The people responsible for training the next generation of Anglican clergy \u2014 the principals of theological colleges and courses \u2014 have said that the system is in crisis.<\/p>\n
Just as the Church of England seeks to expand the number of ordinands by 50 per cent, the leaders of the theological education institutions (TEIs) have told this paper that the training process is \u201ctotally underfunded\u201d, \u201cstarved of funds\u201d, and \u201cquite likely to collapse\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Principal of St Augustine\u2019s College, Kent (until 2015, the South East Institute of Theological Education), the Revd Dr Alan Gregory, said in reply an enquiry: \u201cI agree that the financial situation is a critical one. We are like the story of the donkey whose feed was reduced until he dropped down dead. We are almost in the position of the donkey every year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finding funds for clergy training has never been easy, and there is a historical element to the crisis, as too many training institutions have chased too few candidates for ordination. But a new move this year has caused more uncertainty, handing funding decisions from the Archbishops\u2019 Council to the dioceses.<\/p>\n