The Ordination Candidates Fund
Introduction
The Ordination Candidates Training Fund (OCTF) is a charity operating as a company limited by guarantee. Its purpose is to assist in “the training of candidates for Holy Orders in the Church of England … and / or for foreign mission work holding distinctly … evangelical views”.
The OCTF Trust was founded in 1937 to continue the work of the Rev Harold Salmon (Pa Salmon) who, as a Vicar, identified and fostered a vocation to the Ordained Ministry amongst people who, in those days, lacked the necessary formal education to be considered for training. The OCTF Trust has always sought to help those considering ordination to come to a place where the financial responsibility of their subsequent training will be undertaken by the Dioceses and Ministry Division. As the Dioceses and Ministry Division have been able to extend the range of their financial commitments to ordinands, so the OCTF Trust has continued to seek out and assist new groups of people whom God is calling to the Ordained Ministry of the Church of England.
Grants
Currently financial assistance is usually either as a “Salmon Bursary” (of £1,900 per academic term) or a once-off grant (usually no more than £500). Salmon Bursaries are usually given to those pursuing relevant training but not yet formally recommended for ordination. The Directors prefer to know that other bodies, (eg Diocesan, College, CPAS, other charities) are also contributing, and that applicants are being economical in their own life-style.
Recent examples of Salmon Bursaries would be:
- To enable an ordinand from abroad to complete their theological studies in the UK.
- To assist a student continuing at Bible College whilst they exploring a vocation to the Ordained Ministry.
Recent examples of once-off grants would be:
- To pay for professional counselling to address needs that emerged during theological training.
- To assist towards unforeseen financial difficulties that are impeding training opportunities.
- To pay for extraordinary health treatment that would otherwise delay ordination.
The Board of Directors meets three times each year, February, May and November, and often Salmon Bursars are invited to attend to share how God has been leading them.
Potential applicants are invited to contact the Honorary Secretary, Edward Peacock.
The preferred (but not exclusive) means of correspondence is by e-mail, via which application forms are sent, and pro forma references requested from three referees. In the application form, applicants are requested to disclose their personal finances and invited to respond to the basis of faith printed below.
Tel: 01892 543206
Email: peacockedward@hotmail.com
Address: 24 Ferndale, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 3NS”
Registered in England, No.333693, Charity No 313817
Registered Office: 17 Church Rd, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1HT
Basis of Faith
1 INTRODUCTION
As members of the Anglican Communion within the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church we affirm the faith uniquely revealed in the holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds, of which faith the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion are a general exposition. Standing in the Reformation tradition we lay especial emphasis on the grace of God – his unmerited mercy – as expressed in the doctrines which follow.
2 GOD AS THE SOURCE OF GRACE
In continuity with the teaching of Holy Scripture and the Christian creeds, we worship one God in three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God has created all things, and us in his own image; all life, truth, holiness, and beauty come from him. His Son Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, rose and ascended to reign in glory.
3 THE BIBLE AS THE REVELATION OF GRACE
We receive the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the wholly reliable revelation and record of God’s grace, given by the Holy Spirit as the true word of God written. The Bible has been given to lead us to salvation, to be the ultimate rule for Christian faith and conduct, and the supreme authority by which the Church must ever reform itself and judge its traditions.
4 THE ATONEMENT AS THE WORK OF GRACE
We believe that Jesus Christ came to save lost sinners. Though sinless, he bore our sins, and their judgment, on the cross, thus accomplishing our salvation. By raising Christ bodily from the dead, God vindicated him as Lord and Saviour and proclaimed his victory. Salvation is in Christ alone.
5 THE CHURCH AS THE COMMUNITY OF GRACE
We hold that the Church is God’s covenant community, whose members, drawn from every nation, having been justified by grace through faith, inherit the promises made to Abraham and fulfilled in Christ. As a fellowship of the Spirit manifesting his fruit and exercising his gifts, it is called to worship God, grow in grace, and bear witness to him and his Kingdom. God’s Church is one body and must ever strive to discover and experience that unity in truth and love which it has in Christ, especially through its confession of the apostolic faith and in its observance of the dominical Sacraments.
6 THE SACRAMENTS AS THE SIGNS OF GRACE
We maintain that the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion proclaim the gospel as effective and visible signs of our justification and sanctification, and as true means of God’s grace to those who repent and believe. Baptism is the sign of forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Spirit, new birth to righteousness and entry into the fellowship of the People of God. Holy Communion is the sign of the living, nourishing presence of Christ through his Spirit to his people; the memorial of his one, perfect, completed and all sufficient sacrifice for sin, from whose achievement all may benefit but in whose offering none can share; and an expression of our corporate life of sacrificial thanksgiving and service.
7 MINISTRY AS THE STEWARDSHIP OF GRACE
We share, as the People of God, in a royal priesthood common to the whole Church, and in the community of the Suffering Servant. Our mission is the proclamation of the gospel by the preaching of the word, as well as by caring for the needy, challenging evil and promoting justice and a more responsible use of the world’s resources. It is the particular vocation of bishops and presbyters, together with deacons, to build up the body of Christ in truth and love, as pastors, teachers, and servants of the servants of God.
8 CHRIST’S RETURN AS THE TRIUMPH OF GRACE
We look forward expectantly to the final manifestation of Christ’s grace and glory when he comes again to raise the dead, judge the world, vindicate his chosen and bring his Kingdom to its eternal fulfilment in the new heaven and the new earth.
(Adapted from the Anglican Evangelical Assembly’s Basis of faith.)
Forms
Application Form (OCTF Application form.PDF) OCTF Application form.DOC
Budget Form (Word File) (PDF)