Pastoral Worker Training

The core elements required for licensing as a Pastoral Worker are:

·      Foundations for Ministry (FfM) – at least one block but ideally two.

·      All five modules (see below)

·      Practical Parish Project

·      Portfolio of Learning, Formation and Reflection

·      DBS, Safeguarding training

·      Ministry Agreement

The new format for 2025 offers greater flexibility and accommodates the student’s pace of learning and level of commitment. 

What's involved in training?

After the grounding of Foundations, Pastoral Worker training integrates the practical skills required alongside theological application and reflection, with an emphasis on personal and spiritual formation and growth needed for the specifics of pastoral ministry.

Five modules:

·       Presence and Awareness

·       Beginnings

·       Stages

·       Endings

·       Toolkit

Except for Presence and Awareness, the four modules are taught in five-week blocks within one year (subject to demand).   There is flexibility to pick and choose when you do each, however all are required for licensing.

Contact the Ministry Team (ministry@chester.anglican.org) for details of when these are proposed to run this year.

Presence and Awareness (listening to God, self and others)

Run throughout the whole year, this is a key module for spiritual formation and growth, developing skills in pastoral listening including self-awareness, as well as the spiritual disciplines required to sustain you in ministry.

This incorporates 20 teaching hours, including two full ministry days on a Saturday (one in November, one in March).

Beginnings (pastoral care for families)

Developing understanding of child development and contemporary family life, reflecting on the place of children and families within church, and considering care around baptism.

Stages (Being human, identity and relationships)

Developing understanding of human growth and development, reflecting on appropriate pastoral responses to life events; considering marriage and other relationships in a Christian context.

Endings (End of life and bereavement support)

Developing an understanding of, and reflecting theologically on, loss, ageing, dying, death, bereavement and grief; considering different models of support for those dying and bereaved.

Toolkit (practical skills in pastoral care)

Reflecting theologically on health, sickness and disability; unconscious bias awareness; exercising safe boundaries in ministry.  Considering approaches to working with volunteers and understanding policies and procedures that support safe, ethical working.

In addition, you will undertake a parish project and at the end of your training submit a learning portfolio.

Practical Parish Project:

Pastoral ministry involves people and the parish project offers an opportunity to develop your pastoral skills practically, within your context, whilst under supervision. It enables you to explore how you might apply the course teaching to your church context in a practical and supported way. 

Portfolio of Learning:

Students will be required to submit a short reflection (250-500 words) on each module, including Foundations, outlining their personal learning and formation.

What next?

Upon successful completion of the modules, project and portfolio, you will be proposed for licensing by the Bishop as a Pastoral Worker to serve in your parish context, continuing to develop and deepen your skills and knowledge. The Diocese offers a range of courses and resources to support further training via an annual grant. 

Safeguarding, DBS, PCC Approval, and Ministry Agreement

Ahead of licensing you will be required to hold:

·      Enhanced DBS check

·      Safeguarding Training (Basic, Foundation, Leadership, Safer Recruitment and People Management, Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse)

·      Unconscious Bias Awareness training

·      PCC approval

·      Ministry Agreement – approved and signed by the Incumbent (or equivalent)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1.  How long will the training take?

Training can take between two and five years depending on when you completing the core elements for licencing. Each module will only run if viable numbers are reached.

2.  Do I need to have had previous theological study?

Some Christian learning is helpful ahead of training as a Pastoral Worker, but you don’t need to have a theology degree or to be a great academic. More important are your Christian faith and maturity, together with skills and experience in listening to and working with people.  The course will stretch you but is designed to be practical as well as theoretical, open to all those fitted for Pastoral Worker ministry. 

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to chat to someone informally about vocation please email ministry@chester.anglican.org to arrange the initial contact with a Vocations Explorer.

You can also find out more by coming to one or our Called to Serve vocations events

Incumbents putting forward candidates for Reader training should contact ministry@chester.anglican.org for an application pack. 

For further information on Pastoral Worker ministry and training you can contact the Bishop's Advisers for Licensed Lay Ministers:

Jeanette Howe jeanette.howe@chester.anglican.org 

07549 214283

Karen MacMillan karen.macmillan@chester.anglican.org 

07549 214284