Lindisfarne (LCT) trains people for ordained and lay public ministries offering a range of study opportunities for those exploring ministry, and those who are already in ministry.

‘’The local and part time nature of study allowed for engagement with tutorial-groups and guided reading, while working full-time and keeping acquainted with family and friends!

The experience has made me more reflective, enabled a broader understanding of church, and given me the tools to aid discussion of faith with other from different backgrounds.’’

Martin, Student

 

Exploring Independent study:

Lindisfarne’s core offer includes modules designed to enable you to learn about different ways to pray, to discover your own preferred way to seek God and to be attentive to him, and to learn how to respond as a faithful disciple. All our programmes – Foundation, Certificate, Diploma, BA and MA – seek to build on this foundation to enable you to grow in Christian character and to learn how to serve God. These courses are open to Independent students as well as those sponsored by the Churches for different ministries. We would expect that you can manage the level of study at which you wish to work, that you are in good standing with your local Church, and that you can fulfil the expectations of the Disclosure Barring Service.

If you are interested in studying with us as an independent student, we would love to hear from you.

‘’I joined the Lindisfarne community as a retired teacher and lifelong Anglican, delighted to have the opportunity to learn more about the faith we share.  It has been a privilege to explore the scriptures together with the tutors and fellow students and to debate the very nature of God revealed in both Testaments, the witness and example of fellow students, and in the writings of those who have walked before us along the road.

We have celebrated the joy of discovering how faith in the love of God has inspired humans for thousands of years.  We have struggled with scriptures of despair and suffering.  We have been humbled by the service and dedication of the faithful.  We have been thankful for the fellowship, prayers and support of our fellow travellers.

I am very grateful for all the opportunities that Lindisfarne has given to me to know God better.’’

Ian, Student

 

Exploring Reader ministry:

Lindisfarne trains people for Reader ministry in the Church of England. Readers play a vital role in the public ministry of the Church, in leading worship, teaching and preaching, as well as in a wide range of pastoral contexts. As lay people who have studied theology they are well placed to stand alongside others as we all wrestle with life’s ‘big questions’. They can help people both inside and outside the Church to interpret life in the light of the gospel and its values. Reader ministry is a voluntary ministry; most Readers continue in their work / everyday life while they train and minister.

A call to public ministry is often recognised first by the individual concerned, but it’s sometimes another person – their vicar, a member of the congregation, a friend or family member – who first mentions the possibility that someone might be being called by God to this ministry.

If you think Reader ministry might be for you, or if others are suggesting that it might be, pray, think and talk about it with a few close and trusted people, and mention it to your parish clergy. If there is general agreement that this seems to be the right thing for you to explore, your vicar will be able to refer you to the appropriate person to discuss with you the process of discernment and selection.

 

Exploring Ordination:

Lindisfarne trains people for a range of different expressions of ordained ministry. Some people are ordained to stipendiary ministry; once trained they stop their present work to engage in full-time parish ministry. After an initial period as a curate they will become vicars or chaplains or will exercise their ministry in some other way. Other people are ordained to non-stipendiary / self-supporting ministry in which they give their time voluntarily and may continue to earn a living alongside their ministry if they wish to do so. For some of these the main focus will be their parish, for others it will be their place of work.

A call to public ministry is often recognised first by the individual concerned, but it’s sometimes another person – their vicar, a member of the congregation, a friend or family member – who first mentions the possibility that someone might be being called by God to this ministry.

If you think that God might be calling you to ordained ministry, or if others are suggesting this, pray, think and talk about it with a few close and trusted people, and talk with your parish clergy. When exploring any perceived call to public ministry there is a balance to be achieved between keeping it secret and telling all and sundry from the outset, – and it can be tempting to want to hurry things along. It is important that you let the discernment process happen at its own pace and that you entrust the timing of it to those appointed by the Church to accompany you on this journey. Your vicar will be able to refer you to the appropriate person to discuss with you the process of discernment and selection.