By Amanda Wells
The Rev Graham Redding, who recently became head of the School of Ministry, says he is constantly asked two kinds of questions: how will the new internship model work and who will pay for it?
Graham was inducted into his new role at a service in February, as part of a programme of radical change to leadership training that was approved by last year’s General Assembly. This year the training centre remains known as the School of Ministry, with the Establishment Board to decide when a name-change will occur. Graham says this is likely to be at the start of next year, when the first students begin training under the new internship-based model. The Establishment Board is inviting suggestions on what the new name should be, after some negative feedback about the proposed “Centre for Christian Leadership”.
This year is business as usual, with about 20 students. One third of these will graduate from the ordination studies programme this year, another third are in the first year of ordination studies, and the final third are distance students. At this point, two students are enrolled to start next year, Graham says, with another round of national assessment, which evaluates prospective candidates for ministry, due later this year. Under the new model, interns will spend approximately 80 percent of their time doing ministry and 20 percent of their time participating in distance learning and block courses.
He says people have been expressing uncertainty as to what the new system will mean for parishes and presbyteries. “The system is very flexible, so we can explore a variety of options. It’s not a one-size-fits-all.”
Graham will visit the presbytery in which the prospective intern lives, talk to the presbytery’s student committee and explore possibilities for placement. This could be in a single parish or the presbytery could arrange a placement over two or even three parishes. “My role is to broker the opportunity and ensure students have a consistent quality of experience”.
Setting up the local infrastructure for the student will be critical, he says. This includes having a supervisor and pastoral support. Supervisors will be trained and accredited by the Centre.
Aside from internship logistics, the other area of concern that people have is money, Graham says. He says arrangements will be flexible, with a partnership arrangement in place with the centre. This means that while the Centre effectively underwrites the money the student receives, local possibilities for providing that funding will be explored. While some large churches might be able to accommodate the cost of an intern within their budget, small vacant parishes might be able to use the funds they would otherwise put towards stated supply or supply a manse.
Have an idea for the new centre’s name? Graham would welcome suggestions to principal@knoxcollege.ac.nz