Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

57. The Fruitful Field Project
reports, conducting interviews at the
required stages, and recommending
continuance on trial and readiness
for admission as a Local Preacher.
Recently, a number of alternative
pathways have been developed
and appropriately authorised.
Currently seven such courses are
in existence. Some are based in
learning institutions, and some
carry university validation. Some are
ecumenical programmes developed by
Regional Training Partnerships; others
are Methodist courses offered by a
particular District. Those who have
previously completed other courses
or have relevant experience can apply
for exemptions from units of the Faith
& Worship course by applying for
accreditation of prior experience and
learning (APEL). To be granted APEL,
evidence is required to show that
prior learning meets all the learning
outcomes of units from which they
are requesting exemption. Because
of the particular way those learning
outcomes are expressed, and also
because of the way in which Faith &
Worship units combine theory and
practice, it can be difficult to grant
exemptions. As well as successfully
completing a course, preachers on
trial must also successfully complete
two Circuit interviews held at the Local
Preachers’ Meeting, which will draw on
an assessment of two trial services.
There are currently approximately
1,500 preachers on note and on trial
across the Connexion.
53 The Worship Leaders’ Training Pack is
the connexionally approved pathway
offered to those becoming Worship
Leaders. This was first published
in 1996, and consists of seven
sessions designed for use in a small
study group. There is no formal
assessment. Appointment as a
Worship Leader is subject to triennial
review.
Other pathways and opportunities
54 Beyond these major pathways, several
other pathways and opportunities
have recently been supported, or are
currently supported, by connexional
resources. These include:
54.1 Foundation Training: This was
adopted by the 1999 Conference as
a pathway for those “judged to have
a strong sense of Christian vocation
to exercise their discipleship through
some form of ordained or authorised
lay ministry,” and aimed “to enable
the particular form of vocation and
the person’s ability to exercise it to
be more accurately discerned.”
54.2 Extending Discipleship, Exploring
Vocation (EDEV): A successor to
Foundation Training adopted by
the 2006 Conference, EDEV was
envisaged as “a new approach
to exploration of discipleship and
vocation for a wider group of people,
located closer to their home Circuit
or area, with the support of training
institutions.” Connexional funds
were made available to support the
development of EDEV across Regional
Training Networks for three years from
September 2008.
Conference Agenda 2012 661