Self Supporting Ministry
The Church of England in Birmingham benefits from the ministry of Self-Supporting Ministers, both those whose ministry is based in parishes and chaplaincies and those whose primary focus is their place of work. The Bishop of Birmingham and the Bishop of Aston wish to reaffirm their support for the development of Self-Supporting Ministry in Birmingham Diocese. They wish to encourage vocations to Self-Supporting Ministry across Birmingham Diocese. The Vocations Team is committed to working with them over the next few years. They wish to encourage the imaginative deployment of Self-Supporting Ministers, so as to best use their gifts and thereby grow disciples of Jesus Christ. The following guidelines are intended to help develop the ministry of Self-Supporting Ministers as an integral part of the diocesan team of clergy.
IntroductionWe are blessed by the faithful and generous ministry of many able and committed Self-Supporting Ministers. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise.
Selection and TrainingThe Director of Ordinands (DDO) oversees the selection and training of candidates for the ordained ministry on behalf of the Bishop of Aston, who is the Sponsoring Bishop. At ordination Self-Supporting Ministers are admitted to Holy Orders in the Church of God, alongside their Stipendiary colleagues. In the discernment process it is the exploration of a call to the Diaconate and Priesthood that is primary, whether a candidate is looking to Stipendiary Ministry or Self-Supporting Ministry. All candidates are tested, both within Birmingham Diocese and at a Bishop’s Advisory Panel, against national Selection Criteria that have been approved by the House of Bishops. The Church of England - Birmingham has published guidelines with regard to the age at which candidates may be selected for training for the ordained ministry. The Bishop will not usually sponsor a candidate who will be aged 61 or older at the start of a three-year course or 62 or older at the start of a two-year course. Before a Bishop’s Advisory Panel the future focus of a candidate’s ministry is discussed with the DDO and agreed by the Sponsoring Bishop. A decision is made as to whether a candidate has potential to hold a position of primary responsibility (as an Incumbent or equivalent) or as an Assistant Minister. We are actively looking for candidates for Self-Supporting Ministry who are willing to serve as Assistant Ministers in teams of clergy and laypeople as well as those who might, after their curacy, lead a church community. Candidates for ministry that might involve this level of responsibility are tested differently at a Bishop’s Advisory Panel, most particularly under three of the Selection Criteria – Mission and Evangelism, Leadership and Collaboration and Quality of Mind. SSM ordinands usually train part-time over two or three years at the Queen’s Foundation. Age and accredited prior learning may be taken into account when agreeing a course of training.
Initial DeploymentThe Diocesan Bishop oversees the process of deploying Curates according to national guidelines for the identification of Training Incumbents and of parishes with good training potential. Training Incumbents receive diocesan training for their role in the formation and supervision of a Curate, with particular emphasis on SSM ministry issues and opportunities.
Ongoing training and formationSSM Curates participate in Continuing Ministerial Education (CME 1-4). Consultations take place on weekdays and are open to SSMs. There is specific CME for SSMs:
After curacy, SSMs participate in the MDR process. SSMs are eligible for CME grants on an equal basis with Stipendiary clergy.
Future DeploymentSSM Curates, like Stipendiary Curates, meet the Bishop of Aston towards the end of their third year in curacy to review their ministry and discuss future deployment. There are several possible outcomes:
Transfer to Stipendiary MinistryIt is possible to transfer from Self-Supporting Ministry to Stipendiary Ministry.
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