OUR AIMS The life and work of public ministers is... > to enable the Christian faith-community to respond to its calling to be a sign of the rule of God, through facilitating the worship, life and ministry of the church and enabling it to recognise its identity as the pilgrim people of God. > to understand the meaning of the good news of God's rule (the gospel) in the context of the contemporary culture in which they offer their ministry and to give an account of it which will enable others to enter into its transformation and renewal. > to make available the tools of godly wisdom, biblical insight and critical reflection so as to equip the pilgrim people of God for their journey. > to represent through their life of service the consequences of the rule of God for human society. Our students are men and women whose call to public ministry has been recognised and affirmed by their sponsoring churches. In our community, all of whose members play an active part in mutual learning and teaching, our aim is to prepare them for their work by... > in-forming their growth in the sacramental identity which arises from their participation in God's calling of his Church to priestly ministry. > developing their commitment to personal and spiritual growth for a lifelong response to this calling. > helping them to grow in faith through worship, prayer, understanding and self-knowledge. > facilitating for them a rigorous, integrated and contextualised engagement with the Bible and the Christian theological tradition. > equipping them to build on this foundation a reflective, creative and self-critical practice of ministry. > enabling them to develop confidence in God who has called them, and the skills they will need from the outset of their public ministry in proclamation, liturgy, communication, pastoral care, leadership and collaboration.     Copyright © 2007 North Thames Ministerial Training Course Registered Charity No. 1094157