Ministers Training
Training Opportunities
You will find information on upcoming training opportunities and events below.
If as a minister you hear of events that you think your colleagues could benefit from and could be promoted please let me know. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ministers' Get-Together: 23rd - 25th September 2019
The 2019 Ministers Get Together will be held at Belsey Bridge Conference Centre, Ditchingham, Bungay, NR35 2DZ
The 2019 Ministers' Get Together, we will are focussing on "Where Two or Three are Gathered Together: Encountering God in the Ordinary and Each Other". We will be joined by Mark Argent who has had a long involvement with the URC Retreat Group. We will be spending time in Ditchingham. All rooms are en-suite. Lindsey Brown our Mission and Training Officer, Nicola Grieves our Children & Youth Development Officer, Paul Whittle our Moderator will be contributing to our time together.
This event is eligible for EM funding. Download: Ministers Get Together Booking Form
Eastern Region Theological Refreshment in Ministry: 26th - 27th November 2019
Reading, thinking, praying and living the Gospel of John - Keynote Speaker: David F Ford OBE
26th - 27th November 2019 - Belsey Bridge Conference Centre, Ditchingham
This, our annual regional short residential conference, Theological Refreshment in Ministry is open to lay and ordained ministers, priests, local pastors, preachers, Readers and LLMs from all of the participating churches in the region. The conference provides an opportunity to learn and pray together in a relaxed atmosphere away from church duties. Each conference focuses on a particular area of theology.
The cost is £120 and is payable at the time of booking. Places are limited, so please register as soon as possible, and at the latest by 31st August 2019. View website below for further details.
Download: Theological Refreshment in Ministry Booking Form
Eastern and Thames North Ministers Spring School - Monday 11th May to Friday 15th May 2020
Theme: Transforming Division Through Human Encounter
This is an opportunity for Ministers to learn and share as well as getting a break from the regular routines of our ministries.
The Corrymeela Community, Northern Ireland
This is our second visit to Corrymeela, but whether you have been before or not we believe that there will be a great deal to offer and challenge everyone.
- theological challenge
- real-world application
- in-depth discussion
- learning from and sharing with friends in ministry
- trips, creative space, sacred space
A limited number of places are available. Most rooms are shared. Booking form will be available in the autumn; if you are interested, please put the dates in your diary and let This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. your Training Officer or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at the Eastern Synod Office know so we can add your name on the booking schedule.
We will be travelling to Corrymeela by bus and ferry to avoid unnecessary air travel, out of our "desire to be a church taking steps to safeguard the integrity of creation, to sustain and renew the life of the earth" (Vision2020 Statement 10). There will be a discounted rate for those wishing to make their own travel arrangements.
Download: Spring School Booking Form available in the autumn
Launde Abbey Retreat Programme 2019
Launde Abbey come in many forms. We offer retreats for individuals and groups, those looking for silence and others who are seeking inspiration or creativity. Our programme of retreats is extensive and we hope, offers something for everyone. Every one of our retreats however, offers the chance to step back from the pressures of daily life, to enter a deeper peace with the opportunity to pray and experience God. As part of our ministry Launde has always felt it part of our responsibility as one of the leading retreat houses in the country to encourage new retreat conductors so as to enrich the wider retreat movement.
Website: Launde Abbey Retreat Programme
Peterborough Theological Society
The Peterborough Theological Society is an ecumenical society, open to anyone, which aims to provide a platform for theological, debate which is challenging both to the lay person and to those with theological training.
Meetings are normally held on the last Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm. There are no meetings in July, August or December. The annual membership subscriptions are: £20.00 for an individual member or £30.00 for couples or families or £10.00 for unwaged students. Attendance at individual meetings is £4.00.
For further information please E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Tel: 01733 355300
Website: Peterborough Cathedral for 2019 Programme
The Arthur Rank Centre - Creative Leadership in the Rural Church 
Since 1972 Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre, an ecumenical Christian charity, has served both the spiritual and practical needs of the rural community through a programme of community and social projects, resourcing and training. We provide hundreds of resources for rural churches including a co
mprehensive range of worship resources and rural stories, ideas and inspiration though our magazine, Country Way. Our highly popular Rural Ministry Course has been running for over 30 years.
Newer projects include Germinate Enterprise, a rural business start-up programme,Germinate Groups learning communities for multi-church groups, and Germinate Leadership, a training programme developing the creative and entrepreneurial skills of rural church leaders. We also run a biennial Germinate Conference, a major national day conference for all those involved in rural mission and ministry. We have also developed Rural Mission Sunday, an annual celebration of the life and work of rural churches, an opportunity to remember all the things they do well, and challenge themselves to do one new thing.
We are the home of the National Rural Officers for the Church of England Methodist and United Reformed Church; and also the hub for the church network of Rural Officers and Agricultural Chaplains. Our focus is to support and strengthen the UK’s 15,000 rural churches, so they can respond positively to change and impact the communities they serve.
The Arthur Rank Centre (ARC) is the recognised centre by the churches in England for Rural Issues. Based at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. The vast majority of the resources from the ARC are delivered through our website, and most of these are regularly added to or adapted. Virtually all are freely downloadable, except items in the bookstall and our magazine, Country Way. View link below.
Website: Creative Leadership in the Rural Church Website: The Arthur Rank Centre Germinate
Peace & Reconciliation Training and Support
The EM2 Making Peace with Conflict course leader Jo Williams and her husband have set up a training centre in Yorkshire which is part of the Baptist Church where they minister.
Joanna Williams has over 20 years experience of devising, and delivering high quality training in and for churches, colleges, and other organisations. Training that is offered from the Blackley Centre is mainly bespoke, created to fit the needs and requirements of the particular client. Topics are wide ranging but centre around the area of peace-building, communication, managing conflict and anxiety effectively and developing teams that work together well.
Joanna provides training in Understanding and Transforming Conflict in Churches for all of the five Baptist Colleges in England and Wales as part of their formation programmes for Ministers and Church Leaders.
Website: Blackley Centre for more information
Centre for Pioneer Learning
The Centre is supported by the Diocese of Ely Ridley Hall and Westcott House, Cambridge.
Website: Centre for Pioneering Learning
Scottish United Reformed & Congregational College
The College offers a range of learning opportunities in collaboration with the United Reformed Church National Synod of Scotland.
Course for URC Ministers - In the Footsteps of Saint Magnus - An Orkney Experience Wednesday 3rd to Monday 8th April 2019. In April 2019 the Scottish United Reformed & Congregational College will be hosting a refresher course for serving ministers. Entitled 'In the Footsteps of St Magnus - An Orkney Experience' this will be held at the recently constructed Kirsten Linklater Voice Centre 3rd -9th April 2019. This should qualify for EM3 funding. Further details are in the leaflet .
To register an interest please email: Scottish College. Website: Scottish United Reformed & Congregational College
PGDip/MA Course in Consultancy for Mission and Ministry at York St John University
Managing change is high on the agenda of many denominations as they face a challenging future, and those in key roles wrestle with complex issues and the support of the ministry of individuals.
This two-year course offers training in consultancy skills for those responsible for mission strategy and helping others with their work and ministry including:
- Senior church leaders and regional ministerial roles
- Mission and evangelism enablers and consultants
- Training and development officers
- Fresh Expressions and Pioneer ministries
The course is based on a distance learning format with workbooks covering the main strands of Organisational Studies, Mission Theology and Practice, and Consultancy Praxis. Students are supported by an ecumenical tutor team and six short residentials over the two years.
For further information, including a course handbook contact at Tel 01904 876430 / 07809 431871 E-mail:
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- Administrator, York Institute for Community Theology. For a conversation with a tutor contact: Dr Helen Cameron Tel 01865 877420 or Revd Ian D Johnson 01609 770853 - Consultancy for Mission and Ministry
York Institute for Community Theology
Download: Consultancy for Mission and Ministry Programme
Website: York St Johns University
Transforming Church Conflict
Five-Day Foundation Courses from ‘Bridge Builders’
Since 1996 the London Mennonite Centre has been running its highly regarded courses on handling conflict in church communities. These short courses introduce church leaders to ways of transforming conflict in the church and can serve as a foundation for the full Bridge Builders training. You are encouraged to come if you wish to:
- develop new skills for handling conflict
- give time to personal growth as part of a worshipping community
- be part of a movement that is changing the culture of the church
- help put the church’s energy to more creative use.
Website: London Mennonite Centre
Professional Doctorate Programme
Professional Doctorate Programme Run by the Cambridge Theological Federation with Anglia Ruskin University. Details of this programme are best found on the Cambridge Theological Federation website
Website: Cambridge Theological Federation Professional Doctorate in Practical Theology
Eastern and Thames North Syns- Ministers'
Spring School 2015
Spring School 2015- 27th April - 1st May 2015 - Maison Diocesaine de'Accueil, Merville, France
We will travelling to mainland Europe. Accommodation has been
Peterborough Theological Society
The Peterborough Theological Society is an ecumenical society, open to anyone, which aims to provide a platform for theological, debate which is challenging both to the lay person and to those with theological training.
Meetings are normally held on the last Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm. There are no meetings in July, August or December.
The annual membership subscriptions are:
£20.00 or an individual member or £30.00 for couples or families or £10.00 for unwagedstudents. Attendance at individual meetings is £4.00.
For further information please contact: The Rev'd Canon Jonathan Baker - Tel: 01733 355300 -
E-mail: Jonathan Baker Website: Peterborough Cathedral
booked provisionally at the Maison Diocésaine d’Accueil, Merville, France. A coach has also been booked. This will pick up participants from both synods and then travel on to France.
Staying in Merville we will explore issues of war and peace and faith within the particular context of the First World War. The School will include visits to significant sites as well as time for reflection and worship, along with the usual space for relaxation and fellowship.
We hope that you will be able to join us for what promises to be a very special and memorable Spring School.
Download: Spring School Flyer and Booking Form when available.
