About The Course

Luther King Theological College offers four main pathways for ministerial students – Certificate in Higher Education, Diploma in Higher Education, as well as a BA or postgraduate studies in Theology, Ministry and Mission.

To discover what academic learning looks like when you train for URC ministry with Luther King, check out our undergraduate and postgraduate course pages for Theology, Ministry, and Mission.

Placements are a significant and essential part of your formation for ministry, and you will be encouraged to apply what you are learning at Luther King Theological College directly to your context, and apply your questions and learning from your context to your college studies. There are different placement requirements depending on your learning pathway, but we encourage ministerial students to gain a broad range of experience, from ecumenical, community, chaplaincy and church placements. The exact placement requirements will be explained when you get to College and full details are in your handbook.

Alongside placements and academic study is the College Time programme. College Time is a creative and experiential programme designed to help you develop your character and the practical skills required for ministry. It is delivered by tutors from Luther King Theological College, as well as outside speakers with specialist knowledge and experience. We are particularly proud that it is ecumenical in nature; although you will attend specific sessions relating to URC ministry, and regular tutor groups with your peers

Immensely Supportive

“Both administrative and teaching staff are immensely supportive” – Walt, NSM Student

Non-Stipendiary Ministers (NSM 1-3 and NSM Local)

Those training as Non-Stipendiary Ministers can study for undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Theology, Ministry & Mission validated by Durham University Common Awards. This is completed alongside placements with the support of our community.

Learning Duration:

NSM Students at all levels tend to study part-time and are part of our weekend programme.

If you are following this pattern, you would be expected to attend six online teaching weekends per year. If you are living close to Luther King, you may wish to attend as a midweek student. If this is so, please speak to the E&L panel at the Assessment Weekend.

Placements are an integral part of the weekend programme, and you should expect to spend about 6 hours in placement per week during term-time. These hours can be spread across the week. NSM 1-3 students will usually have an ecumenical placement in their first year, potentially a chaplaincy placement in their second year, and a placement in a URC pastorate in their final two years.

Weekend students also come to LKC for at least four residential weekends per year. These will give you the opportunity to form supportive relationships with other students and staff. The weekends are varied but mainly follow the College Time programme, or a specific area of learning, for example, pastoral boundaries, conflict transformation or the art of public speaking.

“Excellent, informative, and nurturing”

Church Related Community Workers

Church Related Community Work (CRCW) in the URC is a vital part of the ministry of the whole people of God and is based on a vision of the Church as an agent of social change. It is a distinctive ministry with equal status to the ministry of Word and Sacraments.

Learning Duration:

CRCWs tend to study full-time and are part of our midweek programme. This is two days a week during term time for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Non-stipendiary CRCWs usually enrol as weekend students.

CRCW students will have placements in community work projects. We recognise that training is demanding and so we try to find a placement close to your home, although this is not always possible, so you should expect to do some travel for placement activities.

The rest of your working week is for private study, which is likely to be done at home, though there are library facilities at LKC. Resources can be gathered from the library, and significant resources are available online.

During your training you will also be required to come to Manchester for specific learning and events (e.g. College Service, Conflict transformation, Pastoral Boundaries, College Away Day etc.) but you will be given good notice of these.

Ministry of Word and Sacrament (MWS)

Those training for Ministry of Word & Sacrament are exploring a call to ministry with the URC according to the Marks of Ministry.

Learning Duration

MWS students usually study full-time in Manchester, attending regular weekly classes or block teaching (such as the Summer and Winter schools).

Placements run alongside the academic programme for midweek students, and you should expect to spend between one or two days in placement per week. Although, this amount of time will vary depending on your year of study. MWS students will have an ecumenical placement in their first year, a chaplaincy placement in their second year, and a placement in a URC pastorate in their final two years.

CRCW students will have placements in community work projects. We recognise that training is demanding and so we try to find a placement close to your home, although this is not always possible, so you should expect to do some travel for placement activities.

During your training you will also be required to come to Manchester for specific learning and events (e.g. College Service, Conflict transformation, Pastoral Boundaries, College Away Day etc.) but you will be given good notice of these. MWS students have a summer pastorate placement that lasts about seven weeks during the summer of their first or second years.

Useful Information

Discover what enrolling with Luther King will look like for you.

Information regarding government, denominational, and college financial support for you.

Learn more about our partners and what can be gained from study at Luther King

Individual challenges should not be a challenge to learning. We strive to support everybody in every way. Learn about how we help neurodiverse and/or disabled students, and anyone with additional learning needs.

“I came away with a renewed enthusiasm for learning”

Enquire Today!

For more information, or to arrange an exploratory visit with us in Manchester, please contact:

  • The Tutor in Ministerial Formation, Revd Caroline Ryder: caroline.ryder@lutherking.ac.uk or
  • The College Manager or Principal, Revd Dr Adam Scott: adam.scott@lutherking.ac.uk