The Joint Anglican/Methodist Scheme
The training for Reader ministry on the Isle of Wight takes three academic years. The process of Readers’ training and formation is by means of 17 academic units of study, and 3 training modules each lasting a full day or weekend. The academic units focus on worship, preaching, biblical studies, doctrine, church history, mission, spirituality and ethics. A detailed set of course notes for home study is provided for each unit, which is also discussed in tutorial sessions which take place once a month with both an Anglican and a Methodist tutor. The assessment of each unit is by means of a project and/or an essay.
The residential training weekends concentrate particularly on the role of a Reader, pastoral issues, teaching and working with groups, and preparing for licensing. This is supported by a suitable variety of experiences in the parish, including leading worship and intercessions and preaching; together with attendance at the annual Readers’ conference and the annual licensing service. In addition each trainee is assigned a mentor who supports him or her, particularly by listening to sermons and advising on how to improve as a preacher.
Trainees are also required to spend a period of eight weeks on a ‘parish placement’. The placement is usually arranged during the first year of training and is an opportunity to experience worship in, and observe the life of, a parish whose traditions and practices are different to those in the trainee’s home parish. After the placement trainees write a theological reflection on their experience.
