In 1964, the Up television series began following the lives of 14 British children, updating viewers every seven years on their fortunes.
Last month, the Ministry Division began recruiting participants for its own longitudinal study. More than 1000 priests have been contacted, with a view to discovering “what enables ministers to flourish in ministry”.
Over the course of the next ten years, the Living Ministry study will look at the experiences of four cohorts: people ordained deacon in 2006, 2011, or 2015, and those who started training in 2016. Across all four cohorts, up to about 1600 people are eligible; already hundreds have taken up the offer. Every two years, participants will be asked to complete an online survey, while qualitative research will include group discussions and interviews. The study will build on the learning from the Experiences of Ministry study, due to wind up this year.