Ministry Experience Scheme

Aged 18-30? Why not spend a year serving God in the Ministry Experience Scheme.

London is a huge and diverse mission field, with wealth and poverty on the same streets, young and old, and over with 250 languages spoken representing its ethnic and religious diversity.

The Church of England in London is dynamic and seeking to find relevant ways to reach 21st Century London. We have plans to plant over 400 new worshipping communities by 2030. We have over 800 ministries expressing compassion to the needs of the people of London. We are actively seeking to Care for God’s Creation by every church being an Eco Church.

Do you want to help us in our mission, to make a difference by offering yourself for a year to God’s service?

What happens on the Ministry Experience Scheme?

You will get immersed in a local church and all its ministry. You could be doing youth work, helping at a foodbank, helping on Alpha, helping with a church’s social media, learning what priesthood is all about, joining in daily prayers and maybe preaching on Sundays.

You could get to live in Christian community with other interns. And we will invest in your formation through meeting together as interns for reflection every two weeks and engaging in one evening a week of theological study on a course for example at St Mellitus College.

What about finances?

No Intern should end the program year worse off financially than they began it.

• The placement or the scheme provide free accommodation and a weekly living allowance.
• Training costs including the theological studies are paid for by the scheme.
• All expenses of the work are to be met by the church including travel to the programme.
• If you are applying from abroad then you will need to personally cover your visa, flight, and insurance costs (including health) yourself.

Where will I be placed?

Because London is so big we have three hub schemes within the Diocese: North-West London, West London and East London. These correspond to the geographic areas covered by the Bishops of Kensington, Willesden and Stepney. If you are from one of these areas and want to minster near home, or at a church you already know, then you can apply for that. But if you are flexible about where you work then we can place you in the parish which best fits your gifts, and the ministries you feel God is calling you into.

What do I do next if I am interested?

The scheme is open for those aged 18-30, for a September start. If you have any questions or would like to arrange an informal online conversation with one of the scheme leaders before you apply then please contact londonmes@london.anglican.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
Once you are ready, please complete the online application form.

We will then take up references and interview you online and if it’s all a green light for the year we will try our best to match you with a church which will suit you. You will be invited to visit a church and get to know its priest and then it will be a mutual decision if you and they want to go ahead.
We welcome Anglican applicants from other countries but only if you can already obtain a visa for the UK. Please note we cannot sponsor UK visas.

Pattern of daily life

For those living in the Community House you will commit to a pattern of life together; praying together and sharing meals, experiences, and social activities. If you are in parish provided accommodation, then you will find ways of joining in the prayer and social life of the parish.
The programme then offers six component parts to the intern year (September – July) alongside the placement.

1. Monday morning spiritual and practical formation sessions as a whole group of London interns
2. Tuesday evening theology sessions (either with St Mellitus College or another provider)
3. An annual residential retreat
4. Engagement with a number of London Diocese leadership events
5. Reflective supervision with an ordained clergy leader, and an additional mentor for each intern
6. The opportunity to engage with the vocation discernment process in the Diocese, and if appropriate to help you explore the possibility of ordination.

The programme is designed to help (most often) young people find God’s call and purpose for their life. It is particularly suited to those exploring ordained ministry in the church but is equally valuable to those who want to take a year out with God in a local church or chaplaincy to consider their future.

A key part of the programme will be the benefit and learning that comes from being in a cohort with other interns travelling together through a year of learning and development. On signing up to the scheme both placements and interns are asked to commit 100% to the MES programme.
The programme expects placements to allow their intern:

• Exposure – to a wide range of ministry
• Experience – taking responsibility within the life of the church or chaplaincy.
• Excel in your gifts: by taking a lead in an area of work and ministry
• Engage – in ongoing reflective supervision sessions with the placement supervisor

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for energetic, enthusiastic individuals with a living faith in Jesus, and a desire to serve his church. It’s best if you are flexible, able to take initiative, want to grow in your faith, work with others and are keen to explore God’s call on your life in an urban context, among people from diverse backgrounds and a range of church traditions. We want people who are seeking to serve God among some of London’s most vulnerable people.

This scheme will also suit those who wish to explore vocation and ministry in the Anglican church.

“It has been brilliant becoming part of St Luke’s. I’ve got involved in preaching and teaching, youth and children’s work, and other outreach into the local community. It has been most exciting getting to know and love the congregation, and to understand a little more about the church and what it’s called to do and be in that particular setting” Hannah (London East Intern)

We look forward to hearing from you.