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Gap Year Programme
INTRODUCING THE GAP
The Cliff College GAP year programme is an exciting opportunity for you to take a year out for God, be immersed in a Christian community, creatively engage with the Bible, test out your spiritual gifts, have some great mission experience, and hear God's call for your future! Students successfully completing the year will receive a Cliff College Certificate of Achievement.
The GAP TEAM
The GAP is delivered by the Cliff College staff, with the support of guest speakers and co-ordinated by Piers Lane who acts as The GAP mentor - the main contact for all GAP year students during their year out for God.
CLIFF COLLEGE
Cliff College was founded by the Methodist Church as a mission-training centre over 100 years ago, with a focus on the training and practice of mission and evangelism. The teaching at Cliff College is rooted both in the Bible and the classical traditions of Christian Faith. It is also strongly related to contemporary life and culture, with a desire to get students from a wide range of courses to engage with the world around them. In keeping with the heritage of the College all GAP year students will engage in the practical exploration of mission and ministry, to better prepare them for the future God is calling them to. The College welcomes students from all denominations and from across the world. It is vital that all students are committed and open to expressing their faith in the fellowship of a diverse Christian community. The college is related to the British Methodist Church and holds to the values of this evangelical heritage, and seeks to apply these to the contemporary world.
WHY DEVELOP THE GAP?
Cliff College has traditionally been an open access college, drawing people from all strands of life, all ages and part of the world. The aim of the college is to develop Christian people with a missionary heart and an evangelistic zeal. The college is validated by the University of Manchester as being a centre of academic excellence, offering a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in theology, mission, and youth and children's ministry.
However, whilst an academic course is appropriate for many, for some a more practical ‘Year Out' to explore their future direction, to find out God's call on their life, to develop more mission skills, to deepen their understanding of the Bible, and to grow spiritually within a Christian community is what is wanted.
If that is what you are looking for, then The GAP at Cliff College has been developed just for you!
Whilst The GAP will be a stand alone year long experience, we believe that some students on the GAP year, with the appropriate academic background, might even want to stay on at Cliff College and do further academic study - maybe even complete their degrees here. Support and advice will be offered to any GAP student who wishes to explore this possibility.
THE AIM OF THE GAP
The GAP offers you a distinctive ‘Year Out' opportunity based at Cliff College, which combines mission and placement experience, biblical teaching and discipleship with preparation for future ministry, communication skills and personal discipleship development. In short: Brilliant Bible-teaching; Vibrant Christian Community; New insights into Christian Mission Experience!
PROGRAMME DETAILS
The GAP is a full time year of experiential learning which combines mission and ministry experience with a good basic grounding in Biblical knowledge.The knowledge and experience which students will bring to the GAP year is valued and welcomed. Students will:
- Be fully involved in the spiritual life of the college including daily morning prayers, Tuesday Celebration and Home Groups and local church involvement.
- Attend all aspects of the delivered GAP year programme, including missions, placements, lectures, seminars, and tutorials.
- Be accompanied throughout the year by the GAP mentor for both academic guidance and personal support.
- Read key texts and other sources as appropriate from a reading list supplied by the college.
- Produce various pieces of assignment work, assessed by the team, under the supervision and guidance of the GAP mentor.
- Have personal and group tutorial time to discuss academic progress and spiritual development.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND ADMISSION PROCEDURE
The minimum age at entry is 18, and there is no upper limit, although the GAP year is best suited to students seeking God's purposes and plans for their future. Admission to the programme is based upon appraisal of qualities of character and perceived potential for Christian work and service. Evidence of academic potential and ability to profit from Biblical study is an important component, but is not key to The GAP programme. It is expected that all GAP year students will have been a Christian for at least one year, and all students will have to demonstrate their current involvement in a local church.
After completing an application form, references will be taken up (including at least one from their church), followed normally by an interview at Cliff College by the GAP year Mentor.
The applicant must satisfy through an interview that they:
a) Are seeking to explore issues of discipleship, mission and ministry
b) Have a desire to tackle the necessary study elements of the programme
c) Are willing to be a full member of the Cliff community, participating in all aspects of both the GAP programme and the wider community life
d) Have the ability to pay the programme fees
Cliff College is committed to equal opportunities within the broad framework of its admissions policy. Students identified as having particular special needs (including physical disability) are invited to the College to discuss with staff any implications arising from the physical layout of the College. English support offered on site can lead to a GCSE English qualification, and can be integrated into the GAP programme.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The Cliff College GAP programme comprises of six Core areas, which form the ethos for this exciting Year Out for God:
Mission Bible Spirit
Ministry Skills Discipleship
Some of the content draws on the existing full-time Certificate programme, but the emphasis for all GAP students is much more focussed on mission experience and discipleship development.
Piers Lane
At the start of the academic year, the GAP mentor will work through the different possibilities with each GAP student to produce a distinctive and tailor made timetable. Core areas are assessed through portfolio, journals, essays and the development of resource materials. These will build up a very useful student resource pack to carry with you into future ministry.
- Mission
To include:
- Cliff missions
- Missions skills unit (20 weeks)
- A weekly local ministry placement (eg schools work in Chesterfield, church children's & youth work locally in Calver / Baslow, Sheffield soup kitchen, Salvation Army volunteering, Drop-in centre work, etc)
GAP Assessment: The development of a portfolio of mission resources
- Bible
To include attendance at the following taught units:
- Old Testament method (10 weeks)
- New Testament introduction (10 weeks)
GAP Assessment: The completion of one essay selected from the two courses taken
- Spirit
To include:
- Christian Spirituality unit (10 weeks)
- Actively participate, including help lead on occasions, in the college's worship life
GAP Assessment: The completion of a weekly Christian Spirituality portfolio
- Ministry
To include:
- Theory of Evangelism unit (10 weeks)
GAP Assessment: A personal journal of reflections on ‘Call & Gifting'
- Skills
To include attendance at Either:
- Resourcing Christian Worship (10 weeks) OR
- Preaching Practice (20 weeks) OR
- Pastoral Care (10 weeks) units
GAP Assessment: One piece of work taken from the particular unit taken
- Discipleship
To include:
- Discipleship Journal
- Attendance at the Personal and Professional Development week on the part time Childrens' Evangelism and Nurture (CEN) course or Youth Mission and Ministry (YMM) course (as appropriate). Personal and Professional Development themes include leadership & working with groups.
GAP Assessment: The completion of the Discipleship Journal with tutorial
COLLEGE RESOURCES
The College offers student accommodation within the college building, all students having single study rooms on secure landings with refreshment points on each landing. All meals are taken in Chadwick's refectory.
The College has a well-stocked and recently extended library specialising in the areas of Christian Theology, Missiology and Evangelism totalling some 30,000 volumes. Reading lists will be offered for each part of the GAP programme and all texts are stocked within the library. Multiple copies of key texts are kept, including some on a reference only basis. The library offers areas for study. The College has installed a computerised search facility using the Heritage system.
The College has invested significantly in IT provision in past years and offers all students access to word processing facilities, the Internet and Email. There is an audio-visual department that offers a wide range of equipment for use in teaching and practical work.
STUDENT SUPPORT
Support is offered by the GAP mentor, tutorial staff and Home Group Leader. Also, the Cliff College Student Union are a great resource for all full-time students at Cliff College, showing special consideration for student issues. The college has a weekly College Meeting when community notices are shared, and issues raised.
PROGRAMME FEES
The fees for 2009-2010 are £6,400 per year, covering all tuition, meals and accommodation at Cliff College. After payment of an initial £50 non-returnable registration fee, the remainder of the fees are paid on a termly basis as informed by the Finance Office.
Alternatively the fees can be paid by Standing Order and details of this can be obtained from the Finance Office (a.fereday@cliffcollege.ac.uk). Students should recognise the additional costs of study resources, book purchase and personal living and travel expenses during this year. GAP students are advised to prepare a realistic budget for presentation to their Church and others who may be able to help.
APPLICATION FORMS AND GENERAL ENQUIRIES
To obtain an application form please contact Rosie Bourne, the Undergraduate Administrator: Tel: 01246 584202 or e-mail: undergrad@cliffcollege.ac.uk
If you have any queries about the GAP programme content and/or structure, contact Piers Lane, the GAP year Mentor:
Tel: 01246 584225 Email: p.lane@cliffcollege.ac.uk
