Ordination Training

Prepare for ministry

Follow your calling with mission focused training for ordained ministry.

Are you exploring a call to ordained ministry? ERMC offers locally rooted, mission-focused, non-residential training pathways allowing you to remain in your home and to continue with your family and work commitments while providing a rigorous, broad and integrated programme of study.

We work closely with colleagues in our partner dioceses, so our local knowledge helps you to get the most out of the opportunities you will encounter as you grow into your vocation.

Our students come with a great variety of life experience, ethnic, educational, employment and church backgrounds and range in age from thirties to sixties. You will eat, pray and study with people very much like you, and people very different from you! One of the joys of ERMC is learning with, and from, such a diverse community. Friendships formed at ERMC prove to be a great source of support and strength through the challenges and joys of ordained ministry.

“When you start training, everything can be a bit bewildering. However, the journey to the end of term has been eased by ERMC staff, students and, in particular, my support group, Group F. Whether it be administrative assistance, queries about referencing (!) or prayer, they have been all too willing to help. Thank you!”

Rosalind Wright, first year ordinand

Our programme starts with a week-long Summer School, and we gather for five residential study weekends each year. The Summer School is held at the All Nations Christian College, near Ware and the residential weekends at High Leigh, a Christian conference centre in Hoddesdon, both in Hertfordshire. In between the residential sessions, students attend weekly evening classes, which are delivered at teaching centres in Norwich, Cambridge and St Albans and online. They also engage in hands-on practical training in local churches. Full time students attend additional classes at one of our context hubs. Each ordinand has a Staff Mentor to support and challenge them, and a Local Supervisor, usually the local vicar. For most ordinands, the programme is a three-year part-time course.

ERMC is a member of the Cambridge Theological Federation and has extensive links with other Church training institutions in the region. Most of our students study for a Diploma or a Certificate in Theology, Ministry and Mission, validated by the University of Durham through the Common Awards scheme. For those with significant previous theological learning we offer a Master of Arts in Theology, Ministry and Mission.

Dorienke de Vries, former ordinand
“After more than 3 years of ordained ministry I am even more grateful for what ERMC has brought me – intellectually and theologically, but first and foremost spiritually and pastorally. Priestly formation was very much about the whole person, which has stood me in good stead ever since. I owe much of my resilience to the support, guidance and teaching that ERMC provided. It has also brought me the blessing of a few very good friends with whom I still pray regularly; I would strongly advice everyone to keep nurturing the friendships and networks formed during ordination training, they are invaluable.”

Full Time Study

By choosing our full-time context-based training route, you can combine part-time work in your local Primary Training Context (PTC) with your academic and formational work.

Part Time Study

Our part time programme is designed to fit in with your busy life. Most of our part time students have significant work and family commitments. And, yes, it requires a bit of juggling and good time management, but it is possible.

Routes Into Study

ERMC offers ecumenical part-time and full-time non-residential training for those preparing for lay and ordained ministry with a friendly, hospitable and a rich community life.