Formation is for
everyone!
In our diocese, a variety of education training and formation programs are offered throughout each year that are tailored to meet the needs of those who are ordained, lay ministers, and people simply wanting to explore their faith more deeply.
Ministry is the action of all baptised people who are called to re-present Christ in all aspects of their daily life. In this Diocese we believe that every member of every Ministry Unit has a God-given ministry and it is our hope that these Guidelines empower all to minister more fully in the name of Christ.
Some ministries have been identified as being representative of the Church in a more formal way; these ministries, both lay and ordained, require a Ministry Certificate or a Licence.
A minister is literally someone who ‘acts upon the authority of another’. Lay and ordained ministers in this Diocese acts under the authority of the Bishop. Therefore a Licenced Lay Minister is someone who has been authorised by the Bishop to exercise a particular responsibility.
What kinds of roles do those with a Ministry Certificate or LLM hold?
A person with a ministry certificate exercises ministry under the direct supervision of someone who already holds a licence from the Bishop. They might;
- Assist in leading public worship (e.g. a liturgist, intercessor, reader, etc)Â
- Assist with educational groups and programme (e.g. helps with a home group or Sunday school programme).Â
A ‘lay’ person is someone who is not ordained. A licenced lay minister is someone who has been discerned and trained to exercise ministry on behalf of the church. A lay licence can cover up to three categories of ministry:Â
- EducatorÂ
- PastorÂ
- Worship Leader
Please contact [email protected] to request a copy of the Lay Ministry Guidelines and application form.
​Why do we do formation?
Regardless of whether you are serving a local community as a person with a Ministry Certificate, as a Lay Licensed Minister, or as someone ordained, a level of formation will be necessary to do the tasks appropriately, to have the confidence of the community you are serving, and will be engaging and enriching for you personally.
What does ‘ordained’ ministry mean?
You also might be visiting this page to know more about how the ordination process is handled in our diocese.In the Anglican tradition we recognise three orders: Deacons, Priests & Bishops
The process of entry into these orders is called ordination. All ordained people begin their lives as deacons, some become priests, and a small few bishops. Although each order has different responsibilities they are cumulative. That means that a priest is also a deacon, and that a bishop is also a deacon and a priest.
Each order is equally important, but they differ in the tasks they do on behalf of the whole Church. See pp 887–924 of A New Zealand Prayer Book He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa.
Deacons – have a community-facing ministry or service. They encourage Christians to fulfil Christ’s mission and care for others.
Priests – build up the congregation as pastors and proclaimers of God’s word.
Bishops – are called to lead by example, maintain wise discipline, keep the Church true to its faith, ordain pastors and preside over the worshipping life of the Church.
If you feel called to ordained ministry the first thing you need to do is talk to your vicar. The vicar (a priest that a bishop has given a parish to) will be able to talk to you about what it means to be ordained and they will help you begin to understand what your future ministry might be. Subsequent to these initial discussions your ministry leader can reach out to the Bishop’s Executive Chaplain, who will help guide you through the process.
What does the ordination journey look like?
The Chaplain for Vocational Formation is responsible for helping people explore the call God is making on their lives. Even if you are discerned for ordained ministry it is common for the discernment and process to take 18 months or more before ordination. This time is a critical part of the process.
Individuals invited into the ordination formation process will have a programme tailored to their vocation. However, there are a number of shared elements including regular engagement in the Diocesan Formation Group.
It is an expectation that you are serving a local community through a Ministry Certificate or as an LLM during this process, and that you are reflecting on these experiences.
The Venerable Sue Burns is the Chaplain for Vocational Formation. The Revered Kat Maxwell (Bishop’s Executive Chaplain) supports Sue and oversees the administrative part of the formation and discernment process. After talking with your vicar, Kat is the first point of contact for people exploring ordination for our diocese. For more information and to start talking, please contact Kat [email protected]
Kia ora, my name is Kim Wright and I am the Chaplain at Taranaki Diocesan School in Stratford.
During this time I also undertook my theological study and gained ministry experience through an internship programme.
Prior to being discerned for ordination, I was a Police officer and then worked in the health sector. I had a strong desire to help others but found the ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’ approach difficult to reconcile day after day. I came to realise that I wanted to share with others how Jesus can transform lives, just like my own had been years before.
In my work I organise chapel services, teach religious education to Year 9 and 10 students and provide pastoral care. No two days are the same and I am continually encouraged by the willingness of students to engage in matters of faith.