Mirfield Residential Contextual Pathway

Students on this pathway will be members of both Colleges:

The College of the Resurrection (CoR) provides:

• Accommodation The College of the Resurrection (CoR) will be your primary home – literally, as you will live there, and metaphorically, in that your Diocese will count you as a ‘CoR ordinand’;
• Community You will take a full part in the life of the CoR community, including worship and prayer.
• Support CoR staff will provide overall formational and tutorial support, including additional short-term placements.

St Hild provides:

Classes & workshops: Most of your classes will be with St Hild, including some weekend workshops and monthly meetings with other full-time contextual students to reflect together and share your learning.

Contextual placement & Academic Studies: St Hild will provide and oversee your contextual placement and your academic studies, which will normally include a programme of study towards a Durham University award in Theology, Ministry and Mission: the university will count you as a ‘St Hild student’.

• In a typical week in term-time you will spend the equivalent of two full days in context, including Sunday services;
• you will the equivalent of two full days set aside for classes and private studies;
• the remainder of the week will afford space for worship, CoR community life, and rest and relaxation.
• Outside of term-time you will be free from commitment to your contextual placement, and may choose to return to your home base.
• Where appropriate and helpful to you, there may be one or more short-term placements for you to undertake outside term-time: these will be discussed with you and overseen by the CoR staff team.
• This pathway will require you to be adept at moving between quite different cultures, but you will be treading a path pioneered by others, and supported by staff and peers in both colleges. We know that it can work well for the right candidates.

• As a CoR student, you and any accompanying family will have access to all the pastoral and practical support of the Mirfield community.
• You will belong to a CoR tutorial and prayer group.
• As a member of the St Hild Full-Time Contextual Pathway, you will be supported by our Mirfield Contextual Tutor who will oversee the arrangement and ongoing review of your context.
• You will also join a monthly peer-group meeting for reflection on contextual learning.
• In your context, you will have a placement supervisor who is responsible for ensuring that you are given opportunities for effective learning and growth, and regular theological reflection.
• The local context is also a place of community and support for ordinands and, where appropriate, their families.
• In our experience, full-time contextual students grow significantly in their capacity to manage complexity, connect with support structures, and flourish in a local context – all of this prepares them well for curacy and future ministry.

This form of training is suitable for all ordinands who can be considered for residential training; it will be especially attractive for those seeking to combine the experience of the structured spiritual life of Mirfield, with the missional training available in a full-time context.

• Your academic programme of study will be decided by St Hild in conversation with you.
• We do not have a ‘one size fits all’ study programme, but will work to identify the best route for you based on your prior study and experience, the nature of your vocation, and in response to any particular training needs identified at BAP.
• You might study towards an undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate award over two or three years, completing anything from the Common Awards suite which includes the Higher Education Diploma, BA, Graduate or Post-Graduate Diploma, or MA. See Durham Common Awards here
• Whatever your academic programme, a significant portion of it will relate to reflecting on what you are learning through experience, both in your placement/s and in the shared life of worship and prayer.
• More traditional academic studies will include modules in biblical study, church tradition (including worship and doctrine), and ministry and mission.
• Studies are organised in modules which carry ten or twenty credits; the typical programme of study is made up of between 80 and 120 credits per academic year.
• The majority of your classes will be with St Hild, but we aim to identify one or two modules a year that you can take alongside CoR students.
• For students requiring additional learning support, additional study time can be provided.

• The local context is also a place of community and support for ordinands and, where appropriate, their families. In our experience, full-time contextual students grow significantly in their capacity to manage complexity, connect with support structures, and flourish in a local context – all of this prepares them well for curacy and future ministry.
• As a CoR student, you and any accompanying family will have access to all the pastoral and practical support of the Mirfield community.
• You will belong to a CoR tutorial and prayer group.
• As a member of the St Hild Full-Time Contextual Pathway, you will be supported by our Mirfield Contextual Tutor who will oversee the arrangement and ongoing review of your context.
• You will also join a monthly peer-group meeting for reflection on contextual learning.
• In your context, you will have a placement supervisor who is responsible for ensuring that you are given opportunities for effective learning and growth, and regular theological reflection.