16 South Bailey • Location in a World Heritage Site of Exceeding Natural Beauty and Part of a Region Which Is One of the Three Historic Hubs of Methodism
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Easter 2013 Wesley Study Centre NEWS For All God’s People to Serve the Present Age Stationing Outcomes WSC in the Future At this time of year we are pleased to be able to share with you WSC Committee and staff have been reflecting on the future of where final year WSC students have been stationed. Regrettably we WSC following the withdrawal of ministerial training after 2014. continue to await a suitable match for one of our student deacons, Our options are stark: close WSC, or reconfigure WSC to serve the Sheila Dawson. All other WSC final year students have been stationed Connexion in fresh ways. to the following circuits: WSC holds considerable assets which, though difficult to express in monetary Pete Brazier Bristol and South Gloucestershire (07/02) terms, are nonetheless of significant value. These assets include the following: Christine Fox Nottingham Trent Valley (22/04) • A formal and constructive partnership with a world-class University, Timothy Francis Huddersfield [South East] (27/35) through a Christian college which is a constituent part of the University. Gordon Hay Glasgow (31/02) • Strong and evolving ecumenical relationships not only with established partners but also with newer church groupings. David Lawton Leicester West (23/09) • International exchange links with Duke University Divinity School. Neil Maynard Bede (20/13) • An active research culture and excellent programmes for ordained and lay Joy Sykes North Yorkshire Dales (13/19) formation, including full access to the libraries of Durham University and Liesl Warren Newcastle Central (20/10) Ushaw College (the library continues even though the College has closed). • WSC staff producing work of national and international significance. • Embedded within the Districts and the wide range of Circuit contexts of the region, from city centre to post-industrial villages. 16 South Bailey • Location in a world heritage site of exceeding natural beauty and part of a region which is one of the three historic hubs of Methodism. Renovation work has begun on 16 South Based on these facts, the latter option of reconfiguring the WSC to serve the Bailey, which will Connexion in fresh ways is preferred. become the new WSC has had a number of constructive conversations seeking to explore how administrative hub Connexional learning assets in Durham might be put to the greatest strategic for Cranmer Hall and use. We have made the following proposals: Wesley Study Centre. The property, one the • WSC develops into a national research hub for areas of ‘demand-led’ last private homes on research which the Connexion regards as of particular importance. the Bailey, was owned by Durham • WSC further develops as a centre for postgraduate research for MATM, Cathedral and was the residence of DThM and PhD students working on areas of ministerial and missiological Bishop Ramsay when he was Bishop of Durham. significance and who are likely to be amongst future theological educators and strategic leaders. The property has now been bought on leasehold by St John’s • WSC becomes the hub through which the Connexion engages in close College and will house the work of Cranmer Hall and Wesley Study participation at a day-to-day level in the development of the Common Awards. Centre along with CODEC and the University posts which relate to WSC is designated as one the learning spaces envisaged as part of the the University’s national partnership with the Church of England for • Learning Network with a particular relationship with the regional expert Common Awards in Theology and Ministry. staff deployed in the North East. The building, likely to be re-named Ramsay House when it is re- We are at a very early stage of conversation and it is by no means clear opened, is located directly across the street from my office; so I enjoy how much of our vision might be shared by Connexional team colleagues. a ringside view of the renovation’s progress. It will house academic Nonetheless, we remain cautiously hopeful that ways might be found to and administrative offices, teaching space and, crucially, will enable safeguard and to develop the considerable Connexional learning assets in the bringing together into the same space a number of streams of work Durham vested in WSC. on Theology and Ministry across St John’s College. We look forward to moving in mid-June. C T Samuel What Next? ‘Extending Discipleship Exploring Vocation’ If you are wondering about the next step along the journey of your Christian faith then What Next? could be for you. This exciting initiative aims to provide the opportunity for you, alongside others, to understand more fully the call to follow Christ and to explore how to live and grow as Christ’s disciple in the world. Although designed primarily for Methodists, anyone from a Christian church is welcome to join What Next? The Darlington District has been running a group since October, meeting approximately once a fortnight at North Road Methodist Church. I went along to find out more …… A warm welcome awaited me with coffee and cake available prior to the start “Being part of What Next? has been great! of the meeting. I discovered that, so far, the group had explored vocation It has involved good discussion, learning and discipleship. In this session, they were looking at these two themes new aspects of Methodism and space to with reference to the Old Testament. The speaker for the evening, the Revd reflect on my faith journey. Being able to David Wood (Facilitator of the North Yorkshire Dales Biblical Literacy share this with others going through the Project) talked about how God called particular biblical characters within, same experience has been really helpful.” and sometimes out of, their own specific circumstances. He also shared Sue Lawton with the group his own personal journey into ministry. There was time for group members to discuss what they had heard and to share their own “I have found this to be a very enriching time on a thoughts, reflections and responses, if they wished, and this was Wednesday evening. Because we are a small group done in a relaxed and informal way. the openness and engagement is refreshing and the willingness to share experiences and reflection is I came away from the session feeling both challenged and blessed very stimulating. This is a safe place in which to by all that I had heard there. Future sessions would include looking explore more deeply the fundamentals behind our at Methodism, discernment, prayer and vocation stories, and it Methodist heritage and deepen our faith.” struck me that ‘stories’ were at the heart of the What Next? process. Penny Bissell Being a part of the group and hearing their stories of discernment and calling was both a blessing and a privilege. Here are some of their reflections on What Next?: “What Next? is a big part of my discerning what God is doing with me in my life right now, when the future seems to be opening up in various possible directions. Since we started the course, it has raised many questions for me, such as: What is vocation? Who does God call? and How does He call them? Is it like Moses; the woman of Samaria; the tax collector; John Wesley? None or all of these? I am certainly coming round to the idea that there is no single format for how God calls us, or where and into what He calls us. It’s a very personal thing. What Next? is If you would like further information about What Next? please helping a lot with this process so far.” contact Mark Bagnall - Email: [email protected] or John Morley visit the What Next? website: www.whatnextedev.org.uk Article by Loraine Richardson, WSC Development Assistant If you want to find out more about courses, student life or what is happening in and around WSC, please visit our website www.dur.ac.uk/wsc.online Postgraduate Programmes Over the past decade the postgraduate programmes at St John’s College have gone from strength to strength. WSC has been very much part of the development of both the MA in Theology and Ministry (MATM) and the professional doctorate in Theology and Ministry (DThM). Although The Fruitful Field project means that the Methodist Church will no longer fund ministerial preordination training in Durham, the postgraduate programmes will continue and we hope continue to attract Methodists both lay and ordained. The MA in Theology and Ministry has over 60 students this year from a For those who hold an rich variety of traditions both lay and ordained. There are new modules MA in Theology and are introduced regularly to the programme to enable us to respond to the ever interested in pursuing changing contexts and demands of ministry and to incorporate fresh ideas and research in theology and scholarship into mission and ministry. This year modules on Forgiveness, ministry, the Professional Holiness and Spiritual Formation have been added to the programme and next Doctorate in Theology and Ministry Dr Jocelyn Bryan year there is a new module on Money Matters and the Church. provides a supportive and exciting programme for research in Practical Theology. Staff in St John’s College and the world- The programme is very flexible and allows students to study modules in class Department of Theology and Religion of Durham University ensure residential blocks or term-time lectures. Single modules can be taken to that DThM research is rooted in ministry, and supervised by those engaged strengthen particular strands of ministry and Postgraduate Certificate, in cutting edge research. Diploma and the full MATM are all possible. Modules for 2013/14 include: Anyone interested in these programmes or any stand-alone Spiritual Direction; Apologetics; Preaching from the Old Testament; MA modules should contact: Dr Jocelyn Bryan, Director of Changing Worship; Psychology and Christian Ministry; and How Mission Postgraduate Studies - Email: [email protected] can Shape the Church.