New Cliff College programme - Foundations for Mission and Ministry
Cliff College is pleased to announce the launch of a new programme for September 2022. Foundations for Mission and Ministry will prepare and equip people to serve God inside and outside the church.
Drawing on Cliff College’s expertise over many years training women and men for mission and evangelism, both in the UK and globally, this programme offers students the opportunity to develop existing practice or to explore new forms of ministry.
Foundations for Mission and Ministry is a two-year, part-time programme covering essential teaching and training for Christian mission and ministry today. Offered either entirely online or in a hybrid model, students will take six units including Pastoral Practice, Integrating Theology and Practice and Reading the New Testament. The programme is designed for people exploring or already engaged in paid or voluntary mission and ministry, and will supplement and develop the students' existing skills whilst challenging and stretching them in new areas.
The Foundations for Mission and Ministry programme has been prayerfully designed to provide a firm footing for anyone embarking on creative mission and ministry today. Each unit will encourage you to deepen your understanding and love of God, God's Word, and God's world, and discover fresh ways to put faith into practice.
Andrew Stobart, Head of Academic Strategy and Innovation at Cliff College
The Foundations for Mission and Ministry programme has already been approved as a key element of training for the Local Lay Pastor scheme in the Methodist Church in Britain and for ordination training in the Methodist Church in Ireland. This training is suitable for those in any church denomination and will be particularly useful to people in voluntary or paid forms of mission and ministry who have not undertaken theological training. The programme does not require students to have completed any prior formal training and will be accessible to those without a university education.
I’m so delighted we are able to provide Local Lay-Pastors with high quality learning through the Foundations for Mission and Ministry programme at Cliff College. Equipping the whole people of God for mission and ministry is key to the Methodist Church’s future.
Gary Hopkins, Ministry Development Officer for the Methodist Church
The majority of the teaching and learning for the Foundations for Mission and Ministry programme will take place online, with some live seminars available either online or onsite at Cliff College or Edgehill House in Belfast. As the aim of the programme is to equip students for practical mission and ministry, the assessment methods are highly practical and include creative written assessments and recorded presentations.
Our recent experience of running online programmes has been at the heart of our discussions with Cliff College as we seek to develop our partnership and to broaden our provision. The Foundation in Mission and Ministry programme brings a new suite of courses that utilise the opportunities of a hybrid delivery model of theological education [and] will provide core elements of our Formation for Ordained Ministry Programme, modules for the Local Preacher training course and valuable learning opportunities for people involved in a range of other ministries.
Janet Unsworth, Director of the Ministries Team for the Methodist Church in Ireland
Applications for this programme are open now - apply here. If you have any questions about the programme or would like more information about the application process, please contact enquiries@cliffcollege.ac.uk.
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