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Higher Apprenticeship - Church Ministry - Level 4 (Apprenticeship Course)

  • Cardiff
22 Months

Helping young people Explore Christian Ministry in a 22 month paid position and complete the first year of a Theology Degree - a guide for individuals, local churches, circuits & ministry/mission areas.

Would you like to be an Apprentice in Christian Ministry for 22 months in a paid position with the costs of your Formal Academic Training being funded by the Welsh Government / European Social Fund delivered by Coleg Sir Gar and St Padarn’s Institute.  Coleg Sir Gar responsible for delivery Essential Skills and St Padarn’s Institute responsible for delivering Level 4 Mission & Ministry.  

Our Apprenticeship programme is designed for those exploring a vocation in Christian Ministry (Vicar, Chaplain, Priest, Pastor, Minister, Youth/Children/Family Pastor) in any Christian denomination in Wales.  This apprenticeship will be delivered by Coleg Sir Gar and St Padarn’s Institute.

Course details

Study modes:
  • Part time
Course length:
22 Months

What you will learn

All successful applicants will undertake a Higher Apprenticeship which means on completion they will receive a Level 4 qualification in Ministry & Mission which will be accredited by University of Wales Trinity Saint David.  In effect, completing the first year of a theology degree.  The Apprentice will be based in a local church or other area if the option being explored is chaplaincy. 

All successful applicants will do a Higher Apprenticeship which means on completion they will receive a Level 4 qualification in Workplace Ministry & Mission which will be accredited by University of Wales Trinity Saint David.  In effect, completing the first year of a theology degree.  These are the modules within that Programme:

  • Using Christian Doctrine
  • Using Christian Mission
  • Using Practical Theology
  • Using the Old Testament
  • Using the New Testament
  • Reflecting Theologically in a Workplace Context

As part of the apprenticeship framework all apprentices must undertaking Essential Skills Qualifications. Apprentices holding GCSE C grade or equivalent in Numeracy and English will become exempt from completing essential skills Application of Number and Communication. Digital Literacy is a requirement of this framework.

The apprenticeship with its Level 4 qualification attached will open up several career routes:

  • It is hoped that a number of those who take this apprenticeship would explore ordination within their particular denomination during the 22 month period and at the end of their time as apprentices would go on to enter the next stage of that as set out by their denominational practices.
  • Some may go on to full employment with those who employed them as apprentices, possibly as youth/children’s workers, pastoral assistants or a wide range of other employment opportunities.
  • The apprentice will qualify with a first year degree qualification. They will be able to enter University and do Level 5 and Level 6 to complete a degree in the following two years.  
  • Although the apprenticeship will also focus on a wide range of social and academic skills and the apprentice may decide to take a different career path with the transferable skills they have acquired as an apprentice.

There are no formal entry requirements for this apprenticeship.  But we would expect: 

  • Trust, integrity and honesty are all characteristics valued by employers in the Church/Ministry services sector.  
  • DBS checks are essential as employees may well find themselves working with vulnerable adults and children. 
  • Most employers in this sector will require at least 12 months experience of a Church Community

There are no additional costs.

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