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Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

Certificate in Christian Theology and Practice

The Church of Ireland Theological Institute has produced details of a new Certificate in Christian Theology and Practice (CCTP) which is designed to build knowledge of the Bible and Theology and to help participants grow in their journey of personal discipleship.

The successful completion of the CCTP is required of those studying for ordained ministry in the Church of Ireland who undertake the Master in Theology (MTh) course through the CITI and Trinity College, Dublin. The CCTP has been designed by those who teach the MTh to offer tailored preparation for the master’s course. It builds foundations in the three areas of study of the MTh: Biblical Studies, Theology and Practical Ministry. To enrol in the CCTP for this purpose, the approval of a Diocesan Director of Ordinands is needed.

Several Church of Ireland dioceses have elected to make the CCTP part of their Diocesan Lay Reader training programme. The Diocesan Reader training programme includes the full CCTP course with Spirituality and Self–Understanding as its designated elective. In addition, students will undertake two additional courses on Worship and Preaching through the Open Learning Centre at Queen’s University, Belfast. This will be complemented by practical training organised locally within the diocese. In order to complete the CCTP as part of Diocesan Reader training, the approval of a Warden of Readers is needed.

The course is also open to those who are not intent on formal ministerial training. Starting with the ‘Fit for the Purpose’ Retreat Weekend, participants will be guided to understand their calling to live out their faith in their own contexts as a vocation. Modules on the Bible will explore both the content and historical context of the Scriptures and invite students to learn skills for reading these texts. Modules on the Creeds and on the Development of Theological Thinking will ground their faith in the long tradition of the Church, while the module on Public Worship will help students to better understand the rituals and liturgies that shape their experience of church and will give them the ability to engage these practices of worship with greater understanding. Students will also take the elective in Spirituality and Self–Understanding which will offer them the opportunity to apply their learning on the course to their lives of personal devotion and their practices of Christian discipleship. Students on this pathway study alongside those exploring ordination and preparing for Reader ministries. Students taking the course for their own enrichment may choose to take the course as a whole, and to receive the Trinity College Certificate. They may alternatively choose to take individual modules according to their interests.

The introductory video, a brochure and an application form are available through the news section of the Church of Ireland website – www.ireland.anglican.org

‘St John’s Sandymount: our educational and cultural heritage’ is the title of a Virtual Heritage Week 2020 presentation on the church’s website – www.sandymount.dublin.anglican.org – beginning today (Saturday), featuring the stories of distinguished clergy, teachers, artists, performers, writers and musicians who have had connections with St John’s down the years.

The ordination to the priesthood, by the Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory, of the Revd Janet Finlay, which was to be held today (Saturday) week, 22 August, in an outdoor service at the Rock of Dunamaise, Portlaoise, has been postponed due to the new Covid restrictions in Co. Laois. She will be the first trainee to be ordained priest as part of the Ordained Local Ministry (OLM) course which began in the Church of Ireland in 2018.

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