There are various pathways towards ordained ministry within the Church of Ireland.
In order to avail of any of these candidates must go through the relevant selection process and be sponsored by one of the diocesan bishops.
The primary pathway towards stipendiary ministry is the Master in Theology accredited by the University of Dublin, Trinity College.
This exists as either a three year full–time, residential programme or in an equivalent four year, part–time version. This latter is delivered through a combination of monthly residential weekends, a one–week summer school and online distance–learning, and is suitable for those who wish to remain either in employment or closer to home during training.
Subject to satisfactory progression, all students fulfil a final year deacon–internship.
Entry to the MTh is subject to completion of a 12–month Foundation Course – the Certificate in Christian Theology and Practice (CCTP) – which is run in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in conjunction with Trinity College Dublin.
It is possible to be deployed into part–time and unremunerated ministry via completion of the MTh. At the request of the sponsoring bishop, training towards ordination can be undertaken through the category of an Individual Learning Agreement.
This is a tailored provision and generally applies to those who are already Church Army Evangelists, those who already ordained in a different Christian tradition or, occasionally, those who reach the commencement of training with an already well–established proposal for higher research.
Prospective candidates for Ordained Local Ministry (OLM) attend local diocesan selection. The programme of study for OLM consists of two parts. In the first part, OLM students undertake the Certificate in Christian Theology and Practice (CCTP) course alongside those exploring selection for full or part–time Ordination Training, prospective Diocesan Readers and others interested in Faith Formation. The second part commences the following January. Part 2 consists of a further 18 months learning in a context based educational programme with 6 modules relevant to ministry. Towards the end of each module a reflective session is arranged.
No credits are available in respect of the CCTP course for prior courses undertaken. Candidates who have completed the (old) Foundation course or the Maynooth accredited reader course may go directly into Part 2 of OLM study without completing the CCTP course. Candidates who have previously completed the CCTP course may also go directly into Part 2.
An introductory leaflet on OLM has been produced, and may be downloaded as a PDF by clicking here.
Further information is available from your Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) or see www.theologicalinstitute.ie