Training in Ecclesiastical Law – New curriculum published

October 23, 2020

ELS chairman Mark Hill writes:

I am delighted to announce the launch of the Society’s ecclesiastical law curricula. These modest documents are designed to give an overview of the topics and sources of ecclesiastical law with which clergy and lay office holders respectively ought to be familiar.  They contain easy to use hyperlinks.

They are not designed to be a complete teaching module, but instead give headline themes and point the way to further reading. The recent e-questionnaire conducted by the Society suggests that there is quite a lot of training going on in many dioceses but it is generally diffused and ad hoc. We hope those already involved in teaching will find the curricula helpful, and that they will provide encouragement and support to others who may wish to launch training initiatives.  We do not pretend they are perfect.  They will be kept under review and suggestions from users on additions and revisions will be welcome. They are a resource for the wider church, but will also form a solid foundation for the roll-out of the ongoing programme run by the Society’s education sub-Committee.

The Society has taken many strides in delivering on its charitable purpose of education in ecclesiastical law, and this may prove one of the most significant. I commend these curricula to the membership and encourage wider dissemination. And I thank Chancellor Ruth Arlow and her team for their industry and vision in bringing this project to fruition.

Mark Hill QC
Chairman, Ecclesiastical Law Society

The curricula can be downloaded here:

• Ecclesiastical Law: Curriculum for Clergy.
• Ecclesiastical Law: Curriculum for Lay Officers.

You can find out more about the background to the curricula, and our plans for the future, in the launch video on our Youtube channel.