Recognised Local Ministry
Recognised Local Ministry (RLM) is a new initiative, implemented by Baptists Together in 2023.
It’s aimed at those who feel that God is calling them to recognised ministry in their local churches or settings, but for whom fully accredited ministry is not right or not possible in their current circumstances.
The RLM programme covers a wide range of different ministry positions and responsibilities – from local church leadership, to working with children and youth, to chaplaincy, pioneering and so much more. It’s a way of recognising, celebrating and supporting people in their calling and ministry, as well as helping provide the essential tools needed for those ministries. To get a better understanding of Recognised Local Ministry and how it differs to Fully Accredited Ministry, please read the ‘Introduction to Recognised Local Ministry’ published by Baptists Together.
Everyone who trains as an RLM must have a clearly defined ministry or missional role connected to a church in membership with a regional association and the Baptist Union. This will be your placement throughout the programme. Most applicants are already working in such a role when they apply. However, it may be that whilst you have a strong sense of call, your own church cannot or will not support your vision for mission and ministry. In this is the case, please get in touch with the SWBA team. We may know of other nearby opportunities for you to serve and train at the same time.
To find out more about the process of becoming a Recognised Local Minister in the south west, please keep reading using the drop down boxes below.
The process of becoming a Recognised Local Minister has four key stages, each of which has several different elements involved:
| 1) First Steps | |
| Initial Chat | Application |
| We recommend that before formally applying, you have an initial conversation with one of the regional team. This will help to ensure that the RLM path is the right fit for you. | Candidates wanting to go ahead will be asked to complete:
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| 2) Recognising Your Calling | |
| Church Meeting | Ministerial Recognition Committee |
| The SWBA will ask your local church (or other calling body) for a formal commendation recognising a communal discernment of your calling. | You will be invited to attend an interview with the regional ministerial recognition committee. It is their decision whether to accept you onto the RLM programme. |
| 3) Pathways Programme | |
| Successful candidates will be asked to join our Pathways programme, beginning the following September. This is a two year programme and consists of two elements. For more information about what is involved for each of these, see the drop-down boxes below. | |
| Learning Element | Formation Element |
| A series of taught modules designed to give you a foundation in theology, ministry and mission. | An opportunity to reflect on spirituality, character formation and your own journey with God in company with others. |
| 4) Final Interview | |
| At the end of the two year programme, you will be invited back for a final interview with the Ministerial Recognition Committee. They will make the final decision about awarding Recognised Local Minister status. |
The Learning Element consists of a series of taught modules, which between them provide a great introduction to theology and a foundation for ministry and mission.
All our modules are taught by experienced pastors and theologians, and mostly take place on Saturdays throughout the year at the SWBA Office in Exeter. For the best learning experience we recommend joining us on-site there if you can. However, for most modules there will also be the option of joining online via Zoom.
For some modules we join with other training providers - such as the Youthscape Essentials course - to provide the teaching. The times and days of these courses can vary.
For each module you will be asked to complete an assignment. These will take different forms depending on the nature of the module – some will be essays asking you to reflect on a subject covered during the teaching days, whereas others will be practical tasks based on your mission or ministry context. We know some students find the prospect of assignments daunting, especially if you haven’t been in education for some time. Please don’t worry! The aim is not to catch you out, but to help you engage further in learning, thinking and reflection. We will provide plenty of support and advice to help you through them.
2026-2028 Modules
Core Modules (to be completed by all students):
- Intro to the Bible – Old Testament
- Intro to the Bible – New Testament
- Intro to Theology and the Doctrine of God
- Living as the People of God
- Mission & Evangelism
- Engaging with Contemporary Culture
- Radical Discipleship in a Changing World
- Leadership
- Pastoral Care
Optional Modules (all students must complete at least two):
- Leading Worship
- Telling God’s Story (Preaching & Communication)
- Pioneering
- Chaplaincy
- Children, Youth & Families
- Small Group Leadership
If you have already completed some theological training in a different setting, we may be able to use this to count towards some or all of the learning element of the programme. This is at the discretion of the programme co-ordinator. It may also be possible to access modules offered by other associations or Baptist colleges. If you want to do this, please speak to the programme co-ordinator.
Being formed for ministry and mission is not just about knowledge or practical skills, but about our character, journey of discipleship and relationship with God.
Although these things will come up throughout the taught modules, you will also be part of a ‘Spiritual Formation Group’ with others from the course. This will be led by one of the regional team or another experienced minister and will meet nine times a year online. It's an opportunity to share, reflect and pray together, as well as think about spirituality and our individual journeys with God.
At the end of the academic year we will have a full day, in-person retreat to give more space to reflect and listen to God together.
As an RLM you will also be assigned a mentor, who will be a source of support and advice and help you to reflect on your ministry and placement. They will also feed back any concerns to the regional team as they arise so they can be addressed.
The costs of the Pathways programme for those starting in September 2026 are detailed in the table below.
We have tried to keep these as low as possible, and your church may be able to help. However, if payment is going to be difficult for any reason, please get in touch with the programme co-ordinator.
Please bear in mind that you might want to allow for some additional costs such as books and travel.
| Annual Pathways Registration Fee This will normally be paid at the beginning of each academic year. | £145 |
| Two Day Module This will be paid when booking into each module | £70 |
| One Day Module This will be paid when booking into each module | £45 |
| Total Cost This will vary slightly depending on which modules are chosen. The figure given is for 2 × Registration Fees, 9 × core modules, and 2 × optional modules. | £1,010 |
All the modules we offer are designed to be accessible, and you don’t need any academic qualifications to join in.
If you have any additional needs or concerns, please let us know during the application process. We will make every reasonable effort to work with you to try and help you engage with the programme as fully as possible.
If you'd like to explore becoming an RLM further, please get in touch with our Learning Community Co-ordinator, James Henley, at james@swbaptists.org.uk or 01392 433533.
Got Questions?
If you have any questions about Recognised Local Ministry or would like to discuss whether it's right for you, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our Learning Community Co-ordinator, James Henley, on 01392 433533 or at james@swbaptists.org.uk.