To be in Oxford, challenged by the rigour of a prestigious University town and teaching bright and energetic students gives me some hope for the Church of England.

Because of this sense of being pulled in two directions, however, I have a couple of anxieties. One has been over whether these able students are willing to sacrifice the time and sweat required to engage with the academic study of a university based theological college. The other concerns whether the training we offer enables them to continue to read, think, lead, pray and preach well for a lifetime of ministry.

The traditional model of training Ordinands has been to put them in college for a few years followed by a Curacy with a training incumbent. It was thought that the college would provide the academic requirements, and the pastoral requirements would be met by the Curacy. There are problems with both these assumptions. Curacies can be a very mixed experience and we all know that many incumbents are too overworked to give much consideration to the 'training' requirement. Moreover, some people feel very 'de-skilled' when they come to theological college; they find the theology too academic and long to get back to ministry.

With the proliferation of part-time and mixed mode theological training available it is tempting to wonder whether there is any place for the more traditional 2-3 year training experience. Should all our training be part time, vocationally and context based?

Personally, I am quite convinced of the benefits of being taken away from other distractions for a mere 2-3 three years, to lay down firm foundations for a lifetime of future ministry. Moreover, the Ministry Division wisely encourages theological colleges to ensure that there is a good blend of formal academic training alongside Ministerial Formation, and for that reason colleges recognise the need for the practitioners of ministry to also be the trainers for ministry.

However, I wondered what current students at Wycliffe think. Do they regret being pulled away from their current ministry or do they still feel that a full time course has worked for them. I asked a dozen Wycliffe students to share their own perspectives, paraphrased below.

I was sold on the concept of doing some kind of mixed mode training so that I could stay in my church, which I loved. I am now so glad that I took the advice to come here full time. It gives the time to reflect and put reading first. If I had stayed working for a church and training alongside, the pressures of needy people would always have come before study. I am so glad of the opportunity to take a breather and have a chance to focus just on training. It is such a privilege to have the space to be here!

I appreciate the significant focus on rigorous study which full time education gives. There is encouragement to reflect on practice. Church placements have enabled a good mix and a model of integration between theology and practice. The chance to be in a community so that study and worship are not dislocated and theology is put into practice here gives me a model for how study and reflection will fit into my ongoing ministry. There is also the opportunity to see many different models of ministry and reflect on them, rather than being predominantly in one church context.

Being soaked in a full time learning environment my focus is on learning and receiving and not giving. This has given me the space to grow, to reflect and contemplate, giving me time to ponder on my calling. I believe God has had more access to me here without some of the distractions that may have been there had I stayed and studied part time.

I didn't really understand what people meant when they talked about 'formation'. It sounded like such a mystical airy-fairy concept. But now I understand that it's simply about being made more like Christ. That means that spending good residential time amongst his people (of different persuasions, styles, strengths and weaknesses). This really helps you work out why you think what you think and do what you do. I guess it's like being exposed to different parts of the body of Christ. And that both helps you identify and play your part and also appreciate the other parts of the body.

It's not just about theological education. Personally my primary focus at Wycliffe has been formation. Studying full time gives you the opportunity to reflect and give God space within which to work. Studying full time gives you more opportunity to get to know your peers and develop life-giving friendships to sustain ministry.

Key things which I have appreciated in full time education have been: Space for the task of 'formation' through physical separation from other parts of life; devotion to study; and the intentional worship/prayer community you are part of in college in which God, invariably, works. I sense the experience of shared worship and being led by God as a community.

I'm always drawn back to the Billy Graham quote that goes something like: If Jesus spent 30 years preparing for 3 years full time ministry, it's not unreasonable to spend three years training for 30 years ministry.

C. S. Lewis wrote, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else" ("Is Theology Poetry?" (1945)). Indeed, as Christians, our theology has ramifications on every part of our lives: our philosophy, our worldview, our relationships, our methods, our ethics, and of course, our ministry.

We can have a tendency to dichotomize the more academic side of our theological development and the more pragmatic side-that which we term "ministerial formation". But in truth, ideally they are both inextricably interwoven, with one and the same goal: to open us up more to the comprehension of the living God, his love for us expressed through Christ Jesus, our Lord, and the intimacy and pervasiveness of his indwelling Spirit. The more we are thus opened, the more we may together live lives of cruciform obedience, expectant joy, and sacrificial love, for the sake of the gospel and the kingdom of God.

From my perspective, full time ministerial training is useful because it offers a disciple the opportunity and privilege to step out of the craziness of the world for a time in order to pray and seek the Lord and His perspective and purpose for our lives, so that when we step back into the fray we will be able to offer those who will probably never have the same privilege, a living word that we can all put our faith in, and in doing so, find life.

I've really valued the luxury of time and space to study, especially as I was working in full time ministry before coming here. I'm more than ready to 'get my hands dirty' again, but I have had the time to lay foundations without other distractions. I have found community living to be really character building... This is no 'ivory tower' but is rather a place to get life back in balance.

This has given me space - to be formed for ministry, emotionally as well as academically; to be humbled through the experience of being a student again and be trained for ministry in community; to be able to ask and reflect on tough questions; to forge friendships which will last a lifetime; to pray for and pastorally care for one another.

Clearly, full time is not the only way to train, and most theological colleges offer a variety of part time methods of training, alongside the traditional form. However, I have been struck by a number of things in the stories shared above. Life is fast paced, busy and activity driven. Ministry is about more than learning and doing tasks. It is about discipleship, life sharing and vocation. This takes time. In a full time training institution ministry continues in and through the student body. Full time Christian training offers something that Protestants have often not been that good at, namely, accountable 'up close and personal' community. It's challenging, but the stories shared above demonstrate its tremendous value.

---The Revd Dr. Simon Vibert is Vice-Principal of Wycliffe Hall Oxford