Kings Internship
Overview
The King's Church Internship programme comprises four main components:
- Theological Study
- Leadership Development
- Mission
- Church-based Ministry
Theological Study
Theological teaching is one of the most significant parts of the King's Church Internship Programme. The teaching provided is wide-ranging and pitched at undergraduate degree level. Typically, interns will spend 10 hours per week in lectures, seminars or personal study.
Interns study the following areas:
- Biblical Studies, including New Testament, Old Testament and Hermeneutics
- Church History
- Historical and Systematic Theology
- Practical Theology and Leadership Development
Training Team
The main trainers are from the King's Church staff team and include Dr Mark Bonnington (PhD), Ruth Perrin (MATM), Melody Briggs (MA) and Paul Burgess (MA). Dr Richard Briggs (PhD) teaches Old Testament and Hermeneutics. We also draw on local theological teachers and visiting speakers from a variety of backgrounds and traditions, particularly from the Ichthus Network.
Leadership Development
Kings Interns grow as leaders through our teaching programme and by gaining experience in a wide variety of leadership opportunities. We also support their growth in faith and character during the programme.
Each intern keeps a journal to reflect on their experiences and sets termly personal targets in order to be deliberate about their areas of growth. These are reviewed on a regular basis by a member of staff. Interns also meet weekly with the staff team for a time of worship, devotional reading and prayer.
Each intern is allocated:
- a personal support person who meets with them regularly to talk and pray about what they are learning
- a discipleship group which meets fortnightly to discuss and pray through what they are learning and finding enjoyable or challenging
- a cell group within the church to help them become an integrated member of the church community
There is also the opportunity for interns to attend periodic national training events with interns from other churches and backgrounds.
Mission
Interns are involved in weekly mission activities in and around Durham. From practical help on local housing estates to worship and drama in the city centre, interns participate in a wide range of first contact evangelism each week.
Interns are also involved in a number of the church's mission activities such as a tots & toddlers group, meals for the elderley, free present wrapping at Christmas and a late-night drop-in for students. They take a significant lead in the annual June Project, a church-wide week of community service and mission activity, and help to plan and lead the church's termly Alpha course, guest services and other events.
Placements
Interns have weekly placements with other Christian agencies serving beyond the local church community. Typically, each intern has a placement with vulnerable adults and a school- or youth-based placement for around five hours a week. Placements are tailed to fit the interests and skills of each intern. The range of placement opportunities continues to grow. Example of placements in previous years have included:
- Prison ministry
- Aquila Way Housing Project
- Traidcraft
- Schools and youth ministries
A number of mission trips are arranged during the year to enable the interns to work alongside other church communities. Usually, two domestic and one international mission trips will take place each year. International trips to date have gone to Norway, Bosnia and France. These experiences have been invaluable for team-building, stretching faith and developing vision for the mission of the church across the world.
Church-based Ministry
Kings is a lively, evangelical and charismatic community church with a large student ministry. The Interns are involved in practical service of the church on a Sunday and also in pastoral ministry, particularly with students, young people and children. In addition, many of them undertake leadership roles in our student cells and pastorates as well as leading Alpha courses, international student work and doing one-to-one discipleship and prayer ministry.
Depending on their gifts, Interns are also involved in leading worship and Sunday services, teaching the Bible, writing study resources, hospitality, project management, creative arts and technical and media ministries.
We expect Interns to work hard and share our commitment to the biblical principle of servant leadership, but we also give them the opportunity to work alongside and learn from more experienced leaders and staff in the church in order to develop their gifts and character.
Second Year - The Ministry Training Programme
The second year of training is a progression from the Kings Internship and is aimed at those who would like to:
- Develop further as a specialist in an area of church-based mission or ministry
- Gain further experience whilst exploring a vocation to Christian ministry
- Gain sufficient theological training to enter a formal degree programme
As well as involvement in the day to day running of the church, each Ministry Trainee will work alongside a member of the church staff (or other specialist) in order to gain experience and training in two of the following areas:
- Preaching and Teaching
- Pastoral Ministry
- Student Ministry
- International Student Ministry
- Youth and Children's Ministry
- Mission and Evangelism
- Community Development
- Media and Arts
- Worship Leadership
- Administration and Logistics
Ministry Trainees work more closely with the Kings staff team. They also undertake further theological study and professional training as appropriate.