Over £1.3 million in grants have been awarded to fund innovative projects in theological education, aiming to diversify the range of individuals preparing for ministry within the Church of England.
The grants, known as Resourcing Ministerial Formation innovation awards, are distributed by the Ministry Finance Panel on behalf of the Archbishops’ Council. This funding is derived from surplus ministry training funds accumulated over the years and specific allocations for lay-ministry training innovation from the Church Commissioners.
Among the recipients is The Queen’s Foundation in Birmingham, which received £118,756 to explore best practices in training neurodivergent ministers, a project in collaboration with St Mellitus College. The initiative will be spearheaded by Rev Dr Allison Fenton and Revd Ed Olsworth-Peter, focusing on research that will later be shared publicly.
In an interview with The Church Times, Rev Olsworth-Peter, who has personal experience with dyslexia and dyspraxia, emphasised the importance of recognising and supporting neurodivergent individuals in ministry roles.
Mr Olsworth-Peter was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia in his early twenties. He told the outlet that there had been a “limited understanding” of the impact when he was an ordinand. He said. “I would have valued support in the challenges this can bring in ministry, as well as the recognition of the gift that this can be to the Church.
“Over the last two years at St Mellitus, we have been exploring what the formational support of neurodivergent leaders in training might look like, and how this needs a different approach.” He said that he welcomed the chance to “take this work deeper”.
Trinity College Bristol has been granted £230,000 to develop programmes to form a younger and more diverse ministry group. Rev Dr Howard Worsley highlighted the value of embracing students' diverse backgrounds and experiences as integral to the church’s life.
Ripon College Cuddesdon will use its £277,723 grant to create a centre dedicated to training specialists in children’s, youth, and family ministry.
Additionally, partnerships between the diocese of Ely and Ridley Hall in Cambridge have secured £45,208 for training lay chaplains to assist homeless communities in Cambridge.
Other grant beneficiaries include Emmanuel College for supporting vocations in youth ministry and aiding individuals from working-class backgrounds; Eastern Region Ministry Course for an online study skills course; and the diocese of Guildford for extending its Foundations in Ministry program.
Further grants were awarded to Sheffield diocese for diversifying spiritual accompaniers; Bristol diocese for developing youth-focused lay training materials; Church Mission Society for a new MA program focusing on Asian Christianity; and St Augustine’s College of Theology in London for a new MA addressing Discipleship for a Planet in Crisis.