The vital role of Christian ministers in building social capital and community cohesion within England and Wales has been recognised in provisional arrangements to secure the future of funding for clergy training, following changes to higher education funding announced last year.
In September 2007, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Skills and Universities, John Denham MP, asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to phase out the funding it makes available to higher education institutions to fund students embarking on courses for which they already hold an equivalent or higher level qualification.
The Church of England led representations detailing the unintentional impact this policy would have on a range of denominations and their ability to train future ministers of religion, many candidates for which already hold first degrees.
While the Church of England funds the majority of the cost of training its clergy at a cost of around £16.5 million each year, HEFCE funding represents an important element of the package that enables higher education institutions to offer training for ministry.
Following extensive consultation between the Ministry Division of the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England and HEFCE, the two bodies are considering a one-year delay in the implementation of the policy for the withdrawal of funding for those embarking on a theology course for ministerial training while already holding an equivalent or higher qualification.
During that year, aided by external consultants, the Ministry Division will work with HEFCE and existing training institutions to set up a programme of Foundation Degrees and employer (Church) co-funded Bachelor level Degrees (which are eligible for HEFCE funding). The proposals build on the long-standing engagement between the Churches and higher educational institutions.
This period of one year will also be used for curriculum development and approval, as required.
