Curates in the Diocese in Europe reflect the great diversity of culture, nationalities, ethnic background and languages that characterise the chaplaincies and worship centres of the Diocese. The curates bring their particular background as gifts to their ministry as well as special and often transferable skills.  

Curates, training incumbents and congregations are encouraged to make best use of the skills that the curate brings into ministry, as well as enable the curate to develop the gifts that have been discerned in his or her process of training, and new gifts and particular interests in ministry that develop in the course of the curacy. This applies to both stipendiary and SSM curates. The curate who is a potential theological educator would be expected to make a special contribution to the teaching and leading of study and Bible groups in the chaplaincy, as well as being given the opportunity to develop initiatives pertaining to these areas of ministry. To complement ministry in the chaplaincy, the potential theological educator would occasionally be asked to contribute to Zoom IME 2 gatherings by sharing their area of expertise. Likewise, the curate who comes to ordained ministry with  experience in mission and outreach would be expected to be given the opportunity to develop the expertise in the context of the curacy and would also be asked to share this expertise with fellow curates through Zoom gatherings. SSM curates in the Diocese in Europe represent a wide variety of expertise in different areas of secular work, often carrying a work load of considerable seniority. It is the responsibility of both the training chaplain, the chaplaincy and the IME 2 Officer (DDMD) to assist the curate in developing skills that particularly contribute to the SSM’s Christian witness in the secular work place.  

The ‘Worklist for Training’ document, offers a model for assessing prior learning and identifying skills which may need to be acquired during the first years of ministry.  This Worklist  includes areas of ministry particular to the context of the Diocese in Europe, such as preaching in the local language and knowledge of local law pertaining to marriages and funerals and the area of Safeguarding. As suggested in the section on the Training Plan, the ‘Worklist’ should be viewed as a resource through which experience can be assessed and needs ranked according to priority.  It is best viewed in the wider context of the ‘Agreed Expectations’ (Part II, Section 6).  

This list outlines specific skills and expertise which may be addressed during the early years of public ministry.  Not all these points will be relevant to the particular context in which a curate is ministering. This list is therefore intended to be used as a basis for discussion about which areas should be covered when reflecting on the past year and drawing up priorities for the next year of training.  Additional areas relevant to your particular context may be added. 

LISTS TO COME