Groundbreaking course to train pioneer ordinands

Church Mission Society has developed a groundbreaking course to train pioneer ordinands for the urgent missionary task in the UK.

The course has been put together in partnership with the Oxford Ministry Course at Ripon College Cuddesdon.

Candidates will be prepared for ordination by being involved directly in pioneering mission and learning ‘on the job’.

Two residential weeks will be spent with CMS pioneers and two residential weeks and six weekends in the year will be spent with students from the Oxford Ministry Course, who are training for parish ministry.

Canon Tim Dakin, the executive leader of CMS, who is soon to become Bishop of Winchester, said the approval of the course was significant for CMS and for the wider church.

"Through the training and deploying of pioneers, ordained and lay, CMS will continue to offer prophetic mission in partnership with the wider church both locally and globally," he said.

The Rev Canon Prof Martyn Percy, principal of Cuddesdon said: "This is a unique partnership between a major mission society and a leading Anglican theological college.

"In offering this new training route for pioneer ministers, CMS and Cuddesdon will be able to combine their resources together, making this venture one of the most innovative, rich and ground-breaking courses in the country."

The course has received official approval as a training pathway for ordained pioneer ministry in the Church of England.

Rachel Jordan, National Adviser for Mission and Evangelism for the Church of England, said CMS was "uniquely qualified" to train pioneer ordinands.

Jordan said: "The roots of pioneering ministry are in the missionary movement and therefore CMS is uniquely qualified to train Church of England pioneer ordinands for the urgent missionary task in the UK.

"CMS pioneer ordinands will benefit from the years of experience in cross-cultural mission that is CMS's expertise and the Church of England will gain many well equipped and specifically trained individuals for 21st century mission."

Pioneer ordinand Johnny Sertin, who leads Earlsfield Friary in southwest London, said he was "overjoyed".

"It is a watershed moment, from which many will benefit as we re-imagine the future together," he said.

The Rt Rev Colin Fletcher, Bishop of Dorchester and a co-chair of the South Central Regional Training Partnership, said, "I am delighted. It is great for pioneers and for God's mission in this country."