Loading...Baptism establishes the “priesthood of all believers” and the discipleship and ministry of each individual Christian, and the baptismal covenant provides a foundational document that leads us into ministry. Each time we repeat these vows, we are committing ourselves to a life of ministry, but if we posed the question “Who are the ministers of the Church?” many people would limit the list to priests and bishops.
The Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer, however, expands that list: “The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests and deacons” (p. 855). The ministry of the Church is most effective when laypersons, bishops, priests and deacons are working together as a team. When one of these roles is absent or underutilized, the Church’s ministry is incomplete.
In recognition of this fact and in response to the need for a well-defined and carefully executed program of education and formation for those individuals called to the vocational diaconate or to intentional lay ministry in the Church, the Diocese of Kentucky established a School of Ministry in 2007. The School of Ministry is a two-year program that meets one weekend each month (September through June) at All Saints’ Conference Center in Leitchfield. Students spend the weekend (6:00 p.m. Friday until 4:00 p.m. Saturday) participating in coursework, small group discussion and spiritual formation. In between weekend sessions, students have reading assignments, ministry projects and papers to write. Faculty for the program include diocesan and national clergy and laity. Tuition for the program is $800 per year and includes housing, meals and all materials except textbooks.
Applications are now being accepted for the second cohort of participants and will be accepted until July 15. Classes will begin in September 2009 and the group will graduate in June 2011. If you would like further information about the program or an application, contact the Rev. Rose Bogal-Allbritten, School of Ministry director at 270-293-9490 or rose.bogal@att.net
