In view of the fact that the understanding of training for ordained ministry has often been dominated by the needs of the priesthood, TEAC feels it important to provide a dedicated grid relating to training for the vocational diaconate. This grid refers to the ministry of those who are called to the long-term or ‘permanent’ diaconate ie those who have no intention of seeking further ordination to the priesthood.
The principle on which this grid is drawn up is that training for the priesthood needs to take place in a continuum beginning with the selection process, followed by preparation for ordination, but then continuing in a structured way in at least the early years of ministry. The Bishops’ grid strongly suggests that all bishops should receive appropriately targeted training during the early years of their episcopal ministry. This grid relating to the theological education and training of bishops is based on the principle that all potential bishops will have already received theological training along the lines suggested in the ‘Priests’ grid. We now offer them as a resource and for comment to the wider Anglican Communion. We offer our thanks to a variety of individuals and organisations with whom we have consulted during this process. The members of TEAC, a body which comprises 35 people representing most of the Anglican Provinces, have worked together on these grids over a period of months, and particularly during out meeting in South Africa. These two grids in particular are less ‘finished’ than the other grids, and may be subject to revision after a consultation which TEAC plans to hold on the Anglican Way.
One of the features of such ‘Outcomes Based’ models therefore is that they offer considerable flexibility, which means that they are appropriate models to offer for situations such as apply in the Anglican Communion, where the varied contexts and availability of resources mean that different methods of training are obviously appropriate in different places. In such a model the primary question is not ‘What does a person know?’ but ‘What competencies does the learner need to gain in order to be able to fulfil this or that task/job/vocation?’ The necessary competencies can be gained in a variety of ways. The grids are an example of the increasingly used ‘Outcomes Based’ model for education. The collection of grids which can be accessed through this page on the website aim to set out in an accessible way the ‘competencies’ that TEAC believes are essential for people engaged in various forms of ministry and discipleship within the Anglican Communion – at different stages in their formation.