Authorised Local Training Pathway Overview

What is the ALT Pathway?

The ALT Pathway is designed to encourage lay people of all ages and backgrounds to explore further what God may be calling them into. It is flexible, adaptable to character and context: supporting an individual's particular learning style and interests. The Pathway is a 'light touch', participant led approach which is supported by study days, evening twilight sessions and meetings with a personal mentor.

ALTP begins with a one year commitment during which the participant will be given the chance to explore where they feel God may be calling them while developing their gifts and skills and learning about ministry.

Aims of ALTP

To discern and respond to God’s call for mission and ministry in the local church To enable participants to identify themselves as being part of the mission and ministry within the church of Cumbria To enable and equip participants to share their faith in both word and deed, and in turn, inspire and equip others to do the same To learn more about the Church’s worship, care and hospitalityTo develop the confidence of participants in their ministry

The first year:

During Year One of ALTP the participant is expected to:

Engage with the activities/reflections on a monthly work card Attend three Saturday study daysAttend three evening twilight sessions Work with a mentor with whom they will have an introductory first meeting, followed by four mentor sessions at three monthly intervals across the yearKeep a journal and complete a portfolio as part of the pathway process

To encourage a sense of community and further support, the participants are encouraged to form small groups with others engaged with the ALTP for prayer support and sign up to a private on-line group in order to share resources, stories and prayer.

Those who wish to be considered for Authorised Lay Ministry (within the Church of England) or who wish to deepen and extend their skills can continue on the pathway for a second year. This is ALTP+: during this year, they will continue to work with a mentor in a more focussed way.

Pathway year one programme guide:

For each of the themes there is a themed work card to engage with which is supported by a resource card. It is important that the ALT Pathway is entered into with a sense of exploration, 'having a go' and journey, which allows the participants to benefit from their participation.

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Themed Work cards: Topic themed cards to be engaged with monthly, each one having five options:

prayerful out & about reflective missional children & young people

Authorised Local Training Pathway Overview

Pillar Monthly Themed Cards Study Day Twilight Session

Welcome & Hospitality BelongingTwilight Session

Accessibility

Pastoral Care & Ministry CompassionStudy Day Session

Listening

Worship Why worship?Study Day Session

Spirituality

Mission & Outreach Doing things differentlyStudy Day Session

Traditional

Christian Tradition Connecting with the BibleTwilight Session

Ecumenism

God For All Why God For All?Twilight Session

Mission Communities

Each month the participant engages with at least one of these options choosing a different option each time to ensure a variety of responses are experienced. The participant is expected to keep a journal of their experiences and reflections.

Pathway Year Two:

ALTP+ is an opportunity to go deeper and explore one type of ministry more specifically. It is at this stage that the pathways might look more diverse as participants engage in more tailor-made training. The participant will be expected to continue to work with their mentor and to be beginning to develop experience in ministry under the supervision (which may be delegated) of their local church leader.

There are six areas of ministry, participants will be encouraged to focus on one.

Ministry Area Course OfferedWorship CMS certificate module - Church & Fresh Expressions or Worship Leaders

Course

Pastoral IME 1 Pastoral Care module (audit)

Pioneer Complete the whole CMS certificate

Children, Youth & Messy Dedicated CYM module delivered through CMS

Fresh Expressions Leadership Complete the whole CMS certificate

Chaplaincy Purpose written module led by Glynn Jones

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Personal mentor:

Each participant will be matched with a personal mentor.

After an introductory first meeting, participants will meet with their mentor an additional four times over the academic year. The sessions will be used to reflect on what the participant has learned about themselves, God and their own context through the process of journaling and engaging with the monthly themed cards.

The mentor will engage with the discernment process at the end of year one (ALTP) and the end of year two (ALTP+) if applicable.

Possible mentors can be recommended by the participant, sending church or Mission Community leader, or can be provided by the ALTP team leader.

What’s Next?

For those in the Church of England

Through a process of discernment and reflection you may decide that God is calling you to Reader Ministry or ministry as a Deacon or Priest – some people may join the ALT Pathway as a positive means of discerning that vocation.

After the first year you may decide that you would like to exercise your ministry locally and in a low-key way – so you would consider becoming a Recognised Lay Minister.

After completing ALTP+ you may discover that you are ready to be authorised by the Bishop as an Authorised Lay Minister with a specific ministry role.

See the document, ‘Becoming a Lay Minister in Cumbria’

Other denominations have different ministerial outcomes, but all value the course as a means of discernment and reflection

You can find more details on

‘Starting and Finishing Well’

‘Compiling a portfolio’

‘The application process’

If you’d like to ask any questions in relation to the course or about Lay Ministry in Cumbria, please don’t hesitate to contact:

Principal of Lay Ministry Development: Rev’d Dr Allison Fenton, God For All Team: allison.fenton@carlislediocese.org.uk, 01768 807765 or general office phone number: 01768 807777

For information about the administrative matters: Joy Barrie: joy.barrie@carlislediocese.org.uk, 01768 807777

Authorised Local Training Pathway Overview

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