Frequently ASKED QUESTIONS

The nature of the course, and the way the group forms a learning circle means that it is particularly important to be present at the very start of each of the two years. It is unlikely that we would support absence from these sessions.

Out of respect to the learning of the group, we ask that you are present ready to start on time, and if you think you may be delayed, inform your group tutor as soon as possible. If an absence is unavoidable, please discuss this with your tutors in advance, or at the earliest opportunity.

If you miss a session, you should arrange to have a member of your study group take notes for you. However, please note that our training is highly experiential, and learning is dynamic, resulting from our time together as a group, and therefore notes cannot be regarded as a substitute for attendance. In the case of repeated absences, should your tutors feel that your progress on the course has been significantly affected, you may be asked to repeat that year again at your own expense.

Our classes are only recorded at the tutor’s discretion, and will typically only be recorded when a class contains mainly teaching content, such as when a guest speaker comes to visit (only when the guest speaker gives permission). Live classes are experiential in nature and we understand that our training often involves profound and personal sharing, which forms an integral part of one’s learning journey. This delicate context makes recording these sessions challenging due to the sensitivities involved.

We aim to foster a safe learning environment where students can freely express their thoughts and emotions and we want to encourage uninhibited participation in webinars, and therefore webinars that do not contain specific teaching content tend not to be recorded. 

Engagement and commitment are indispensable elements of OneSpirit’s Ministry Training, which is designed to be a transformative and profound personal journey. As a student, you’ll be expected to actively participate not only in the coursework but also in interactions with your fellow students, and tutors, and during class sessions.

Through consistent engagement in homework assignments, thought-provoking discussions with peers, and introspective exploration during lessons, your experience in the programme becomes deeply enriched. The cultivation of essential skills required to become an ordained minister or graduate depends on the dedication and devotion you bring to the course.

Your unwavering involvement is pivotal in nurturing the personal and spiritual growth that will ultimately make you a well-rounded spiritual guide and leader. Remember, your OneSpirit journey is not superficial—it’s a transformative path that demands your full focus and genuine engagement.

To fully participate in the training, all students will require a computer that is connected to the internet, access to Zoom, and a basic level of proficiency in routine tasks like accessing the web, use of email and word processing for the purposes of writing assignments. We provide students in all our classes with learning materials and resources via our bespoke online learning platform.

We also provide a dedicated messaging platform that allows students to communicate with each other, as well as our tutors. This messaging platform is our main vehicle for communicating with students, so it is essential you can access this from the beginning of the training. There is no technical expertise required, it is a relatively simple matter of downloading and installing the app – full instructions will be given at the start of the course, and again, there is always help on hand from our team if you need assistance.

In order to participate in our online webinars, you will need access to a stable internet connection, a fully working computer with a web camera, and be comfortable using technology to join video calls. For most of our online sessions we will be using Zoom. You should make provision for these requirements prior to starting the course. If you are in any doubt about any of these requirements, please contact a member of the team and we will be glad to give you guidance.

We strive to deliver the training between the dates and at the locations publicised in our information pack, on our website and elsewhere. In exceptional circumstances, we may have to change the venue in order to ensure the quality of your experience is everything we hope it to be. Sometimes this may also impact on dates although we recognise the importance of being able to plan ahead, so dates will only be changed if there is no alternative. In the event of this, we will make every effort to communicate these changes with you at the earliest convenience.

Your tutors witness the ways in which the training works through each person. You will be in an ongoing process of being seen and encouraged, and this will include receiving feedback about your perceived readiness for the successful completion of each of the two years.

With over 25 years’ experience of delivering this training, we have carefully calibrated the ratio of tutors to students to ensure that each of you is held and supported throughout the training. Each student will be allocated to a group tutor who will offer advice and support throughout the training. You will be expected to join your group tutor for a one-to-one session by Zoom, roughly every six weeks. Your group tutor will also attend your study group meetings.

A key part of your training and ministry is regular supervision with an accredited supervisor. We are proud to have our own body of accredited supervisors working with our student and minister communities. Supervision fosters a culture of ongoing learning and development in your ministry and plays an essential role in your reflective practice. We ask all our students to have regular supervision throughout their training.

This is not included in our fee structure as we feel this gives you the freedom to work with a supervisor from our accredited body that you feel most drawn to and allows you to work within your own budget.

Supervision is a space for sharing, reflection, relationship modelling and inquiry, offered by a supervisor to the student that deepens the student’s understanding and practice. 

Why be in regular supervision?

There are so many reasons that supervision is a valuable tool, both during your training and afterwards.

Spiritual Support

• Supervision offers a space for guidance and encouragement from a trained individual, an important part of staying connected to yourself, and your boundaries, and preventing burnout.

Accountability

• Regular supervision keeps us continually engaged in reflective practice. Having someone else hold us accountable can go a long way in our work.

Personal and Professional Development

• Supervision allows you to reflect on your strengths and your areas for growth, as well as discuss any challenges that have come up for you recently.

Regular 1-1 Support

• Supervision allows for regular check-ins with an individual in a similar line of work, which helps you feel heard and part of a wider community.

Most important of all is to participate fully in the class – and to bring your wisdom and energy to the exercises you do. You will be expected to continue to deepen and refine your spiritual practice and relationship with the God, Goddess, Spirit, or Source of your understanding, daily. We ask that you are prepared to lay aside at least 30 minutes or more, each day for this express purpose.

Those who join the training embark on a dynamic, experiential journey in the company of faculty and fellow students. The process of this training will typically take each group member and the group itself into experiences of healing and deepening. Much of this will be overtly joyful. Some of it may be uncomfortable or harder work in places. This is the nature of true learning and the depth of self-inquiry may be challenging – to get the most out of the experience it is essential that you bring a sense of personal enquiry and a sincere openness to hearing honest feedback.

Our Spiritual Development and Ministry course is a deep, radical programme of transformation. This demanding and challenging training requires a high degree of self-awareness, self-motivation, and self-examination from all participants. As with any programme of this nature, there is the potential for unresolved issues, traumas, or other wounds to be brought into awareness for attention, healing, and resolution.

The design of the training ensures that each student is deeply supported as they go through this journey of self-enquiry. However, we must be clear that this training is not therapy, and we ask you to carefully consider your own state of readiness before undertaking this course. We also strongly advise all students to consider the other supports they have available in their life. You may find independent counselling or other therapeutic supports invaluable in helping you deal with any difficult personal material that may emerge during the course and deepen the process of self-enquiry.

If you choose to take advantage of one of our extended payment plans, you will be required to set up a direct debit or authorise a credit or debit card for us to take regular payments in line with your agreed plan. You will have the option to sign up using either card details or by creating a direct debit mandate, and we will collect the payments on the agreed schedule for the plan you have chosen. Your payment plan will commence from the month you complete your Training Agreement.

You must remain fully up to date with fee payments in line with your agreed payment plan at all times. It is your responsibility to ensure there are sufficient funds available on your chosen payment method to meet your agreed monthly payments. Missed payments may incur an admin fee of £25 for each missed payment after the first occurrence. Failure to adhere to the terms of the payment plan may result in the full amount of fees becoming due immediately.

Our extended payment plans are offered in good faith and failure to maintain payments in accordance with your training agreement may be regarded as a breach of OneSpirit’s Code of Ethics. Your status as a graduate of OneSpirit and (if ordained) as an interfaith minister are dependent on your fulfilment of the terms of your training agreement and may be revoked if you do not honour this contract.

We recognise that undertaking our training is a significant financial commitment. As an educational charity, we do all we can to keep our fees as low as possible whilst offering an exceptional training curriculum held by an experienced and highly skilled Faculty. Our Finance Officer can talk you through the support and guidance available for funding your training. We offer a number of flexible payment plans, including the option to spread payments over 60 months.

Yes, you can, but please note we do not accept ad-hoc or ‘as & when’ payments.  We cannot accept a promise of payments when my house sells or when I get my inheritance or any variation of the same.

When you enrol, you must choose a payment option & make the 1st payment via this plan. If subsequently, at any point you decide you have a lump sum you wish to apply to your fees, please email the Finance Officer who will arrange this.

Yes, you can. For instance, if you signed up to a 20 month payment plan and need to extend it longer at any time during your training, ie to 60 months, the Finance Officer will calculate how much has been paid to date & let you know what the new term & amount will be. You can of course also choose to change to a shorter payment plan. 

No, we’re sorry but there are no scholarships currently available to students entering the training.  Should you have a change in your financial circumstances (e.g. illness, loss of income, etc.) after you have started the course, then a bursary application may be considered, although funds are limited.  Bursaries are not intended for students who cannot afford the fees from the outset & who are looking for support from the outset with meeting their fee payments.  Additionally, please note that bursaries are intended only to help students meet fee payments in cases of real hardship, and are not available for help with incidental expenses like travel to retreats, books, stole, supervision, etc.

No, we only accept payments through our charging system Chargebee, i.e. Direct Debit (for UK banks) or credit/debit card option.