Ministry begins
at ordination —
formation doesn't
Ordination is a threshold, not a destination. The moment a deacon or priest is ordained, they enter the most intense period of practical learning in their entire ministry — learning to preside, to preach regularly, to pastor the dying, to counsel the troubled, to lead a community, to administer a parish, all at once, all for the first time.
The Post-Ordination Training programme exists precisely to accompany clergy through this demanding and exhilarating first phase of ordained ministry. It is not an extension of college formation — it is something different: a structured space for reflection on actual ministry experience, in the company of peers and experienced guides.
The POT programme in the Diocese of False Bay runs for two years, beginning in the year of ordination as Deacon and continuing through ordination to the Priesthood and into the early years of priestly ministry. It combines monthly gathering days, regular meetings with a clerical mentor, continued spiritual direction, and an annual formation retreat.
Participation in POT is not optional — it is a condition of ordination in the Diocese of False Bay. The Bishop considers it a fundamental part of the Diocese's responsibility to its newly ordained clergy, and to the parishes they serve.
"Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress."
— 1 Timothy 4:15How POT works in
practice
All clergy in their first two years of ordained ministry gather monthly for a formation day hosted at various venues across the Diocese. These days include theological reflection on a set topic, group discussion of shared ministry challenges, prayer, and often a short retreat element. They are as much about building a peer community as they are about content.
Each ordinand in POT is assigned a clerical mentor — a more experienced priest in the Diocese who meets with them regularly, provides a space for pastoral and ministerial reflection, and serves as a sounding board for the practical and spiritual challenges of early ministry. This relationship is distinct from spiritual direction, though both run concurrently.
Spiritual direction — begun during the Fellowship of Vocation and continued through theological college — is maintained throughout the POT years. The inner life of the minister is the foundation of all ministry, and the Diocese takes seriously its responsibility to support that inner life through trained and experienced accompaniment.
Each year, POT participants gather for an extended formation retreat — typically three to four days away from parish life. The retreat provides space for deeper theological reflection, personal renewal, and the kind of honest conversation about the demands of ordained ministry that is difficult to have in the busyness of parish life.
What is covered across
two years
| Year | Focus Area | Key Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Deacon Year |
The Diaconate & First Ministry | The theology and spirituality of the diaconate; presiding at Morning Prayer and the Liturgy of the Word; visiting the sick; first experiences of pastoral crisis; preaching development; parish administration basics |
| Year 2 Early Priesthood |
Presiding & Pastoral Ministry | Presidency at the Eucharist; hearing and absolving confession; funerals, weddings and baptisms; grief and bereavement ministry; conflict in community; sermon series planning; the priest as leader |
| Year 3 Consolidation |
Sustainable Ministry & Growth | Clergy self-care and sustainability; boundaries in ministry; growing a congregation; the priest as theologian; contextual ministry in the False Bay context; looking ahead to ordained life beyond POT |
The Diocese asks. The newly
ordained commit.
Monthly formation days and the annual retreat are compulsory. Clergy are expected to treat POT commitments with the same priority as parish duties — because they are.
Meetings with the assigned clerical mentor are expected at least bi-monthly throughout the two-year programme.
Maintaining a relationship with a spiritual director throughout the POT years is a non-negotiable expectation of the Diocese.
Short written reflections are submitted periodically, helping clergy consolidate learning and track their own growth over the two years.
POT only works when clergy engage honestly — with their peers, their mentors, and with the material. The Diocese asks for openness, not performance.
Parish priests and wardens are asked to support their curate's POT commitments, releasing them for formation days and retreats as a normal part of ministry.
You are not alone
The Bishop of False Bay takes personal interest in the development of every newly ordained clergy member. An annual conversation with the Bishop is part of the POT structure, providing an opportunity for honest review and pastoral support directly from the Ordinary.
The other clergy going through POT at the same time are perhaps the greatest resource of all. The bonds forged in those monthly days — of shared laughter, shared struggle, and shared faith — often last an entire ordained ministry. Potty Training, it turns out, is better done together.
The Diocesan office coordinates all POT logistics, maintains contact with each participant, and is available to support clergy who encounter difficulties during their POT years. No one should feel they have to struggle in silence.