Considering ministry in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland?
If you are not a candidate for ordained ministry in PCI, but are open to the possibility of giving it serious and prayerful consideration, you should ordinarily contact the Dean of Ministerial studies and Development, who will have overall responsibility for guiding applicants through all stages of the Application Process.
Until the Dean of Ministerial studies commences work in August, Andrew Faulkner, convener of the Council for Training in Ministry would welcome conversations with anyone interested in talking about applying for ordained ministry within PCI
afaulkner@presbyterianireland.org
Applications must be submitted by 31 August in any year.
The programme of training is:
- Determined by the General Assembly;
- Overseen by its Council for Training in Ministry;
- Delivered at Union College as well as a number of 'recognised colleges' elsewhere
All trainees must fulfil the training requirements laid down by the General Assembly and the normal pathway consists of three years full-time study, followed by a 26-month period as a licentiate assistant.
Trainees with primary degrees (2.1 honours or above) normally study a Master of Divinity Programme under the Presbyterian Faculty of Ireland, along with other Council for Training in Ministry modules.
Trainees who do not have the necessary qualifications for admission to the MDiv programme study a ministry preparation programme under the Council for Training in Ministry.
Trainees are required to undertake two full-time placements at the end of the first and second years of study. During the third year, trainees will be assigned to a congregation as a student assistant.
Flexible Training Pathway
The Council can recommend that a training pathway is flexible in cases where a trainee has previous theological education and / or ministry experience. More information is provided during the application process.
To view three short promotional films exploring what it is to be a minister, click here.
