AOCM

AOCM Chair’s Opening Speech for 2010-2011

Over the last year AOCM has been at the forefront of some big discussions, as we are all aware the recession has hit us hard and Ordinands have been struggling to find curacies, AOCM has been journeying with so many of you over the last year through your struggles but also through the high points. The Church that we are to be ordained into is an exciting church and dare I say it, a changing church, but unfortunately mistakes do happen and it is AOCM’s job to bring to light these mistakes and work carefully to limit damage however more often than not mistakes are on both the churches and the ordinands side and in such an instance AOCM is able to help ordinands and Church institutions explore where Church mechanisms can be used advantageously to improve the situation for the present and the future.

Over the last year we have seen some major developments and some big issues have been discussed at AOCM, at Ministry Division meetings and at General Synod, we have seen the introduction of a curacy website and the church pension scheme has become much fairer. Changes and improvements can’t happen if we aren’t aware that they are needed, AOCM is your voice, we are walking beside you every step of the way, but AOCM is not a union, we work by uncovering the facts and helping to provide transparency, AOCM is able to help ordinands understand the Church that they are to serve and enable them to avoid problems in the future. This is why it is so essential that every institution takes advantage of having a representative present at every meeting in order that they can report back on issues that might be of concern.

This word of formation is talked about a lot before, during and after training as we continue to be formed into the likeness of Christ and this will continue until the day we come face to face with our maker, but this formation can be painful, it can feel like you are being prodded and poked and squashed and squeezed all at the same time but that is a healthy feeling, for formation is an ongoing process, a process that has it’s up and downs but is moving us into the right direction. No matter what format of training you are undertaking AOCM is there for you as a source of help and guidance, we do this by our regular meetings as a committee, through our website, through our representatives throughout the country and through the Executive Committee meeting regularly with Ministry Division to discuss Ordinands concerns.

The profile of AOCM is gradually raising and I pray that over the coming year this will continue, AOCM is privileged to receive information from institutions to help Ordinands avoid problems before they arise; the structure of the church is such that dioceses operate in different ways and as a result issues can often appear ambiguous or clouded to individual ordinands. In fact, lack of information or clarity is often the biggest cause of anxiety and misunderstanding, and this is where AOCM is arguably at its most useful, helping to shed light onto situations, AOCM is your voice and is there for you when you need it.

It is a great privilege to have been elected the Chair of AOCM just as it is a privilege to train for ministry in the church of Christ.

This year I seek to build on the vision of our outgoing Chair that AOCM be a ‘source of help and guidance for all training for Ordination’, and I hope to prayerfully lead AOCM through this exciting year working closely alongside Ministry Division, colleges and courses and also our dedicated reps, I will work tirelessly to do everything possible for Ordinands during their time of training and formation and pray that AOCM can continue its invaluable work.

I pray for you all that your time of training can be seen as a gift and if you need AOCM at all during your training do not forget that we are here for you, through your college representative and through the AOCM website.

AOCM is your voice in this otherwise noisy world.

Yours in Christ

Dom Jones

AOCM Chair