Institute of Ministry
Formation for responsible service
The Institute of Ministry is the educational body of the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission NPC. We provide structured online learning and ministerial formation rooted in the ancient faith of the Church, the Western Rite tradition, pastoral responsibility, and the conviction that Christian ministry must be reverent, accountable, inclusive, and safe.
Our work is designed for adult learners whose study must live alongside ministry, employment, family life, disability, health needs, caring responsibilities, and the ordinary demands of Christian service.
The Mission and the Institute have distinct roles
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission is the church body; the Institute of Ministry is the educational body. The Institute designs and delivers learning, formation, assessment, and continuing development. It does not, by itself, ordain, license, incardinate, appoint, employ, or grant civil or professional recognition. Those decisions belong to the appropriate church, employer, regulator, or partner authority.
Who we are
The Institute serves learners within the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission and beyond it. Our courses are shaped for the Western Rite tradition broadly, including Old Catholic, Anglican, Roman Catholic, and related Western Rite contexts. Public courses state their own eligibility clearly; no denominational affiliation is assumed unless a particular formation pathway requires one.
We are not a university, and we do not present certificates of formation or course completion as academic degrees. We name each course honestly, publish its purpose and requirements, and distinguish educational achievement from ecclesial authority or professional recognition.
What we do
Our provision includes open orientation, public safeguarding education, substantial ministerial formation, and carefully governed bridging work. New courses may be added as the Institute develops, but each is expected to meet the same standards of clarity, integrity, and appropriate challenge.
| Current provision | Purpose | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Getting Started with the Institute of Ministry | A once-only introduction to studying on the Institute’s platform, including navigation, completion, quizzes, assignments, support, and certificates. | Public and completed once. |
| Safeguarding for Clergy (A1) | A substantial foundation in safeguarding theology, ministerial ethics, practical response, and cross-jurisdiction legal awareness. | Free public course. |
| Licentiate in Diaconal Ministry (LDM) | An eleven-month, cohort-based pathway preparing learners for serious diaconal discernment and formation. | Application, discernment, and published cohort requirements apply. |
| Orientation and Equivalency Intake (OEI) | A tutor-paced bridging course for clergy already validly ordained who are seeking incardination. | By invitation after an enquiry has been considered; no fee. |
How we work
Formation over information
Courses are intended to shape knowledge, judgement, practice, reflection, and responsible service—not merely to present material or award a badge for attendance.
Honest scope and cost
Purpose, audience, study expectations, assessment, recognition, and any fee are published openly. Required resources are supplied or openly available; learners are not surprised by paid textbooks.
Assessment with purpose
Assessment is proportionate to the course and tests understanding, interpretation, application, or ministerial judgement where appropriate—not simple recall alone.
Accompanied online study
Courses provide clear orientation, navigation, instructions, support routes, and reasonable-adjustment guidance. Some pathways use cohorts or tutors; others are self-paced with defined support.
Safe and ethical learning
Safeguarding, confidentiality, boundaries, accessibility, copyright, and responsible use of sources are treated as part of educational quality rather than administrative afterthoughts.
Verifiable achievement
Where a certificate is issued, it records the achievement the course actually represents. Institute certificates can be independently verified online.
Quality and transparency
We publish how our courses are benchmarked, including where they meet, exceed, partially meet, or use an Institute-specific standard. Benchmarking is not accreditation, and we do not claim recognition that has not been granted. Courses are reviewed after use for clarity, assessment performance, learner experience, accessibility, broken links, resource currency, and whether they still meet their stated outcomes.
Read the Benchmarking and Quality Standards · Read the Formation Policies
Leadership and contact
The Institute is directed by Bishop Ashley Deutschmann, Bishop-Rector of the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission and Course Director of the Institute of Ministry. Courses may also involve tutors, mentors, assessors, and reviewers suited to the particular pathway.
For course enquiries, accessibility questions, partnership conversations, or technical help, contact institute@apostolicoldcatholic.org.
Begin with clear information
Explore the courses, read the published standards, and ask questions before you commit. Formation should begin with honesty, not pressure.