How much does DTP cost to run?

It doesn’t cost anything apart from local production costs. There is no charge from DTP for using the material. You can use anything produced by DTP for free. If you wish to produce your own resources to use with DTP (workbooks etc.) you will need to pay for those! But DTP is in the public domain and can be used by any Church without cost. There is no membership fee, registration fee, or any other kind of fee. There is no small print.

If you want someone from DTP to travel to your Church to talk through discipleship, or how you might use DTP in your own context, or to talk with your leadership, or to help cast a vision with your congregation, you will be asked to cover the cost of travel and accommodation. You will not be asked to pay anything beyond that to DTP. DTP is not for profit.

There is a ‘Donate’ button on the website. If you would like to make a contribution to the running costs of DTP, the website, the support of Churches, or to help fund its ongoing development you are of course free to do so.

DTP does not make profit, and any monies donated will be used for the purposes of DTP.

Is this material copyright?

Nothing produced by DTP is copyright. It is free to use with or without accreditation or acknowledgement. You do not need the express or written permission of DTP to use anything produced by DTP. Links to external resources may however be copyright, and you should use that material in accordance with the terms of its copyright.

How closely do I have to stick to the script?

You don’t. The scripts that are included in the website are ‘example scripts’. They are provided to help give a sense of what could be taught, and how. They are tried and tested and have been used and found effective in varying forms in a number of different contexts. They are however example scripts and you are free to use, adapt or indeed discard in favour of your own material as is most helpful. At DTP we are aware that many experienced pastors will be able to use the framework provided, but will have developed their own ways of teaching what the Bible has to say on these issues. That is to be encouraged!

Do I have to run the Study Days?

DTP is offered to you to be used as much or as little as is helpful. There is nothing here that you have to do. It has been developed as a possible response to a need to disciple both new and older Christians, and to do so in ways resonant with the early Church’s model of Catechumenate.

But the idea remains that any pastor is free to use as much or as little as is helpful in their context. The Study Days have been used and ‘road-tested’, and have been found to be useful and encouraging. They are offered in that spirit.

Isn’t this material a bit challenging for those who are new to the faith?

Our experience in running DTP is that this is often a question asked by those who have been Christians for a number of years. We have found that it is often those who have been Christians for a number of years who find the material most challenging. Those who are new to the faith tend to take it much more in their stride, and accept it much more readily than more established Christians fear might be the case.

We have sought to provide a number of levels (tiers) at which each session can be accessed. If you - as the pastor running some form of Discipleship Training in your own context - feel that Tier 1 or 2 is most appropriate, then feel free to operate at that level. As noted in response to other FAQs, this material is offered with a view to it being used to the extent that it is helpful. There is no obligation to use it as a complete package. You may feel you would want to teach something different as part of the curriculum.

We would offer one or two thoughts as you struggle with how much to teach. The first is that the Catechumenate was historically far more demanding in terms of what was expected. The Early Church Fathers saw theological instruction and understanding as the structure within which the Spirit worked, and as such the engine of formation. You simply could not build a life of authentic discipleship without adequate Biblical foundations in place. That continues to be the case. Secondly, it may be the case that our expectations of Christians have been far too low. Has the (western) Church been guilty of dropping the standards of Christian education to levels of negligence? This may be a contributing factor to the spiritual powerlessness we witness in many congregations. We can expect far more from our people than we have been used to - and in many parts of the world they do. Thirdly, new Christians are often far more eager to learn what the Bible teaches, than we are to confident to teach them. at DTP we have learned that it is almost impossible to over-estimate how hard new Christians will work to make sense of the faith they have come to believe. Some flexibility may be required.

How important is the Homework?

There is no compulsion to run any part of DTP. However, one of the concerns we have had voiced repeatedly from people who have gone through the Discipleship Training Programme is that it shouldn’t be allowed to become another ‘course’. What seems to be behind this is a disillusionment with a variety of training courses that promise a degree of change that isn’t delivered. People, often feeling their lack in an an area of Christian experience, do a course in the hope that their experience will be changed! Often they are actually left with information, principles, and insights which they remain unable to put into practice. This simply compounds the sense of frustration.

DTP seeks to avoid this pitfall by building in activity and exercises that encourage implementation in a supportive and encouraging environment, and in fellowship with others who are learning the same discipleship lessons and life skills. This is crucial to the developing experience of Christian discipleship that grows over the three years. Engaging with the ‘Homework’ tasks should be a critical part of the DTP-experience, and if you have developed mentors to walk with people through DTP, supporting those people with their Homework assignments should be part of their remit.

How important is the Group discussion?

DTP is offered for use insofar as it is helpful to any Church seeking to develop a model of intentional discipleship training. As noted in response to other FAQs, there is no compulsion to use DTP in its entirety. In running DTP we have however found the Group Discussions to be one of the most valued elements. It is often cited as the most important part of the process as it give people a chance to process what they are being taught.

One observation is that the quality of the discussion (and its relevance) improve dramatically over the 3 years. Amongst other things regular and repeated opportunity to discuss material gives people a chance to formulate their own thoughts, and to practice speaking about what they believe. They develop categories and vocabulary that allows them to articulate their belief and experience. This has untold benefits in terms of spiritual growth, and in terms of people confidence in speaking about their faith with others - both in fellowship with other Christians and in evangelism.

An added benefit is that the group discussions provide an arena in which deep spiritual friendships and fellowship is forged. As people talk and pray and grow together over three years, quite a lot is shared, and the relational dynamics that develop can be quite strong. That in itself is worth reflecting on pastorally. There are significant considerations to be taken into account as groups are set up.

It may feel that Group discussions are time consuming, but experience suggests they are worth giving time to.

Does it have to be run in groups?

DTP can be run in a variety of ways. It ahs been run one-to-one, in families and in both small and larger groups. Whether you decide to use a ‘groups’ format will depend on how many people in the cohort. DTP is structured to facilitate discussion, but any format that allows that can be used.

We don’t use liturgy in our worship. Can we still use DTP?

Some Churches don’t use liturgical forms of worship. Others will disagree with the use of Creeds. Others will dispute the use of the Ten Commandments. Some may be unfamiliar with a Trinitarian reading of the Old Testament. You are free to use as much of DTP as you feel able. Please don’t contact us to argue with us, or to complain about the pastoral, Biblical or doxological positions articulated throughout DTP (DTP will generally not respond to such emails). If you don’t agree, don’t use it. If you want to use parts of DTP, but not others, that’s fine too. If you want to adapt or replace aspects of it to fit your Church’s convictions or culture, feel free to do so.

We don’t agree with DTP’s position on baptism. Can we still use DTP?

Any sustained exploration of Christian belief and practice is bound to uncover points of dispute and disagreement. One of the most obvious will be in regard to Sacraments. DTP is developed within a Reformed Anglican context, and self-consciously draws on that tradition (as well as others!). Aspects of that tradition will be in harmony with much of the Church, but some aspects in regard to Ecclesiology will be dissonant with others denominations and networks and movements in the wider Church. As noted in response to other FAQs, DTP is offered for us insofar as it is helpful to those seeking to develop an intentional structure of discipleship formation. It is not the only tool for the job. Nor is there any expectation that any Church would use this concept or material beyond that which is helpful. If there are terms, or sessions that teach something you disagree with, please don’t contact DTP to argue about it (DTP will generally not respond to such emails). DTP’s position on these issues are born out of conviction about what the Bible teaches. You are welcome to ‘hear’ those convictions echoed in the material. If you disagree with them, you are free to adapt, replace, or simply ignore those sessions. You are free to use as much or as little of DTP as proves helpful to you.