Thursday 10 December 2020 3:30pm

The call in action PIONEER GRADUATION 2020 In the wake of the enough to withstand the pandemic, stepping pressures but also willing out into ministry feels to adapt, bend and reform a bit like stepping out around them. onto shifting sands. The The tasks of ministry landscape all around us suddenly have a new has changed, and not yet poignancy, people all settled. Our reference around us are looking points are moving, and for hope, comfort, and it’s disorientating. We are some sense of ‘normality’. not where we thought We might find that we would be and we are our people are looking not sure where exactly back towards what they we will end up. The were sure of… but our ground beneath our feet vocation is to call them is unsteady, like a sand forward into a new path, dune, and constantly to encourage adventure, changing as the prevailing creativity and celebrate the wind blows. unknowingness of it all. The Pioneer skillset is Who knows what new primed to navigate this ways we might come to new and changing terrain. see God? SOCIETY GRADUATION 2020 GRADUATION SOCIETY We need to be prepared for what we can’t see and equipped for what we don’t know. We need to be flexible and fluid, strong CHURCH MISSION SHIFTING SANDS CHURCH

1 PIONEER.CHURCHMISSIONSOCIETY.ORG PIONEER GRADUATION 2020 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Cathy Ross, Head of Pioneer Mission Leadership Training, Oxford Shifting sands montage – Created by Belinda Ngugi, Community Pioneer and Current Diploma student and Susie Templeton, Pioneer and Current MA student

OPENING PRAYER

Cathy Ross

Creator God, foundation of all life Keep our eyes fixed on the horizon of your love Saviour Christ, promise of hope Sing a new song to restore our weary souls Holy Spirit, divine creative spark Give us courage to step forward as new paths unfold

PIONEER GRADUATION 2020 3 MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATIONS 1

INTRODUCTION Cathy Ross

Berdine van den Toren-Lekkerkerker CMS Mission Partner Groningen, The Netherlands Dr Harvey Kwiyani Lecturer in African and Theology Hope University, Liverpool, UK

REFLECTION ON STUDENT EXPERIENCE

INTRODUCTION Jonny Baker, CMS Director of Mission Education James Fox Robinson Lay Pioneer, Durham, UK and Rev’d Crystal McAllister Ordained Pioneer Minister (OPM) ‘Upper Wreake Benefice’, UK

14 PIONEER.CHURCHMISSIONSOCIETY.ORG PIONEER GRADUATION 2020 THE GRADUATION

In turn students’ names are read out in groups. Our IT department will endeavour to highlight these graduands. They have already been presented with a certificate and a gift by post. We will applaud when all names have been read out. Undergraduate names read by Sarah Clarke, Pioneer Undergraduate Programmes Coordinator

Foundation Award in Diploma in Theology, Ministry Theology, Ministry and and Mission from Durham Mission from Durham University University Caroline Jane Bishop Sarah Jayne Hewitt Jason Hughes Crystal McAllister Certificate in Theology, Andrew Walter Meek Ministry and Mission from Alice Jean Price Durham University Romaine Heather Thompson Julie Kathryn Thorpe Helen Dowdell Rosanna Wakefield Catherine Louise Duff Angela Gabbott BA in Theology, Ministry and Liz Matthews Mission from Durham University Lesley Jane Norton Kevin Peter Colyer Catherine Patterson Ali Jayne Middleton Certificate in Theology, Ministry and Mission from Durham University Children’s and Families Ministry

Heidi Florence Carlin

PIONEER GRADUATION 2020 5 Postgraduate names read by James Butler, Pioneer MA Lecturer and Assistant Coordinator

Postgraduate Certificate in MA in Theology, Ministry and Theology, Ministry and Mission Mission from Durham University from Durham University James David Fox Robinson Dominic James Clarke Luke William Larner Andrew John Mason Morna Mary Heather Simpson

APPLAUSE! All: Applaud and cheer (please unmute just for this part).

PRAYER

Cathy Ross

We thank you God for each of these pray that they will continue to be a graduating, we thank you for all challenge and inspiration to us as we you have taught them and for what wait to see where the shifting sands you have taught us, through them. will lead them and your Kingdom take They are a gift to us and all those root. in the Starfish Network and CMS Today we celebrate the journeys of: community. Helen, Catherine, Angela, Liz, Lesley, Today you mark finishing the course Catherine, Heidi, Caroline, Sarah, and stepping out to embrace the new Crystal, Andrew, Alice, Romaine, Julie, opportunities and possibilities God Rosanna, Kevin, Alison, Dominic, will reveal to you. As we celebrate Andrew, James, Luke, Morna, Jason, your success, we know each of you is William, and Sophia. sent by Christ to participate in God’s May God be with you as you continue mission, which is an adventure of the on the journey of faith, we will support imagination. you as God leads you onward. We thank you God that in the midst of shifting sands the Holy Spirit will Amen dwell in each of these, our friends. We

16 PIONEER.CHURCHMISSIONSOCIETY.ORG PIONEER GRADUATION 2020 ADMISSION OF CMS LAY PIONEERS

Welcomed into CMS Community William Philip Miller

Order of Lay Worker Caroline Jane Bishop Sophia Jane Popham James David Fox Robinson Rosanna Wakefield

Susann Haehnel, Vocational Recruitment Manager, The Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, , Alastair Bateman, Chief Executive Officer, and Andrea Campanale, Pioneer Network Developer.

Susann: I present these candidates, Caroline Bishop, Sophia Popham , James Fox Robinson and Rosanna Wakefield to be admitted into the CMS community as CMS pioneers and into the Order of Lay Worker in the . And I present William Miller into the CMS community as a CMS pioneer to affirm his pioneering role as a Lay Worker in the Church of England Susann: As members of the CMS community do you affirm afresh your commitment to the community promises to live a life of mission? Candidates: I do.

PIONEER GRADUATION 2020 7 Susann: Do you believe God has called you to be a CMS pioneer? Candidates: I do. Alastair: Then I gladly recognise you as CMS pioneers and pray you will be both faithful and fruitful in the service of God. The CMS pioneers are welcomed by Andrea.

The Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro: The Church of England is part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church worshipping the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It professes the faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds, which faith the Church is called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation. Led by the Holy Spirit, it has borne witness to Christian truth in its historic formularies, the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, The Book of Common Prayer and the Ordering of Bishops, Priests and . In the declaration you are about to make will you affirm your loyalty to this inheritance of faith as your inspiration and guidance under God in bringing the grace and truth of Christ to this generation and making him known to those in your care? Candidates: I do so affirm and accordingly declare my belief in the faith which is revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds and to which the historic formularies of the Church of England bear witness; and in public prayer I will use only the forms of service which are authorised or allowed by . I commit myself to proclaiming the faith of the Church afresh in this generation. Bishop: [Name], I admit you as Lay Worker of the Church of England in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Bishop: We thank God for calling and anointing these our brothers and sisters to share the gospel and join in with God’s mission. We thank you for them and we rejoice with them.

APPLAUSE! All: Applaud and cheer (please unmute just for this part).

18 PIONEER.CHURCHMISSIONSOCIETY.ORG PIONEER GRADUATION 2020 MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATIONS 2

INTRODUCTION Jonny Baker

Rev. Dr. Chan Nam Chen Executive Director AsiaCMS Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Steve Bevans Society of the Divine Word Catholic Theological Union Chicago, USA

WORSHIP

Introduction to worship: Cathy Ross

READING

PSALM 137:1-6

Kara Maylor Current Ordinand Diploma student

PIONEER GRADUATION 2020 9 VIDEO AND SILENT REFLECTION

Belinda Ngugi and Susie Templeton

SHIFTING SANDS

Poem by Harry Baker Harry Baker is a World Poetry Slam Champion and a maths graduate.

FAREWELL TO HUGH STRADLING

Sarah Clarke

Hugh faithfully served as Undergraduate chaplain for 7 years. He has been an amazing and valued member of the team, as a chaplain, spiritual director and all round enneagram guru. We want to take the opportunity to say how grateful and appreciative we are for all the years he shared his time, gifts, love and care with so many pioneers.

101 PIONEER.CHURCHMISSIONSOCIETY.ORG PIONEER GRADUATION 2020 BLESSING

Hugh Stradling will read our final blessing

“May God bless you with discomfort, So that you may reach out your hand At easy answers, half-truths, To comfort them and And superficial relationships To turn their pain to joy So that you may live Deep within your heart. And may God bless you With enough foolishness May God bless you with anger To believe that you can At injustice, oppression, Make a difference in the world, And exploitation of people, So that you can do So that you may work for What others claim cannot be done Justice, freedom, and peace. To bring justice and kindness To all our children and the poor. May God bless you with tears, To shed for those who suffer pain, A Franciscan Blessing Rejection, hunger, and war,

A reminder all are welcome to stay on for a drink and socialise on zoom.

Come and explore courses designed specifically by pioneers, for pioneers PIONEER ZOOM 23 FEBRUARY 2021

10 MAY 2021 21 JUNE 2021 DAYS 2021 [email protected] PIONEER GRADUATION 2020 11 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

THANK YOU We would like to thank The Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro , the IT team, Dan our designer, and our student graduation team organisers, Kara Maylor, Belinda Ngugi and Susie Templeton, for their hard work and assistance in facilitating this, our first and we hope last, CMS Oxford Pioneer Graduation by zoom.

Church Mission Society,Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ T: +44 (0)1865 787400 | E: [email protected]

pioneer.churchmissionsociety.org /churchmissionsociety @cmsmission

Church Mission Society is a mission community acknowledged by the Church of England Registered Company No. 6985330 and Registered Charity No. 1131655 (England and Wales) and SC047163 (Scotland). PIONEER GRADUATION 2020