The ERMC Elizabeth Pathway is open to candidates who have significant experience of leadership in lay ministry and who are over 53 years of age. Your Bishop and DDO will discern with you if this is the right pathway for you.
Training on this pathway begins during the Shared Discernment Process, which may be before or after Stage 1. All candidates on this pathway are expected to complete Stage 2 by the end of June in the first year. Entry into year 2 is dependent upon receiving a recommendation to train for ordination from your Bishop after Stage 2.
The ERMC Elizabeth Pathway has two strands:
Strand A is for candidates with experience of Reader/Licensed Lay Ministry as well as those with experience of other authorised or locally recognised lay ministries who have completed theological/ministerial studies to certificate level (level 4) or equivalent. (You need to have completed worship, preaching, doctrine and Bible at level 4 or equivalent.) You can find a sample course outline for Strand A here.
Strand B is for candidates with significant experience of leadership in lay ministry without this level of training. You can find a sample course outline for Strand B here.
Like other part-time pathways at ERMC, the Elizabeth Pathway consists of training in your local context, the residential programme and evening classes. You will be attending the residential programme and weekly evening classes alongside the other ERMC ordinands. You can find more information here. In addition, you will continue the Shared Discernment Process in your first year.
Your sending Church will normally be your training Church, with your incumbent as your training minister. If that is not appropriate or possible, we can identify another suitable training context for you.