What students have said
“Each study day was totally inspirational” … “Teaching was excellent” … “Tutors hugely encouraging and inspiring” … “Encouraged me to become involved in planning worship” … “Affirmed my calling”
SWMTC delivers this one-year course for the Diocese of Exeter, to give a foundation for lay ministry.
The course’s aims are:
- to deepen your Christian discipleship
- to give you a grounded SWMTC understanding of the Bible, Christian theology, and spirituality
- to help form your gifts for ministry and discern God’s call for your next step
- to provide you with a foundation for further training in lay ministry
Seven study days are delivered on Saturdays through the year, starting in September. These provide teaching on the Bible, Theology, Spirituality and Pastoral Care. Students meet in smaller tutor groups to reflect together on their experiences of the course, and spend time together in worship, socialising and vocational exploration.
Students also participate in discussion groups in their parishes, and are invited to carry out a small number of written exercises. Resources are recommended for further reading.
The FiCM is a learning community within the wider SWMTC community. We explore and learn together what it means to cultivate ‘adventurous faith, missional hope & grounded love’, which are at the heart of the shared life of SWMTC. It will deepen your knowledge of Christianity so that you can better serve as a follower of Christ.
A full course description is available here:
FiCM – Course Description 2023-24
The FiCM provides the foundation year for training as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) in the Diocese of Exeter. Selection for the two-year LLM training programme follows completion of the course. SWMTC LLM (Reader) Training
How to Apply
Enquiries: For more information and initial enquiries about pursuing the programme, please contact Revd Belinda Speed-Andrews, the Programme Coordinator & Administrator, at admin@swmtc.org.uk
We also suggest you talk to your parish priest to explore whether they would sponsor you.
Registration: Forms for the next academic year are usually available in the new year, and the deadline is usually Easter. 1:1 conversations about the programme take place with each applicant between Easter and July.
Entry requirements: Open to all in the Diocese of Exeter.
Fees: There is no course fee to the student; core training costs are met by the Diocese. Students are responsible for the costs of travel and books.
