Apply to become a FORGE Ministry Apprentice
Are you aged between 18 and 25 and have an active faith in Jesus? Why not apply to FORGE, the new Ministry Apprenticeship Scheme within the Church of Ireland Diocese of Down and Dromore which was launched in 2022.
The aims of FORGE are that, through working and learning in an apprenticeship model with church leaders and their teams in host churches, young Christians will:
grow in their faith,
understand the biblical foundations for ministry,
gain insight into their strengths and weaknesses,
acquire new interpersonal, teamworking, leadership, teaching and evangelism skills,
gain experience in church–based and diocese–wide ministries,
develop longstanding friendships with Christian brothers and sisters,
have explored a call to Christian ministry.
Apprentices will be fully involved in the life and witness of their host church and participate in the ministries of the church especially children’s and youth programmes. Where available, there will also be the opportunity to gain experience in schools’, outreach and compassion ministries. They will also contribute to diocesan–wide ministry programmes such as Saturday Night Live and our Kilbroney Camp programmes.
Apprentices will receive training within churches and the diocese to enable them to undertake their volunteer ministry roles.
The scheme will start with induction at the beginning of September, and include monthly training days, group visits to Christian ministries, release to attend training towards qualifications in youth work and an end of year celebration event.
Download the FORGE brochure HERE.
Apply to join FORGE
The FORGE programme will commence on Friday 1 September 2023 and finish on Saturday 31 August 2024.
Further details and the application form are available HERE.
Completed application forms should be sent by email to Keith Gardiner at kgardiner@downdromorediocese.org by 12 MD on Thursday 27 July 2023. Interviews will be held on Thursday 3 August 2023.
The Diocese of Down and Dromore
Down and Dromore is one of 11 dioceses within the Church of Ireland. Led by Bishop David McClay, we are actively committed to evangelism, discipleship and raising up a new generation of leaders for God’s church. Currently we have 111 churches and 9 church plants.