised in 2003. Open to anyone it is an alternative, or follow-up, to Alpha or Emmaus. There are 24 or 18 sessions (depending on which syllabus is followed) together with 3 assignments over the year and 3 day (or half-day) workshops. People can dip into it or do the whole course. All who successfully complete the course receive a certificate signed by the Bishop of St Albans and those going on to undergo Reader-ministry training can gain credits. It is also a foundation for those chosen to be members of a Local Ministry Team.
A practical guide is available for those who want to organise the course.
For latest information about where a course is being run, please contact the Ministry Development Office.
The course offers ten modules covering a wide range of subjects related to Vision for Action, including children's work, mission, the elderly, work-place ministry and church buildings. It can be used by groups, e.g. a parish or a deanery, but unlike Growing Together in Christ, is not a course to be worked through from beginning to end. Instead, it is designed to help meet different needs at different times in different localities and can be used on a 'pick and mix' basis. The course is available in CD-Rom format or as a hardcopy.
Other courses include:
Working with Small Groups
Just 3 sessions long, this provides some of the theory about how groups work. A Leader's Manual and individual workbooks are available.
Shaping and Sharing Ministry and Mission
A 5 session course for those preparing to become Team or Group Ministries, a Multi-Parish Benefice, Ecumenical Partnership or for those who want to learn more about collaborating with other churches. A Leader's Manual and individual workbooks are available.
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