Seeing the Hidden Things: Guidelines for good practice in the formation of ordinance and lay ministers in training is a document produced by Allison Fenton and Ed Olsworth-Peters.
The guidance in Seeing the Hidden Things is based on a qualitative research project in which the authors interviewed neurodivergent ministers and ministers-in-training.
Purpose of the guidelines
The purpose of Seeing the Hidden Things is to support Anglican training institutions in the formation of neurodivergent people for lay and ordained ministry within the Church of England.
Who can use the guidelines
- Teachers
- Tutors
- Support staff
- Managers
Our hope is that these guidelines will be used to enable the flourishing of neurodivergent students, so enriching formation across the whole of the Church of England.
Background to the research
The research for this project was rooted in listening. We spoke with neurodivergent participants about their experiences of training for ministry.
Primary research methods
- Narrative interviews
- Focus groups
We spoke with 40 people who were Church of England minsters or minsters-in-training and had a formal educational or clinical diagnosis of neurodivergence.
Topics of the research interviews
The topics about which we spoke with our neurodivergent participants:
- what enabled their flourishing
- what created barriers
- what forms of support helped them thrive
Further detail about the research methodology is provided in the appendices to Seeing the Hidden Things, alongside additional supporting material.
Companion resources
- Seeing the Hidden Things Podcast (more info coming soon)
- Pathways to Belonging: card-based training tool