Ascension Curacy Program

Just as teaching hospitals have medical residencies to prepare doctors for a lifetime of service, Church of the Ascension aims to be a kind of teaching hospital to prepare clergy for the service of the church. This is the mission of the Ascension Curacy program. It exists to train, form, and equip men and women for a lifetime of faithful and fruitful pastoral ministry.

Why is such a program necessary? In addition to biblical and theological instruction in seminary, pastors need hands-on, immersive training and formation in the context of a local church. This is the experience we offer to Curates as they seek to learn the skills and the art of pastoral ministry.

By design, the curacy is not formulaic or overly programmatic. Instead, we aim to provide Curates with real and consequential ministry responsibilities; to expose them to the full range of senior leadership; to care for their formation; to help them cultivate pastoral skills in line with their gifts and the church’s needs; and to walk with them as they discern their vocation beyond Ascension.

Every Curate’s experience and range of responsibilities will be different depending on the church’s current needs, the Curate’s gifts/skills/experience, and their vocational goals.

• Build, support, and/or lead one or more ministries that strikes a balance between gifting and need. Among other things, this could include Community Groups, Adult Formation, Youth Group, Children’s Ministry, Volunteer Coordination, etc.
• Planning and leading worship services (e.g., crafting liturgy, reading Scripture, celebrating, serving communion, leading prayer, etc.)
• Occasional preaching and teaching
• Pastoral Care and Counseling (e.g., pre-marital, hospital visits, home visits, general pastoral care)
• Visits to parishioners’ workplaces
• Full participation in organizational meetings (staff, vestry, diocesan)
• Other duties assigned by the Rector and/or Curacy Coordinator

As much as possible, the Curate will gain experience in the full range of pastoral ministry (e.g., preach, give last rites, hear confession, prepare a candidate for baptism, baptize someone, plan and officiate a wedding and a funeral, learn about church budgets, lead a team of volunteers, etc.) so that when the Curate moves into a senior leadership position, they are ready to serve.

Currently applications are closed. If you have a question about Ascension’s Curacy program, email the Rev. Kevin Antlitz.