Dr JP (Hannes) van der Walt Centre for Contextual Ministry, University of PretoriaAMTP Secretary

Introducing AMTP

What is AMTP Acronym for Association of Ministry Training Practitioners

Established in August 2014

Representatives of around 60 theological / ministry training institutions were involved to date, new partners welcome to apply

Mainly to work towards a solution for the training needs of the large number of pastors in need of training on pre-tertiary level

To serve as a joint planning and strategising platform for the large number of ministry training institutions in South, Southern and sub-Saharan Africa.

Why was AMTP Established

This is best understood when looking at statistics

South Africa: up to 90% of pastors in South Africa fall outside the scope of formal tertiary training, serious problems with formalisation of pre-tertiary training exist

Sub-Saharan Africa: estimates of Judeah harvest: between 1 million and 2 million pastors in sub-Saharan Africa - most not formally trained

Example: Redeemed Christian Church of God in Lagos: se photographs - note “chairs of the pastors”

What are the Training Needs

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PASTORS PER CHURCH CATEGORY IN SA

Church tradition / group

Number of members*

Members per pastor

Estimated number of

pastors

Number expressed

as percentage

of AICsRoman Catholic 3,181,336 2,897** 1,098 0.06%Anglican 1,722,076 1,126** 1,529 0.09%Methodist 3,305,404 1,373** 2,407 1.4%Reformed churches 3,232,193 843** 3,834 2.2%Pentecostal/Charismatic 3,422,749 246** 13,914 8.1%African independent churches

14,254,031 83*** 171 735 100.0%

Sources: * Stats SA 2001 census ** Siaki, 2002, 34 *** CCM, Rustenburg sample

Conclusion Existing theological education and training on tertiary level only scratches

the surface! Serious attention to the need in the independent or informal church sector

is of cardinal importance

Barriers to Further Training Many Bible schools and other pre-tertiary ministry training initiatives exist However: there is no system for the formal accreditation and quality assurance

of their courses in South Africa and most other African countries No joint vision and strategy among the training institutions Standards of training often not good Ministry training needs mostly not fully covered, confusing to prospective

students or pastors in need of training

A new opportunity has been created by SA educational authorities: establishment of a professional bodies for many disciplines, including church ministry

AMTP is in process to apply for recognition by SAQA as such professional body This places AMTP in the position to develop and oversee formally recognised

qualifications for ministry training on the pre-tertiary level Ministry training institutions are invited:

1. To participate as Community of Expert Practitioners 2. To present courses they have available as “building blocks” towards the

achievement of formally recognised qualifications developed by AMTP

The AMTP Solution

Institutions and individuals from other countries may and should participate, since achieving a formal South African qualification is not reserved for South Africans.

Who Will Benefit

AMTP is currently working towards the development of occupational qualifications on NQF level 1 (Grade 9 equivalent) and NQF level 4 (Grade 12 equivalent)

Process will be executed in cooperation with SAQA and QCTO Theological and ministry training institutions wanting to participate are invited

to participate:1. By participating as part of Commmunity of Expert Training Practitioners2. By submitting courses to be included as “building blocks” towards the pre-

tertiary qualifications in process of development Forms are available, please consider responding to invitation

First Steps

Come Join the Team