Conference Report, February 2000
Summary of Business at the Conference St John’s College, Nottingham February 2000
Disability Questionnaire
This was revised at the Conference (or more accurately, at the pub) by a working party consisting of Eve Rose (Queens), Simon Rundell (Mirfield) and Jane Shaw (NEOC). The completed questionnaire has been sent to Colleges in the first instance and about half the colleges have now replied. The provision of training for students with disabilities is currently also on the agenda of the Ministry Division’s Theological Education and Training Committee. Returns from the questionnaire will be discussed at the next AOCM Conference and summarised on the Web Page
Singleness
The conference discussed the issue of the pressures on single students in some institutions. It is often single students, for example, who have to form the ‘community’ in training. Likewise, many single student over the age of forty are apparently put off the idea of training in a college by the residence demands that go with this. We recognised that this problem varied from setting to setting, and didn’t arise at all in some settings Academic and Spiritual Formation
The tension between these two could arise in both college and course settings. A culture of business was clearly an impediment to spiritual growth; at the same time a busy life is an authentic experience, and learning to carve a spiritual life out of this is essential. Delegates shared experiences of good and bad practice in seeking a productive balance in training.
Much discussion was given to the appeal AOCM has or ought to have to those on courses. We set as one of our targets for the next twelve-months the increased involvement of courses in our work and our conferences. Course reps will be contacted by the Chair and the Course Rep (Barry Slatter) to encourage them to come along to at least one AOCM conference every year, perhaps representing a regional consortium of courses. Since people training on courses now represent the majority of those in training its essential that AOCM is in a position to represent their needs adequately.
Future Conferences
The next AOCM conference will be on Saturday May 6 at Ripon College, Cuddesdon. Further details of this one-day conference will be sent out soon. Remember AOCM pays appropriate travelling expenses for reps to attend conferences. The conferences provide a wonderful opportunity to worship together and to work together to advance our training for ministry.