Dear Friends,
This past week, I, Christine, had the very last study weekend of my training to be a priest. It was a rich, emotional, and meaningful time that concluded three wonderful years full of studying, formation, and making friends for life.
It’s been a long journey to get to this point: 8.5 years since my first trip to London for an enquirer’s weekend! Since, there’s been an extensive discernment process, temporarily interrupted by covid, official interviews, and then these three years of theological education.
I studied with the Eastern Region Ministry Course (ERMC), based in Cambridge. The course consisted of in-person residentials in England (each year one week in the summer, plus 5-6 weekends), weekly zoom classes, and a seemingly never-ending amount of assignments. I enjoyed the learning immensely and loved the variety of modules: Old/New Testament, doctrine, adult education, leadership, pastoral care, ethics, church history, worship/preaching, …
The greatest blessing of my time with the ERMC has been the people! Here, ordinands from East Anglia (a region in the eastern part of England) and the Diocese in Europe study together. The college staff are knowledgeable and caring, always up for a chat, a laugh, advice, and anecdotes. Unlike most fulltime residential theological colleges in England, the ERMC caters for mature students of all ages, all walks of life, diverse churchmanship, theological stances, professional careers, and personalities. This community is incredibly supportive and loving. We were vulnerable with each other, had heated discussions, were encouraged to be who God made us to be, and learned much from each other. It is hard to put into words just how much the sharing of this journey has formed and connected us.
Apart from deep friendships and academic learning, the past three years have formed me in several ways. I’ve grown as a person and a follower of Jesus, my critical thinking has sharpened, I have gained a much wider theological horizon, and have become more articulate (and hopefully sensitive) when talking about God and life.
Unsurprisingly, this past weekend has been a rollercoaster of happy and sad emotions, final lectures, meaningful worship, partying and dancing, deep conversations, hugs, laughter, and tears. While some goodbyes have been farewells forever, some people I will certainly stay in touch with and meet again. Many of them have promised visits to Freiburg, so I hope you get to meet some of them, too. There is, for instance, the group of clergy-to-be from the Diocese in Europe, with friends from, for example, Olso, Vienna, and The Hague. Then there is my wonderful group of seven other women who I’ve shared all three years with and who I‘ve become very close with.
So, what does my path look like, going on from now? While most of my peers will be ordained deacon within the next couple of weeks, my ordination has been postponed to 2027, due to situational circumstances. While this is sad on one hand, it is giving me some time to recuperate and reflect. For now, I’m looking forward to not having any more assignment deadlines, more time for my family, and services I will lead at the ACF. Once I’m ordained, my curacy and some further training modules will follow.
I am beyond grateful not only for the privilege of having been part of the ERMC for three years, but also and especially for all who supported me all along the way. This is, first and foremost, my husband and kids. They have let me travel all those many weekends, become more independent, and endured my deadline frustrations and thinking-out-loud. Also, you, the ACF family, have been amazing in cheering me on since I first started exploring ordained ministry, prayed for me and my family, and allowed me to try myself out. And, of course, our past and present clergy—Vinod, Peter, Chris, Robin, Margaret—have been invaluable support and inspiration. Thank you, all of you! I will keep you updated on what the future will hold.
With love,
Christine Ghinn
Freiburg Anglican Church 