On the job training

Madeleine Collins | 1 November 2006

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From the coalface

Glen Smith, 47, is chaplain to the Sydney Roosters and a member of Wild Street Anglican Church, Eastgardens. He is one of two people taking part in a pilot program of the new Diploma of Bible and Ministry. Glen shares his story.

I’ve put study on the backburner for the last few years.

I did Year 12 30 years ago and 15 years ago I did a small business practice course at TAFE.

For the last 12 years I’ve been a sports chaplain with the Sydney Roosters.

Last year I took on the added role of coordinating the NRL chaplains.

I’ve been really privileged to be in a church over the year that’s taken the Bible seriously.

We’ve been taught the Bible well. It’s been awesome getting further into God’s word to assist in my understanding and being able to teach the Bible better.

I’m doing it part-time; however, it feels like full time! It’s not easy by any stretch of the imagination. It’s putting study on top of an already busy life.

However, that’s also one of the benefits and the privileges of being able to study and continue in my different ministry roles.

There’s no real shortcut when you’re studying something as serious as God’s word.

Because I do so many different things you’re always looking to economise and cut corners.

I’ve learnt this year that you can’t do study the easy way.

You’ve really got to prepare well and do all the reading that’s required and it’s been a challenge.

I’m just thriving on understanding the Bible.

If you’re able be trained further and if God gives you the time and the energy to study, then the benefit is you can continue your ministry roles and not have to pick them up from scratch somewhere down the track.

You’re here to get trained to do your job better.

Twenty-something students will be mixing with a growing army of baby boomers at Moore College from next year.

For the first time the theological college will offer a ‘half time’ course – a Diploma of Bible and Ministry that has been developed by Moore College, Mary Andrews College, Anglicare, Anglican Retirement Villages (ARV) and Hope Healthcare.

The course will help to equip retirees to transition from the workforce to a ‘second career’ in ministry and to provide theological training for people who are already active in their churches or in para-church ministries, such as chaplains.

Students will be the equivalent of first year students at the college, although they will not have to study Greek and will have the option of studying one year full time or two years half time. The course is covered by the Federal Government’s FEE-HELP scheme.

The course includes a certificate of Clinical Pastoral Education, which is a mandatory requirement for chaplains.

In developing the course, 40 questionnaires were sent to a range of ministry staff in parishes and aged care workers asking them what they expect people’s skills to provide. The answers revolved around helping people to cope through loss and grief and the spiritual support of older people.

Students would work under senior ministers of churches, who would be encouraged to take on the diploma student as ‘apprentices’, similar to the arrangements that Youthworks College has with churches where students study at the college and work in their local church.

“We’re not expecting a catechist position [but] it [would] be great to have people on the staff to know the Lord and proclaim him,” says Archie Poulos, Director of Training at Moore College.

He also hopes the course will help affiliated ministries such as chaplains to gain closer links to local church life through the training they receive which will help them to train volunteers from churches.

“We need far more people who are involved in that,” he says.

The need for such trained workers is becoming evident: ARV is working with parishes in employing more chaplains and pastoral care workers for its growing number of villages. Anglicare, ARV and Hope Healthcare are keen for more volunteers.

Mr Polous says there is not a clear ministry path for older Christians following the dissolving of Club 55, a program of the Ministry Training Strategy (MTS).

“My goals are to train more people…in a way that’s accessible for them,” he says. “Otherwise there are very few options available to them.”

Associate Professor Andrew Cole of Hope Healthcare says the lack of ministry direction was a ‘major problem’ because of the ‘massive ministry opportunities’ that an ageing population presents.

“We need to get people interested, trained and [ready] for it to happen soon,” Associate Professor Cole says. “The number of elderly people is going to triple in 20 years. If a church has a youth worker, it should probably have two aged care workers in 20 years’ time.”

Archdeacon of South Sydney Deryck Howell says the course fits ‘really well’ with policy three of the Diocesan Mission: raising up well-trained workers.

“For the Mission to succeed, we need thousands and thousands of full and part-time workers,” Archdeacon Howell said. “It’s a terrific step in the right direction.”

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