This is only the Beginning
Margaret Dyball, a member of the Parish of Taree, reflects on her journey through the Bishop’s Certificate in Theology for Ministry
We have had a remarkable eighteen months. We came to the Bishop’s Certificate not really knowing what to expect. Our first weekend at Point Woolstoncroft back in January 2009 was quite daunting –many new people to meet- and there was also the return to study – which many of us had not attempted for several years.
All arrangements for our learning were so well thought out, so well put into place.- from the study weekends, the learning days, to the volumes of notes.
The challenges we have encountered on our Certificate journey have allowed us to discover things about ourselves and indeed each other in our local groups. For some of us, our computer skills have been enhanced, we have been stretched and challenged, and we have had to step out of our comfort zone to meet the requirements of each subject.
We studied Mission as transformation, Anglicanism, Bible – its Culture and Context, Pastoral Care and Liturgy for Life. – Five foundational areas for our lives as Anglican Christians. We found that subject themes were often interwoven, and so enhancing its importance for us.
There have been times when our own resources have run low and it has been the spark, the encouragement, from others in our groups that has rekindled our enthusiasm and resolve to continue.
We have found that like life, there were no shortcuts along the way – especially if we were to take from each subject as much as it had to offer. Each of us has grown in our understanding of our faith – within our hearts, but also in our minds.
We have grown in our understanding of God’s call to mission, particularly as it applies to our local community. We have learnt much more about our local community and have endeavoured to identify its most pressing needs. We know that each of us is challenged to and must make a difference where we live in order to continue Christ’s calling.
To our families and friends – we say thanks for your support and encouragement. It would have been a difficult road to travel without your assistance.
To our mentors, tutors and lecturers, thank you. As Albert Schweitzer said – “Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lit the flame within us”.
As we come to realise this is the end for us of our studies for the Bishop’s Certificate in Theology for Ministry, we thank God for the opportunity to have been able to make the journey.
There is a short saying: The journey is the reward. And for us our journey has been our reward – We have gained the skills to move forward in our calling to be an active part of a missional Church, to be able to reach out with God’s love and a better understanding to serve the people of our Parish and our community. This is only the beginning!
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Being Transformed as a Disciple of Christ
Michael Thompson, a Lay Minister in the Parish of Southlakes, reflects on his journey through the Bishop’s Diploma in Theology for Ministry
My formation in an all Catholic environment during the 1950’s and 1960’s provided a particular mind-set for thinkingabout and judging matters of religion, morals and ethics. It has been a blessing to have journeyed through the Bishop’s Diploma in Theology for Ministry to rattle narrower paradigms and to unearth personal prejudices.
The Diploma programme has challenged me to reflect and ponder on my understanding and thinking about Church, mission, theology, doctrine, Scripture, and ethics.
I spent a great deal of time on the course readings and questions – being a perfectionist – as I tried to capture the right words that would accurately communicate my new insights and learnings.
The programme provided the framework for ‘adult learning’ allowing someone like me to work at my own pace, setting my own targets and re-writing as much or as little as I wanted.
I was encouraged by the presence and interaction of fellow participants at the residential learning weekends and learning days. I felt that I belonged to a bigger Diocesan community of learners sharing a common purpose whilst living it in local contexts.
It was refreshing to be able to let go of ‘theology and doctrine’ as formulations to be protected and to arrive at a new position of ‘evolving theology and doctrine’ for living in particular contexts.
Here too, the ‘situational analysis’ was of value in providing tools and skills for analysis and reflection on the local context, thereby allowing ‘mission’ to meet real discerned needs and providing the skills to evaluate the effectiveness of all mission endeavours.
It seemed that financially I paid only a small amount of the cost for the programme. I am thankful to our Bishop and the Diocesan Synod for the major financial contribution that they enabled.
Many have given of their time and energies in the preparation, delivery, assessment processes and the evaluation of the course. I am grateful to all of them, and particularly to Fr David Battrick who has been involved in all aspects of the programme.
Yet for me the deepest aspect of the programme is that it is Spirit-led through the giftedness and vision of our Diocesan Bishop.
There are three words under the NSTM logo that are the core of the programme for me – ‘Formation for Transformation’.
My hope is that the formation I have gained from these studies is transforming me to be a better disciple of Christ, involved in mission and ministry for the transformation of all God’s creation.
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Space to Disagree… Even with the Archbishop of Canterbury
Jill Lovett, a Lay Preacher in the Parish of Williamtown-Medowie-Mallabula, reflects on her journey through the Bishop’s Certificate in Theology for Ministry
During 2010 and early 2011, I shared the challenging journey of the Bishop’s Certificate programme with a number of other participants. “Challenging” is a good word to describe our struggles which began the moment we were presented with the first two bulky and imposing Course Handbooks.
Surely, we asked ourselves in stunned amazement, surely we weren’t meant to read all that in a few months not to mention answering all those questions! But yes, it was true, we realised glumly, that’s exactly what we were being asked to do.
We met for our first learning weekend at Point Wolstoncroft. It was really interesting and informative to attend the lectures over the weekend and exchange ideas with the lecturers and participants. The participants on my course were a lively and interesting group who were not afraid to ask awkward questions which made for much entertainment during lectures. The Certificate fog was beginning to lift and we could see some light ahead.
I discovered that the Situation Analysis Handbooks were particularly challenging. Completing the Personal Audit felt rather like writing an autobiography and it was amazing what I found out about myself. It was also really difficult trying to decide on a scale between 1 and 10, how much I trusted the statements made by the Bishop of Newcastle, the Prime Minister and my best friend! Now that really took some thinking! I won’t tell you how I scored them!
I spent quite a few restless nights trying to work out how to create a map of my local area that looked at least a little bit professional and not like the efforts of a kindergarten participant. The questions about what I thought of my local community amenities, however, gave me a wonderful opportunity to moan my
head off !
Which brings me to the most significant point about the Bishop’s Certificate which I appreciated so much: the way that I could be completely honest about everything from theological questions to the absence of local amenities in my community and know that my opinion was respected and even welcomed.
I found the Certificate a really liberating experience especially when it came to my own theological opinions. At one stage I found myself actually disagreeing in my answers with the Archbishop of Canterbury over some of his theology! Now that is liberating for a little old grannie like me!
I appreciated the fascinating cross-section of articles and subjects that helped to give us a really broad understanding of modern biblical scholarship, Anglican theological opinions, Anglican tradition, pastoral care, the place of worship and liturgy within our faith, as well as how our Christian faith impacts upon modern social issues.
I want to thank everyone involved in the Bishop’s Certificate programme, especially my fellow participants many of whom were working full time whilst studying, a truly great achievement. It has all been an amazing journey.
