The Diocese of York
Training Team
‘Equipping God’s People’
‘Called To Listen’
Advanced Course of Christian Listener Training
A unique opportunity
to explore the listening ministry
over the two weekends of:
Friday 20th-22nd February 2015 &
Friday 13th-15th March 2015
at
York Diocesan Centre, Wydale Hall
Brompton-by-Sawdon
Nr Scarborough
led by
Wes Sutton
Director of Acorn Christian healing Foundation
Jennie Fytche
Acorn North East and East Region Coordinator with
Members of the York Diocese ‘Equipping God’s People’ Team
And
Allison Ward and Anne Cooper
York Diocese Acorn Listening Tutors
Course content and purpose
This is a residential course to explore your ‘Call to Listen’ and will enable
you to listen more effectively to yourself, to others and to God. It will be a
means of encouragement on the journey towards wholeness.
Successful participants will be trained as ‘Christian Listeners’ a ministry
that may be applied within a parish scheme of shared ministry or in some
other appropriate context. Some participants may also opt for beginning
training as Tutors within the York Diocesan Tutor Team.
The course provides a Christian understanding of the person and underlines the
value of listening to the whole person. Teaching and practice in disciplined listening
skills will be provided in a context where you will draw on your own life experiences
as part of your learning.
Some pastoral support and supervision is provided during the course, together with
a proper honouring of confidences. You will be enabled to discover your own level
of competence and to judge when other help, through those in church leadership,
medicine, social work or voluntary organisations should be sought.
There will be opportunity for mutual encouragement and intercession, and listening
to God both individually and as a group. The course will be led by Wes Sutton and
Jennie Fytche of Acorn Christian Healing Foundation and assisted by Acorn trained
York Diocesan Tutors.
Sessions will include:
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My Journey of Life
The Work of Listening and our Resources
Listening to the Whole Person
Reflective Listening
Listening to God
Listening Practice
Observation of Listening
Applicants will have previously completed ‘Listening For Life’ (or Learning
To Listen).
This is an advanced level course, and acceptance on to the course is at the
discretion of the Diocesan Training Team. Once completed a successful participant
should be equipped as a Christian Listener, and some as trainee tutors. Good
practice for engaging in the ministry of Christian Listening will be discussed during
the course.
Start Times: 4pm Friday 20th February and 13th March 2015
Finish Times: 4pm Sunday 22nd February and 15th March 2015
All applications to:
Cathy Lane, Training Team Administrator, Diocesan House, Aviator Court, Clifton
Moor, York YO30 4WJ. Email training@yorkdiocese.org
Questions or clarifications about the course to:
Allison Ward 7, Pine Hill, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough. TS8 0RW
Tel: 01642 599036 Email allisonward@tiscali.co.uk
Costs and Applications.
The full cost is £300 including full board for two weekends, all Acorn materials and
tutoring. However, there is the possibility of a subsidy, either:
For those willing to offer themselves as potential tutors within the Equipping God’s
People scheme, the cost will be £125
For those who can show that their Christian Listening skills will be of direct benefit
to a recognised scheme in a parish, deanery or in the Diocese, there is the
opportunity to apply for a grant.
If you require additional help in paying for this course please discuss your situation
in the first instance with your sponsoring parish/incumbent.
Please provide a non-returnable deposit of £25.00 with your booking form, cheques
payable to ‘York DBF’. Or if you wish pay in full now either the full or the subsidised
rate (of which only £25.00 is non-returnable).
The balance will be payable by 19 December 2014
A booking form is included with this leaflet.
A recommendation from your PCC and incumbent will also be required.
Diocesan Training for Mission & Ministry
There is a full list of other training courses on the Diocesan website. Courses
include the new initiative of training ‘Recognised Parish Assistants’ of which
’Listening For Life’ is an integral part.
‘Called To Listen’ is part of the York Diocesan Training Team’s programme part of
which is working in partnership with Acorn Christian Healing Foundation to deliver
the following courses ‘Listening For Life’, ‘Time To Listen in Pastoral Care’, ‘Listening
and Prayer Ministry’.
An introductory dvd course ‘Just Listen’ is also available for use in informal
situations without a tutor present. Acorn continue to provide all relevant training,
materials and supervision to York Diocesan tutors.
Please complete your ‘personal statement’ using the questions below on a
separate sheet of paper and include it with your application.
This is to enable the course tutors to know you a bit better and will be
treated in the strictest confidence.
The course is demanding and you will be asked to share from your own life
experiences.
1. Is there any reason why you may find this difficult at this particular
time (e.g. recent bereavement, serious illness)?
2. Please state briefly your reasons for applying for this course and in what sphere
of ministry you would hope to practise your ‘Call to Listen’.
3. Please give a short account of your Christian life to date including any
leadership/teaching/encouraging in which you have been involved.
4. Is there any other information you wish to add?
The York Diocese Training Team
www.dioceseofyork.org.uk