The Ordained Assistant Ministry Scheme, or OAMS, is intended to support Christians with substantial life and faith experience to ordination.
The scheme has been established in partnership with Ripon College Cuddesdon for mature Christians to train for ordained assistant ministry in two years, while undertaking the shared discernment process alongside their first year of this training. This enables those wishing to offer themselves for ordained ministry later in life to spend more of the time they have to offer in ministry, following a reduced but appropriately robust period of discernment and training.
Our aim is to form a confident community of learners who love God and are:
• devoted to becoming more Christ-like
• formed for a ministry steeped in contemplation, courage and compassion
• confident in their vocation, equipped for the nurturing of God’s people, and enabling of others in everyday faith and ministry in response to the call and mission of God.
The scheme aims to build on existing relationships and ministry experience, with the expectation that ‘sending churches’ support their candidates on placement throughout training and receives them back as ordained ministers. In this way, it builds the ministry team of the local church as well as releasing highly-skilled, experienced and enabling practitioners to ordained ministry among the whole people of God.
The pathway is designed in such a way that what you study in each course is integrated with practice in the local church, encouraging you to reflect on what you are learning and to grow in character, understanding of ministry and ministerial aptitude.
Bishop Steven said: “We know there are Christians in our churches who have a wealth of experience and a deeply-rooted faith who feel called to ministry. It is our hope this pathway will encourage those people to offer their gifts to God and embark on a new journey of faith with him. I’m hopeful offering another route to ordained ministry will enable more people who feel called to share their love of God with others to step forward.”
To find out more about the OAMS scheme read the course prospectus and criteria and then arrange to have a chat with the vicar at your church. If you have any questions about the scheme please email our Area Director of Ordinands for Berkshire and Oxford, Nicholas Cheeseman.