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Diploma of Higher Education in Christian Ministry and Theology

Contents:
The Diploma is one of WEMTC's two nationally recognised awards externally validated by University of Gloucestershire. It is awarded on obtaining 240 credits (120 at Level One and 120 at Level Two). The Diploma is a vocational diploma involving a mixture of academic, skills based and spiritual growth for those undertaking it. It is the basic building block of WEMTC's ordination course approved by the Church of England and the Methodist Church as a training route for ordination. Most three year ordinands are expected to complete the Diploma prior to ordination. At present it is only open to ordinands.

The Diploma Course

The Diploma Course is awarded on obtaining 240 credits as follows: Total Credits: 240 (120 at level one, 120 at level two)

Taught Modules

Taught Modules are those modules covered in our evening classes. Some modules, known as half modules, last 5 weeks and carry 7.5 credits. The rest of the modules last 10 weeks and carry 15 credits. In the first year of training students do 4 modules taught at University level one, giving a total of 45 credits. In the second year of training students move up to level two modules and do 45 credits at level two in each of their the second and third years. Each Centre works to the same general curriculum but a different rolling timetable. Class sizes differ from Centre to Centre but generally there are around 10-15 people and are a mixture of students on different training tracks (ordinands, OLMs, readers in training, methodists foundation students and independent students). The usual pattern of taught modules for ministerial students is:

  1. First Year


  2. Second Year

    At some centres these run on a rolling programme and second and third year studies may be reversed.

  3. Third Year

    At some centres these run on a rolling programme and second and third year studies may be reversed.
Students who can demonstrate that they have covered a module to the same standard elsewhere (e.g. through a Theology degree or Reader Training) may be awarded Accreditation of Prior Learning for that module. In this case an alternative module will be found for study during the term in question. This module may be from our optional Validated Modules or from another institution. Similar provision is made for those who completed the WEMTC Certificate on a different training track (e.g. those who have done Reader training or been an independent student with WEMTC prior to selection for ordination.)

For more explanation about Taught Modules see our Modules Page

Weekend and Long Residentials

Each year there is an Easter School which takes place either starting or ending on Easter Day. This week is the equivalent of a 10 credit module and there are preparatory exercises as well as some follow up assignment work. The Easter School allows these modules to be tackled in a more concentrated and varied way than the evening teaching would allow. It is particularly good for team work and shared learning. The three residentials are run on a rolling programme:

For more explanation about Easter Schools see our Long Residential Modules Page

In addition to the long residentials there are 18 weekend residential modules (6 weekends per year). These do not directly bear credit but they form part of the Ministry Modules assessment. The weekend residentials last from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime and are held in retreat houses and residential centres around our area. Ordinands on special courses other than the Diploma will also participate in the weekends and so will some Methodist Foundation Students. Readers in Training have seperate weekend residentials. The following is the normal pattern of residential modules for Diploma Students:


  1. First Year


  2. Second Year


  3. Third Year

For more explanation about residential weekends see our Residential Modules Page

Placements

Each year students undertake a practical placement in a church or secular setting that aims to challenge and stretch the student to see things in new ways.

For more explanation about Placements see our Placement Page

Ministerial Modules

Personal and Spiritual Development, along with the development of ministerial skills, are an important part of training for ordination and are known as Ministerial Formation. As this Diploma is a vocational award, ministerial formation is as important as gaining academic knowledge. Of course, in practice, the two cannot be separated so that academic learning will affect one's personal and spiritual growth and vice versa. Nevertheless the integration of the two is not always easy and to this end there are two ministerial formation modules in the Diploma.

These Modules are completed over three years on a progressive basis. An annual interview will discuss progress and form part of the assessment of these modules.

For more explanation about Ministry Modules see our Ministry Modules Page

Educational Aims and Objectives

The following is an abridgement of the aims of the WEMTC Diploma. The full aims are part of the University Major Review Document that validate the Course. The Major Review Documents are currently being put onto the web site and are also available at all WEMTC libraries. For fuller details of the technical aspects of the Diploma see the Diploma Programme Specification

The educational aims, objectives and structures described below make up a course best designated as "Christian Theology and Ministry". This title indicates that the Course is focused on the understanding of the Christian faith, its doctrines, scriptures, worship and practices, but underlines the fact that these are studied in the context of preparation for Christian ministry. The emphasis, therefore, will be on the application of those academic insights in the practice of ministry and the intention is to produce a course of vocational training in which there is strong interaction between academic study, the personal commitment of faith and developing ministerial competence.

For the overall educational aims of WEMTC please see our Major Review Documents.


  1. The Educational Aims of the Diploma

    The main aims are that students:
    1. should reach a Diploma level in their capacity to think through theological and ministerial subjects critically and empathetically. Including the ability to synthesise and theologically reflect on material, write lucidly, speak coherently and sustain an argument.
    2. should be competent to Diploma level in their knowledge and understanding of Ministry and Theology
    3. should be competent to begin leadership roles as ordained Ministers, or in a form of ministry that will lead to ordination within the Church and have begun the process of spiritual and personal development necessary to sustain such a role.

  2. Learning Outcomes

    As a result of its training, the Course expects a number of objectives to have been attained. These can be expressed under three headings:

    1. Knowledge and Understanding
      Students at the end of the course should have have obtained some knowledge of the Bible, the Christian Tradition (both past and present) and their own denominational tradition, the nature and theology of ministry, the human and social sciences relevant to pastoral care, the methods of making ethical decisions and the key themes in the study of theology as needed to begin ministry, with the expectation that the gaining of knowledge will be a life-long process.
    2. Skills and Ministerial Competencies
      Whilst initial training makes no claims to completeness, it is intended that all students will, by the time they have completed the course, have demonstrated a minimum level of competence in a range of skills (e.g. preaching, the conduct of public worship, pastoral conversation, the leadership of small groups, the handling of conflict and dilemmas, time management, communication and problem solving). The Course will ensure that these skills are related to their theological and contemporary context, and that students are encouraged to develop a style of leadership which is collaborative as well as prophetic.

    3. Personal and Spiritual Development
      The Course will expect that its students develop their personal understanding of:
      1. their relationship with God and its development through prayer
      2. their own gifts, strengths and weaknesses
      3. their relationship with others
      4. their understanding of the nature of their future ministry as part of the corporate life of the Church.
      5. their awareness of the public character of ordained ministry.
      6. their discernment of God's work in the world

      With respect to those preparing for OLM ministry, the objectives listed above will be linked to the specific objective of integrating this training into the ministry of a Local Ministry Team. Similarly, with respect to those preparing for MSE ministry, these objectives will be linked to the objective of equipping a student to minister in a situation of secular employment, and of encouraging their local church to see this as part of its mission.

Admission to the Course

Admission to the Diploma Course is only open to those who have been selected for ordination training by either the Methodist Church or the Church of England. Those who have been selected for other ministries or wish to undertake independent study should see our Certificate page).

Those applying for admission to the Diploma Course will be interviewed by a core staff member and complete an application form. Please fill in an enquiry form if you would like to receive a prospectus and application form.

Students with appropriate prior learning may, at the discretion of the APL Sub-committee, be allowed up to one third of the credits required for the award. An application should be made to the APL sub-committee, which meets at the beginning of September.


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WEMTCCourses Last updated: 09 January 2006 at 9:22am Copyright 2007 E. Harper and W. McDougall
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