About Anglican Training Institute (ATI)

Introduction

Anchored and governed by the ATI Board, ATI’s vision is to train pastors and members to be committed to build strong local churches throughout Sabah and beyond that are passionate in worship, powerful in preaching and prepared for effective mission and evangelism. ATI is entrusted with the responsibility for the training for pastoral candidates and ordinands in the diocese.

ATI aims to instil the vision of the diocese, a sense of unity and belonging, and a basic ministry philosophy which would be shared by the whole diocese at the foundational level of the theological training of potential pastors and clergy. While academic excellence is pursued and maintained, the methodology employed consists of elements which enable the training of skills and characters. Thus, ATI strikes a balance in both theology and practical training of our students, ensuring that they will graduate and enter into ministry with confidence.

Vision

Equipping pastors and committed members to build strong local churches throughout Sabah and beyond that are passionate in worship, powerful in preaching and prepared for effective mission and evangelism.

Why ATI?

ATI gives you instant access to quality theological education and relevant ministry skills as soon as you are recommended by your pastor/priest. We welcome those who wish to respond to God’s calling and recommended by their pastors/priests. In other words, one needs not worry about availability of theological education and ministry training once entering full-time ministry. With courses endorsed by the Anglican Diocese of Sabah and integrated with the whole vocation pathway, once accepted into ATI, a person can be instantly trained whenever he or she is ready.

The ATI also provides an opportunity for vocational upgrade and ministry equipping for full-time church workers – from youth evangelists, evangelists, pastors to administration staff.

With the introduction of the new curriculum, ATI also welcome church members to apply and enrol in classes which they are interested in. They can also earn credits, which could lead to the certification of the Certificate of Theology, Diploma of Theology and even the Bachelor of Theology.

Integrated Training

ATI’s distinctiveness can be summarised as ‘Integrated Training’:

Integrating Vocation and Training

ATI works closely with the Diocesan Vocation Committee to ensure that the training for each full-time worker is fully integrated into the vocational development pathway supervised by the Vocation Committee. In other words, ATI plays a key role in enabling those who responded to full-time calling to enter into their first theological and ministry training at the earliest possible stage of their vocation, ensuring that they form their theological foundation while serving at a local church, even within the first few years of their serving. Meanwhile, they will also be equipped to be effective in ministry. With this it is believed that the local church will benefit from the effectiveness of the students, while the training for the students could take place concurrently.

Integrating Global and Local

In the past, our predecessors have been diligently seeking out the best theological seminaries available to us in the UK, Australia, Singapore and also locally. Pastors and priests have been sent all over the world to obtain their theological education and the diocese has been benefitted by the knowledge and theology that these priest and pastors have brought back. However, with the progress that the diocese is moving into, and by the grace of God, we have found the strength to develop an Integrated Training with a local expression, attuned to the vision of the diocese and the need of the local context. Ministry and theological heritage from the West and others shall be integrated with our very local wisdom to form a typical Sabah Anglican ethos, catering to our specific needs and preparing us to move forward into the future.

Integrating Training with Discipleship

Another integration which ATI aims to include in its training is the mentoring or apprentice model. With it we integrate theological education at the Institute with close supervision, guidance and support from the local pastor/priest. As such, the students will be able to be trained while they are on the job. Apart from that, they will also be able to find help from their mentor – the local priest or pastor. This process of training differs from the conventional model where students are entrusted to a theological college or seminary for a number of years.

Integrating Training with Fellowship

The fourth area which Integrated Training takes place is when students from various parts of the diocese are put together in their training. Students from various backgrounds, cultural groups and places will be given the chance from the very early stage of their training to connect with each other, thus, enhancing the integration of the diocese. They will also be able to know the diocese as they interact.

Integrating Training and Mission

Initially called the School of Ministry and Mission, ATI has a clear mandate to train missionaries. So it has integrated the training of missionary as one of its aims. Presently, ATI also runs the training for the Diocesan Mission Committee.