Vocations

Pathways to Commissioned Ministries

Equipping God's people for ministry, together.

Called to serve? Ready to grow? Pathways to Commissioned Ministries is a new diocesan framework for lay training that's practical, theological, and rooted in the life of your Ministry Area. Wherever you find yourself on your Christian journey, there's a pathway for you.

Each pathway combines teaching, supervised practice, and theological reflection, so that learning is always connected to real ministry.

A clear path of growth

PCM isn't a single course; it's a progression. Begin with foundational formation, move into supervised ministry, and grow toward more specialised or combined roles as God calls you.

Four pathways

12 weeks

Lay Pastoral Assistant (LPA)

Training for pastoral care and support for people in need. You will learn to listen well, to lead a pastoral conversation, and to visit people at home, in hospital, and in care homes. You will explore what you may encounter, including bereavement, illness, loneliness, and crisis. You will reflect theologically on your experience, and the course concludes with supervised practice.

14 weeks

Lay Worship Leader (LWL)

Training to lead public worship with confidence. The course covers the theology of worship, the Bible and prayer in worship, Anglican liturgical structures, and Morning and Evening Prayer. It concludes with a supervised practicum.

A specialism

Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM)

Training in extending Holy Communion to the sick and housebound. Open to those who have completed both LPA and LWL formation. Three sessions on the theology of the Eucharist, reverence and liturgical order, and sacramental pastoral presence are followed by four supervised visits and a shared session of reflection.

A specialism · three terms

Ministry Area Catechist

Training to teach and pass on the Christian faith to children and adults, in baptism preparation, confirmation, and small groups. Across three terms you will work through the whole story of Scripture and the sacraments (Salvation's Story), the Creeds and the life of the Church and Kingdom (Pilgrim: Grow), and the Gospel of Luke (Luke for Everyone). In the second and third terms you will take turns preparing and leading sessions under supervision.

Why Pathways?

Coherent: one integrated framework, not scattered courses
Progressive: clear steps, at your own pace
Grounded: shared theological foundations across every pathway
Local: training embedded in Ministry Area life
Celebrated: each cohort is commissioned at a special service in Brecon Cathedral or Swansea Minster

How it works

Courses are delivered through a combination of online and face-to-face sessions, and run at Llandrindod, Brecon, Swansea Minster, and St Catherine's, Gorseinon.

Training is led by diocesan facilitators, with supervised practice in your own Ministry Area. All participants undertake DBS checks and safeguarding training as part of the discernment process.

Interested? Take the next step

Speak to your vicar or Ministry Area leader, or contact the Diocesan Office: 01874 623716 or diocese.swanbrec@cinw.org.uk.