Karen Hutchinson, Lay Ministry Development Officer writes:
When I’m out and about in my role I hear a lot of myths about LLM training. Sometimes these come from how things were in the past, sometimes they are projections of a person’s own experience of training at a difficult time. The sad thing is that some wildly inaccurate myths can prevent others from taking advantage of a fantastic training opportunity that Salisbury diocese has made available through Sarum College.
So here is my contribution to setting the record straight:
Five things you never knew about training as a Licensed Lay Minister:
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It doesn’t involve lots of travelling to a training institution. Most learning is carried out online, using course materials and tutorials provided by Sarum college. Online tutorials and the residentials ensure you are continually in touch with your learning colleagues. Apart from initial induction and the first term, you usually only need to travel to Salisbury once a term for a weekend residential. Local learning also takes place in your context.
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There are no specific educational qualifications necessary. Yes, there will be reading to do, and assignments to prepare, but you will be given support to achieve what is necessary for ministry, and the option to stretch yourself if that feels right for you.
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You can do this while still working/carrying out family responsibilities. It’s not expected that you will have to give up work, or have your children leave home before you can do this course. The course does require investment of time, so you are encouraged to free up enough time for the reading and tutorials, and that may involve temporarily relinquishing some church responsibilities. A healthy work/life/learning balance is one of the aspects to work through as part of your formation.
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It is broad – you may specialise in pioneer ministry, children’s ministry, chaplaincy, or some completely different ministry and the course will help you prepare for this as well as giving you a broad grounding in Christian theology, ministry and mission as your foundation. Make sure you put any particular interests or calling in your application paperwork so that we can honour these.
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You will make some amazing new friends – and support each other in years to come. Most students completing the course talk about the benefits of having a year group, supporting each other in good times and bad. Many continue meeting up on a regular basis and consider that they have made friends for life.
The formal training programme is delivered through Sarum college and last just under two years, beginning each September. Training is about much more than academic learning – it is about the formation of you as a person and a minister in God’s church. So it’s a very exciting journey! Sarum college offers a Training Taster Session in the Spring of each year. To book a place, contact me on karen.hutchinson@salisbury.anglican.org
Do you think you might be called to licensed lay ministry? Read more about it on our Lay Ministry page.