Components of the Course
The main learning areas of the syllabus overlap and
interlink with each other and the rest of God’s world that
you have been, are and will be part of as a minister.
Valuable Resources
Most students on NOC are over 30 years of age and many occupy
positions of responsibility, not least in the world of education
and in the caring professions. They therefore bring rich resources
to the learning experience. This learning is shared with the staff
and not dominated by them.
Working in Groups
The weekly evening teaching and the residential periods enable
people to have a variety of learning experiences within a range of
groups. Some work is done in duos and trios, some work is done in
small groups of five or six, some in much larger groups, over the
whole three years. Such a variety of experiences encourages
openness and the building of trust so that we can all make the most
of the catholicity of the course.
Learning Together
No two students will experience the same pilgrimage, although
at the heart of the process is a journey shared with others in
which deep discoveries of God, the world and self are made. The
learning community is integrally related to the wider communities
of the church, and the world. In each of these contexts, students
are encouraged in exploration of the faith — in worship,
prayer, Scripture, tradition and practice.
Evenings and Residence
Students gather for two hours each week during term. Beginning
with prayer together, the three year-groups then have separate
teaching sessions, usually including group work, lectures and
seminars on the theme for the term. This theme is integrated
with the programme for the two or three residential weekends each
term, when there is time for a fuller exploration of it in the
context of the NOC worshipping community.
Trust and Openness
Deliberate attention is given to enabling group processes to
develop quickly and work effectively. Each student is part of a
‘NOC group’ throughout the Course, and these groups
meet at every residential weekend. The curriculum also provides
for specific work on group processes using self-reflexion.
Spirituality
There is a taught course on spirituality which runs through
the whole three years. This consists of study of major traditions
of Christian discipleship (e.g. Benedictine, Pentecostal) engaging
with spiritual texts and preparing to use spirituality in public
ministry. The Sunday morning of each residential weekend is given
over to such teaching, reflection and silence, culminating in the
Eucharist. A weekend retreat takes place in the first and second
years of the Course, and students are strongly encouraged to go on
retreat at other times and to use a spiritual director or
‘soul-friend’.
Pastoral Placements
All students take part in two major placements during the
Course: in the first year, this is normally spent in a parish or
circuit, and in the second year in a chaplaincy, sector ministry
or overseas setting. Each is an opportunity for observation,
pastoral practice, preaching and theological reflection, and each
is assessed by an appointed local supervisor as well as by the
tutor. Students also undertake in their final year a
‘personal development project’ in an area chosen by
themselves which will be of benefit in future ministry.
Essays and Projects
Students read, reflect and write in their own time, with
guidance, producing some short pieces (often aimed also to test
various communication skills) and some long essays, projects or
reports. Staff members respond to drafts of longer pieces in
detail, standing alongside students in an appreciative critique.
All students also write a substantial dissertation or theme
project in their final year on a subject chosen individually and
approved by the Course and/or validating University.
Tutor Interviews
Students are allocated to a personal tutor for their three
years on the Course. There will be an interview with the tutor at
least once a term to review overall progress. Tutors usually
maintain contact also with students’ families, and they are
responsible together with students for drafting the annual reports
on ordinands required by the church authorities.
Worship and Prayer
Amid all talk of growth, integrity, maturity and student-centred
learning, the gospel insistence remains that life has to be lost
in order that it may be found, that growth is to be measured by
the stature of the fullness of Christ, and that the ministry we
share is the ministry of Christ crucified, risen and ascended.
So the whole training programme is set in a context of worship and
prayer, corporate and individual. Students gain knowledge of
liturgical traditions and resources and practice in leading worship
in all the main Anglican and Methodist styles.