The Bishop's Certificate of Ministry

Equipping the Saints for Ministry 

About the Certificate: 
The Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry operates under the authority of the Bunbury Diocesan Bishop-in-Council:  but is managed by the Bunbury Diocesan Education Council.  The Diocesan Policy on Ministry recognizes that there are three essentials in the formation / equipping / training of persons called to ministry as a part of the Body of Christ

·Discipleship
·Theological Understanding
·The Spiritual Life

The Certificate of Ministry initially equips students for ministry within the Body of Christ and the life of the Diocese.  Those with specific Ministries (Pastoral Assistants) are also encouraged to develop their ministry through the Theological, Biblical and Pastoral Training offered in the Certificate.

In order to be licensed to Preach or Teach within Parishes of this Diocese, one must have passed, or be studying the Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry, at least.

It is understood that through their studies / ministry:  some students may come to identify a call to ordination.  The Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry is highly recommended for those seeking to discern such a call, but it should not be regarded as an academic standard for ordination. 
The Ordination Council will advise ordination candidates as to the best course of study. 

The Prime Objectives:
--> To equip the saints for the ministry of the Body of Christ.
--> To provide both practical and academic skills to enable students to take their place in Team --> Ministry in the life of the Diocese.
--> To bond students into the ethos of the Anglican Church.
--> To encourage personal and spiritual maturity.

Entry Requirements:
Prospective students must provide evidence that:
--> They have a definite commitment to Christ and his Church
--> They have a settled and active congregational life for at least the last twelve months
--> They have a desire to serve Christ within the life of the Anglican Church
--> Their application has the support of their Parish Priest or the Priest who has pastoral oversight of the Parish at the time   

There are no academic requirements for entry.  Students may wish to purchase “The Essay” A guide to writing essays and reports from Curtin University.

Method of Study
Those who feel called to engage in ministry are encouraged to study the Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry:  which can be studied at one of these three levels. 

The Certificate of Encouragement:  Assessment is as follows:  Students may “audit” (attendance and class participation only) 8 of 16 units offered in BCM.

The Associate Certificate of Ministry:  Students must successfully complete 8 of 16 units of BCM: preferably choosing one unit from each pair as listed below:

Theology:	Creeds and Heresies or Faith with Understanding
The Church:	Grow. Healthy Churches or Baptism and Eucharist
Anglican Roots:	Anglican Identity or Reformation History
Personal Growth:	Intro to Discipleship or Spiritual Formation
Old Testament:	Old Testament 1 or The Prophets OT 2
New Testament:	New Testament 1 or The Synoptic Gospels NT 2
Ministry Specific:	Intro to Pastoral Care or St. John’s Gospel
The Writings of Paul:	Intro to Paul or The Letter to the Romans

Assessment:  Students are required to answer a series of questions requiring a short (one sentence) answer, upon completion of each unit.

 Students must complete all 16 units listed below.

Assessment:       Students will be required to answer a series of questions requiring a short (one sentence) answer, and write a brief essay as required by the tutor of the unit.  Details will be given in the unit notes or by the lecturer.

FEES:       During 2006 an evaluation of costs per unit of the BCM was undertaken:  and it was discovered that the fees we were charging never even came close to covering the costs.  Therefore from January 2007 we will be charging $25.00 for those who attend group sessions in Parishes:  and $30.00 for those who study externally.  We apologise for the increase, but assure you that these figures only just cover costs, as we want to encourage as many people as possible to study the BCM.

Accreditation:   Students may apply for accreditation for other certificate courses.  Accreditation is at the discretion of the Education Council.  Those seeking accreditation should apply in writing to:

The Bunbury Diocesan Education Council
Fr. Joe Hopkins (Archdeacon/MDO)
13 Cross Street
BUNBURY    WA    6230

Teaching Centres for BCM:       The Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry is being taught on a regular basis in each of the following Centres.  For details of when and where, please phone the contact person as listed:

Albany	Mrs. Colleen Brooks	9841 5015
Boyup Brook	Rev’d Carol Reid	9765 1622
Bunbury	Mrs. Margaret Rippon	9791 2757
Dunsborough	Mrs. Terry Howe	9755 3119
Mandurah	Mrs. Bertha Fullarton	9586 2726
Williams	Mrs. Jo Fowler	9884 5258

For those not able to attend these centres, we provide other methods of study:  read on:

Units that comprise the Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry

The following sixteen units are those authorised for the Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry.  However as the course has evolved to this stage over the past ten years:  those units that were once authorised, but are no longer taught, will still be honoured and attract a credit.  The aim is for students to study one unit per term, and therefore complete the course in four years.  The course details are:

Unit No.	Unit Title	Author/Tutor
Certificate Level
1.	The Message of the Old Testament (OT1)	Fr. Ian MacKay
2.	The Message of the New Testament (NT1)	Fr. Robert Hanson
3.	Introduction to St. Paul	Fr. Geoff Chadwick
4.	Growing Healthy Churches	Fr. Glen Rebello
5.	Creeds and Heresies	Mrs. M. Esslemont
6.	Anglican Identity	Mrs. M. Esslemont
7.	Introduction to Discipleship	Fr. Joe Hopkins
8.	Introduction to Pastoral Care	Rev Karen Urquhart
Diploma Level
9.	The Prophets (OT2)	Fr. Ian MacKay
10.	The Synoptic Gospels (NT2)	Fr. John Abraham
11.	The Letter to the Romans	Fr. John Abraham
12.	Baptism and Eucharist	Fr. Ron Atterly
13.	Faith with Understanding	Fr. Geoff Chadwick
14.	Reformation History	Fr. Theo McCall
15.	Spiritual Formation	Fr. S. MacPherson
16.	St. John’s Gospel	Fr. Robert Hanson

 

There is no specific order in which these units must be studied, however OT1 and NT1 should precede OT2 and NT2 for obvious reasons.

 

Remember our Diocesan Mission Statement.

We are a Diocesan family,
Growing into the likeness of Jesus,
All owning the Ministry of Christ.

External Studies:

Those who are unable to travel to one of the Centres that teach units of the Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry on a regular basis, can study each of the units at home, as an external student.

Through the Bunbury Diocesan Education Council, application can be made to study externally.  All sixteen units will be available.  Upon application, those interested in taking up this option will be sent a set of lecture notes and if possible, the set book of the unit.  Most of the units have also been recorded onto cassette tapes, which can be borrowed if required.  Students will be sent the questions or essay topic for assessment.  The cost of each unit by external study is $30 (only $15 if notes are supplied on a computer disc).  In several parishes two or three members are studying externally, but working together as a group.  By doing this you can reduce the costs a little.

Accreditation: 

The Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry contains eight units set at the Certificate Level:  and eight units set at the Diploma Level.  All of which have been accredited with the Perth College of Divinity.  This means that these qualifications are accepted in any of the three Dioceses in the Province of Western Australia:  and would possibly be acceptable elsewhere as well.  Those who complete the Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry are able then if they wish, to continue their studies by completing eight units of the Perth Diocesan Diploma of Theology.  This Diploma comprises twenty four units and because it too is accredited with the Perth College of Divinity:  they will accept our Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry as the first sixteen units.

Preaching Unit:

Pastoral Assistants within the Diocese of Bunbury who wish to be licensed to Preach, must have completed the Bishop’s Certificate of Ministry:  plus our new Preaching Unit, which will assist to develop the practical skills of preaching.

Download registration form here.