Sodor and Man Ministerial Internship 2013/14 All highest and glorious God, cast your light into the darkness of my heart. Grant me right faith, firm hope, perfect charity, profound humility, with wisdom and perception, O Lord, so that I may always and everywhere seek to know and do what is truly your holy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen St Francis of Assisi
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Time out in service and discovery A year on an Island serving the community; serving God. A year on an Island discovering God; discovering yourself.
Discerning God’s call in the noise of the world isn’t easy; but don’t think it’ll be any easier on a tiny Island in the Irish Sea. As you listen to the call of God, the Diocese of Sodor and Man invites you to come and live among us, in the place where Maughold first sought to preach the Gospel over 1400 years ago. A place ravaged by the Vikings, bought and sold by the wealthy throughout history; a land now fiercely independent and free. Come and listen to your own call through service, reflection and encounter. Find time to focus on God’s purpose for your life as you discover that your path ahead is like none you’ve walked before.
Until the reformation the Diocese was part of the Norwegian church, a detail left over from our ancient Here you are both pioneer heritage. Our Celtic heritage is shaped by Patrick, minister and country parson; German (and other obscure Celtic saints like Maughold, where faith has deep roots; Cairbre and Sanctain), creating a strong feeling of being but also where the gospel a Church of England Diocese that is not part of the needs to be preached afresh ‘English established church’. for a new generation. The Cathedral Church of St German, Peel, is the Cathedral church of the Diocese of Sodor and Man (a diocese that today only includes the Isle of Man, but originally included the 'Sudrys' or Southern Isles of the Archdiocese of Nidaros and Trondheim and incorporated the western Isles of Scotland and part of the Scottish Coast).
The Background
The Diocese is the smallest in the Church of England and serves a population of 85,000 people.
The Island is a self governing Crown Dependency – governed by Tynwald not Westminster.
Tynwald is the worlds oldest continually sitting democratically elected parliament beginning in 979AD. The Island is not part of the European Union, and even prints its own currency. Famous for TT races, cats with no tails, all things ‘three legged’ and summer holidays. You’ll discover that UK mobile phones don’t work here, we have our own postal service, health service and even our own language, Manx Gaelic.
The sense of community is still very strong on the Island – from the local social level right through to the island's thriving farming and fishing industry.
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The Parish of the West Coast Skeerey yn Clyst-‐Marrey Heear Serving the communities of Dalby, Kirk Michael, Patrick, Peel, and St Johns
Your year will be based mainly within the Parish of the West Coast, which is part of the Western Mission Partnership. In January 2013 Mission Partnerships replaced the old ‘Deanery’ structure on the Island in order to refocus the church’s mission and ministry ready for a time of change and development, as the church prepares to continue its mission and ministry on the Island, a mission started at least 1400 years ago.
The Western Mission Partnership is made up of 8 churches, grouped into two Parishes. Initially, you will work in the Parish of West Coast. The Parish of the West Coast has five Parish Churches, one of which is also the Cathedral, and one serves the Island as the ‘national church’ and plays an important part in the Island’s culture as the ‘Tynwald Church’ serving the Manx Government, The Tynwald.
The current Cathedral is the second Cathedral in Peel and is known by some as the 'new cathedral'. It dates from around 1880 and became the Cathedral in 1980. It is only just beginning to explore what it means to be the 'mother' church of the diocese.
Peel is the main town on the West Coast of the Island.
It is becoming a 'commuter town' for Douglas (the capital) in the East, and Castletown in the south, although it still maintains a very ‘local’ identity. It has a somewhat 'bohemian' feel to it. Until recently Peel was considered to be ‘undesirable’ by some; now it is becoming a popular place to be away from the 'bustling metropolis' that is Douglas. This is also true of the many other communities along the West Coast. The Parish of the West Coast and the Diocese are at a point in their history where they are having to re-‐examine their patterns of ministry. What has existed here is no longer working as effectively as it should. Our current bishop is working very hard to ensure the diocese remains a good, faithful and secure servant of the Island community – but this is with the recognition that things cannot stay as they are. Each of the five churches in the parish is at the early stages of planning for the future. These creative plans range from a £15 million redevelopment of the Cathedral and its surrounding landscape through to community allotments in Kirk Patrick.
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The Diocese of Sodor and Man Together Making Christ Visible
A period in the desert place? A task to complete? An opportunity to grow?
The year runs for 11 months from September through to July. Your induction will run for three weeks in September, then you’ll spend the remaining part of the year ‘in the Parish’. The induction consists of three weeks working with SUMT and their new cohort of ‘gappers’. This will give you a welcome to Island life, practical skills and resources to get you started right away and a chance to make new friends from day one. This will include an induction to the Diocese, the Mission partnership, the Parish and all things Anglican!
Your time might be focused on a specific area, or might simply be more general as you get an insight into the working of Parish life as a potential ordained minister in the Church of England.
Your year will use the 9 ‘criteria for selection’ as a foundation. Whilst we recognize that not all interns will go onto be ordained, these criteria provide a basis on which to consider carefully God’s vision and purpose for your life ahead.
Throughout the year you’ll be guided by a supervisor who will work with you in a process of theological reflection on your practice.
Alongside life in the Parish, you are invited to enroll as a student on courses currently run by All Saints, or the Diocesan Certificate in Christian Studies. We hope these will provide a basis for further academic development alongside your practice and experience.
You will also develop daily patterns of prayer and worship that will sustain you in years ahead.
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Our Partners… As such a small Diocese, we cannot do all of this alone. Here are two of our Partners who will be here for you in your year.
Scripture Union Ministries Trust (SUMT) SUMT was established over 20 years ago on the Isle of Man and is part of the Scripture Union Associates Scheme. A registered Manx charity with a strong leadership team of Trustees, an executive body, paid staff, and a raft of fantastic volunteers -‐ full time and part time. SUMT connects in with local churches, primary and secondary education, and has established a gap year programme for emerging leaders offering opportunities for around 16 young people each year focusing on youth work and Christian leadership. SUMT will partner to deliver the induction programme – including first aid, COSHH, Safeguarding, team skills, schools work, personal development, leadership training and fortnightly bible teaching. SUMT are based in a ‘community house’ – Mallmore – on the South Coast of the island and will offer a welcome retreat, a source of great pastoral care (and coffee) and a collection of other young people all exploring Christian Ministry from many different denominations. Find out more about SUMT at www.sumt.im
All Saints Centre for Mission and Ministry All Saints (formerly known as the Southern North Western Training Partnership or SNoWToP until August 2012), offer theological training for those training non-‐residentially for full or part time, lay or ordained ministry in the Church of England and other denominations across the North West of England. All Saints has a ‘satellite’ base on the Island and offers courses validated through the University of Chester.
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Accommodation and finance During your time on Island you will be living ‘in community’ in a shared house in Peel. A Study bedroom will be provided for each ‘intern’ within a five bedroom, three bathroom house. Situated in the centre of Peel, the traditional three storey terrace also has two reception rooms and Kitchen diner/breakfast-‐room. The house is less than a hundred yards from the Deanery, Cathedral and Office. The Deanery was completely refurbished and extended in 2012, and a new Cathedral Office (where most of the core ‘parish’ staff are also based) was established at the same time. Living ‘in-‐community’ offers a chance to further develop basic life skills, to grow new – and hopefully lifelong – friendships in a context of formation and discipleship. We estimate that you will need around £65 per week for your own ‘pocket money’ to cover things like clothing, contribution towards evening meals, your own mobile phone bills, toiletries, travel and ‘time out’ and personal travel. We can send you a copy of a suggested budget – just ask! We recognize that giving a year of your life is priceless, so wherever possible we will seek to help you with these costs. At the time of writing we can offer a grant of £2500 per person towards your ‘pocket money’ costs in addition to accommodation (we will pay for utility bills and rates). We are continually seeking funding from sponsors on Island and may be able to offer further grants – please get in touch to find out more.
If what you’ve read makes you want to find out more then do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you! But before you call or email, take a few moments to pray and reflect; • Are you willing to commit to a pattern of bible study, prayer and reflection ‘in season and out of season’? • Will you be able to be part of a team even when the task to be completed appears insignificant? • Are you willing to share fully in a period of group accountability for your life? • Are you willing to be a responsible member of the leadership team, and can you be responsible for others? • Are you willing to enter into part of your faith journey that comes with no guarantees as you continue to search out where God is leading you? If you can say ‘yes’ – then we’d love to hear from you. Contact Revd James McGowan 07624 488008 revdjamesmcgowan@outlook.com To find out more about this unique context online visit www.sodorandman.im or www.peelcathedral.im To read and consider the ‘9 criteria for selection’ that will act as a Lorem Ipsum Dolor foundation for your year with us visit www.callwaiting.org.uk/be-‐sure.aspx