Anglican Institute
What is the Anglican Institute?
The Anglican Institute is a specialised formation program which aims to raise up, train and equip future ordained leaders for the Anglican Church of Australia. We aim to provide a high quality Anglican ministry formation program, producing missionally focused Anglican leaders for parishes, chaplaincies, theological colleges, and dioceses.
The Anglican Institute has three areas of focus;
- Missional Leadership Training and Formation – teaching the core competencies required for effective mission and ministry and providing formation in Anglican worship, prayer and spirituality from the perspective of the evangelical Anglican tradition
- Research and Publications – providing opportunities for research into Anglican identity and practice, both historically and in its contemporary expression and mission
- Conferences – sponsoring lectures and conferences to help churches and leaders be better equipped for future missional ministry in the world
All Anglican Institute students gather for lunch every Monday and engage in a formation program consisting of guest speakers (Monday Forum) and small group discussions (Vocational Mentoring Groups). As well as this students are trained in practical ministry experience through the Monday afternoon Supervised Theological Field Education Program, and through study units such as Anglican History and Identity.
In most cases ordination candidates are required by their Diocese to undertake four years of study resulting in a Bachelor of Theology/Bachelor of Ministry or Master of Divinity/Graduate Diploma in Divinity.
What do we want our Ridley Ordinands to be like?
- Skilled in teaching and preaching the Bible – confident in the gospel as “the power of God for salvation”
- Effective in leadership – you will be able to build teams and set a creative vision for congregations and chaplaincy ministries
- Gifted in leading public worship – you will have an understanding of the role of liturgy in both formal and informal contexts
- Mission minded – you will be able to create an evangelistic culture in both traditional Anglican contexts as well as in fresh expressions of church and church plants.
- Spiritually disciplined – you will be living a life of holiness forged through daily prayer and Bible reading
- Strong in interpersonal skills – you will be self-aware and able to develop healthy relationships with others
How do we achieve these outcomes?
- We provide you with a rigorous program of teaching in Bible, Theology and Ministry Practice through the MDiv, BTh and BMin courses
- You will undertake specialist subjects such as History and Identity of Anglicanism; Educating, Forming and Training Others; Evangelism Principles; Christian Worship; Preaching; Pastoral Care
- You will learn ‘in the field’ through weekly church and chaplaincy placements
- You will be exposed to new missional initiatives through week-long intensives with skilled practitioners in church plants and fresh expressions of church
- You will be mentored by an ordination advisor and by peers in Vocational Mentoring Groups
- We will give you regular leadership opportunities in Chapel teams and other College activities
How do I become part of this formation program?
If you have been accepted as an ordination candidate by a bishop in any diocese then you can join the Anglican Institute. Those who are considering Anglican ordination and have begun a formal process of discernment may become Associate members of the Anglican Institute.
Click here for the Anglican Institute Application Form
Click here for more information about ordination requirements for the Diocese of Melbourne and Network 1:28.