Foundations: Pioneer Ministry
Pioneer Ministry is an online unit taken over ten weeks, using Cliff College's online learning platform. The unit will be led by staff from Cliff College and the Evangelism and Growth Team of the Methodist Church in Great Britain.
A pioneer is someone able to imagine what a new Christian community could be and turn it into reality. This unit will cover both the theology and practice of pioneer ministries and church planting, as well as addressing the assumptions about and challenges of pioneering.
Whether you are a pioneering minister or supporting the work of a pioneer, or you are exploring this kind of ministry, this unit will give you an informed understanding of the history of pioneer ministry and help you reflect critically on what pioneering might look like in your context. You will also look at current initiatives like New Places for New People (NPNP) and Church at the Margins and explore how pioneering is changing the face of ministry in our world today.
Pioneer Ministry is taught in ten sessions over ten weeks, with a further five weeks to prepare and submit your assessment. More detail of the unit structure is available under 'Dates and cost'.
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Course TutorMatt Finch
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Course Tutor
Adam Sanders
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Course Tutor
Revd Dr Martyn David Atkins
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Senior Lecturer in Hebrew Bible and Gender
Dr Kirsi Cobb
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Dean of Missional Engagement
Rev Dr Graham Edwards
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Research Fellow in New Places for New People (NPNP), Evangelism & Growth
Dr Heather Major
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Senior Lecturer in Theology
Dr Ben Pugh
I can’t recommend Cliff College too highly. My time as a student changed my life. Not just academically transforming - it was spiritually renewing and ministry re-equipping.
This unit will be available from January 2027 and is taught in ten sessions over ten weeks, with a further five weeks to prepare and submit your assessment. The first and last sessions are live seminars which you will need to attend online. The dates for these seminars are:
- Wednesday 20 January 7:00pm-8:30pm
- Wednesday 24 March 7:00pm-8:30pm
The other eight sessions are designed for independent study and are made up of video content, reading, written tasks and other creative activities to help consolidate your learning. These can be done at any time in the week that suits you. We recommend that you allow two hours of learning for each session, plus time for reading and assessment preparation.
Throughout the unit you will have opportunities through scheduled online meetings to check in with Cliff College staff, discuss your learning and experience of the unit, seek guidance on assessments and ask any questions you have.
This unit costs £410, including access to all teaching materials and tutorial support throughout your learning.
Applications for this unit are now open - apply here! The deadline for applications for a January 2027 start is Monday 14 December. If you have any questions about the unit or application process, please contact enquiries@cliffcollege.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
A Level 3 qualification (such as an A Level) or equivalent.
It is recognised that standard procedures for assessing applications may not always provide an accurate understanding of an applicant's suitability. In such cases where a Level 3 qualification is not held, qualification it is still possible to apply, and these applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, in line with our non-standard entry process.
English language proficiency
Applicants whose first language is not English shall have achieved an overall IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent in an equivalent recognised test. This must have been achieved no longer than two years before the date of enrolment on the unit.