Theology students left out in the cold by the natural limitations of parishes are hoping to find a new source of learning at St Andrew's Cathedral.
City-based lawyer Karen Gettens did her first three units of Moore College's Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC) through her former church but then had to go it alone for the next six subjects.
Her ministry team couldn't teach advanced topics and continue basic courses at the same time.
"I had to think hard about whether I was going to continue at all because there wasn't a group to do it with," she says.
The Rev Ken Noakes from the Diocese' Ministry Development and Training division, says it's a common story.
"Fifty per cent of people who do the first subject of the PTC drop out, probably because their churches can't provide enough support to continue," he says.
Mr Noakes says the pressure to run advanced as well as introductory courses puts a real strain on ministers.
The decision to launch the CITY School of Ministry at St Andrew's aims to address the imbalance.
"The school will offer a whole range of subjects, including PTC courses, but also leadership programs covering resources like Christianity Explained, Everyday Evangelism and the compulsory child protection course," Mr Noakes says.
A regular timetable of courses means churches now have somewhere to feed students who want to study topics they lack the resources to teach.
Its city location and Thursday evening time-slots are attractive features to would-be students like Ms Gettens.
"Seven-thirty pm is a good time for professionals because you can work till seven, grab something to eat, and still get down here."
Ms Gettens persevered through additional PTC subjects on her own, but describes it as anything but ideal.
"I didn't study as well as I could have " I tended to cram," she says, rolling her eyes.
"But when you're studying with a group you have to commit to those meetings. It made me do the readings each week."
Mr Noakes says PTC courses serve as a popular stepping stone into full-time and part-time ministry.
"Just over 50 per cent of students at Moore began by doing PTC courses, before coming to college," he says.
Ms Gettens who now attends Naremburn/Cammeray Anglican Church helps run a Bible study at the parish, as well as an in-house Christian group at her firm and a breakfast meeting for Ecom Legal, a ministry to the city's legal profession.
"I see it as an investment in my future," she says. "The courses help me to think through passages at a much deeper level."
For more information visit the St Andrew's Cathedral website or email Ken Noakes.
