The grants, known as Resourcing Ministerial Formation innovation awards, are distributed by the Ministry Finance Panel on behalf of the Archbishops’ Council. This funding is derived from surplus ministry training funds accumulated over the years and specific allocations for lay-ministry training innovation from the Church Commissioners.
Among the recipients is The Queen’s Foundation in Birmingham, which received £118,756 to explore best practices in training neurodivergent ministers, a project in collaboration with St Mellitus College. The initiative will be spearheaded by Rev Dr Allison Fenton and Revd Ed Olsworth-Peter, focusing on research that will later be shared publicly.
In an interview with The Church Times, Rev Olsworth-Peter, who has personal experience with dyslexia and dyspraxia, emphasised the importance of recognising and supporting neurodivergent individuals in ministry roles.
Mr Olsworth-Peter was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia in his early twenties. He told the outlet that there had been a “limited understanding” of the impact when he was an ordinand. He said. “I would have valued support in the challenges this can bring in ministry, as well as the recognition of the gift that this can be to the Church.
“Over the last two years at St Mellitus, we have been exploring what the formational support of neurodivergent leaders in training might look like, and how this needs a different approach.” He said that he welcomed the chance to “take this work deeper”.