User:Timjd/Redcliffe College, Centre for Mission Training

Redcliffe College is a theological college specialising in training men, women and families from around the world for Christian mission anywhere in the world. It is international and interdenominational, and is a member of the Evangelical Alliance, Global Connections and European Evangelical Accrediting Association.

History

Redcliffe College began in 1892 as the YWCA Testing and Training Home. Originally based in Chelsea, it was established by Mrs Tottenham, who was concerned that there was nowhere for women to train for Christian missionary service. Further moves followed to Kensington and Chiswick before the College relocated in 1995 to its current site in Gloucester. The student population is close to 100-strong, with men, women, couples and families drawn from around 30 countries.

Approach

Redcliffe’s courses embody integrated training for the whole person, based around the principles of 'knowing', 'being' and 'doing'. Its courses bring together: Academic study, taught by lecturers with first-hand mission experience, who are able to share with you their wealth of knowledge and experience. Personal growth, developed through the Personal Development Programme which is concerned with students’ well-being before God, and through living in a vibrant, international, cross-cultural community. Practical experience, through placements (both weekly and in a block of 6 weeks) providing students with the opportunity to put into practice all that they have learnt during the year. Each year they try out their skills in the UK or overseas under the guidance of a placement supervisor.

Current faculty

Rev Dr Colin Bulley (PhD, BD, BA) - Academic Dean
Dr Rob Cook (PhD, MTh, BA, BA) - Head of Theology
Margaret Duggan (B.Ed, M.Ed (TESOL)) - Lecturer in Spirituality and Mission
Derek Foster (MTh, DipEd) - Lecturer in Biblical Studies and Theology; Head of Practical Studies
Rosemary Foster (MTh, BA, PGCE) - Lecturer in Biblical Studies and Mission; Director of Placements
Rob Hay (MA, MIOD) - Director of Research and Partnership Development
Dr Jonathan Ingleby (PhD, MA (Oxon), BD, DipEd) - Postgraduate Lecturer in Mission
Sue Ingleby (RGN, Dip Couns, BACP Accredited) - Personal Development Tutor
Rev Darrell Jackson (BA) - Director of Nova Research Centre and Tutor in European Studies
Richard Johnson (MA (Cantab), MA) - Head of Biblical Studies; Library Supervisor
Rev Dr Simon Steer (PhD, MDiv, BA, DipTh, PGCE) - Principal
Kang-San Tan (DMin, MCS) - Head of Mission Studies
Loun-Ling Tan (LLB, MTS) - Asian Studies Coordinator

Courses

Each course at Redcliffe comprises of a range of modules including topics in biblical, theological, cross-cultural and mission studies. Current courses available include:

Undergraduate courses
Certificate in Applied Theology
Diploma in Applied Theology
BA Hons Degree in Applied Theology
Professionals in Mission Certificate

Postgraduate courses
Postgraduate MA in Global Issues in Contemporary Mission
Postgraduate MA in Intercultural Studies in Asian Contexts
Postgraduate MSc in Sport and Christian Outreach in conjunction with the University of Gloucestershire
Flexible Learning MA - Distance learning & summer school option
Postgraduate PhDs in conjunction with the University of Gloucestershire

Short courses
'Across the Cultures' short course (12 weeks)
'Pick and Mix' short courses (from 6 weeks)
Day Courses
European Mission Studies Track
Hebrew in a Week intensive course

Students can choose to study full-time or part-time, live in the college community or as a non-resident. Whenever possible, lectures are scheduled in the mornings, when OFSTED registered crèche facilities are available.

University Accreditation
All of Redcliffe courses (except short course options) are validated by the University of Gloucestershire, which has a Christian ethos and over 9,000 full and part-time students.

Placement programme

All undergraduate students take part in a weekly placement programme, where they have the opportunity to apply what they learn in lectures to a wide variety of situations. Examples of placements include church and youth work, hospital or industrial chaplaincy or helping in a local school or night shelter for homeless people. Students taking the Certificate, Diploma or Degree also spend a term (6 weeks) on placement anywhere in the world. Recent placements have included working with orphaned children in Romania, helping with a development project in Namibia and teaching English in Cambodia as well as working in UK churches.

Facilities

Redcliffe College is housed in 18th and early 20th century buildings overlooking a large lawn used for recreation. The extensive library and research facilities are open to students and visiting scholars. Single students have their own study bedroom in a three-storey residential wing, which also contains accommodation for married couples without children, student kitchens, a laundry, common room, TV room and student prayer room. Those with children can choose to live nearby in Redcliffe House or Redcliffe Court. There is an OFSTED registered crèche for preschool children in Redcliffe House, running every weekday morning.

Publications written or contributed to by Redcliffe faculty

Worth Keeping: Global Perspectives on Best Practice in Missionary Retention by Rob Hay, Valerie Lim, Detlef Blöcher, Jaap Ketelaar and Sarah Hay.
The Soul of Mission: Perspectives on Christian Leadership, Spirituality and Mission in East Asia edited by Kang-San Tan.
IVP Dictionary of Mission Theology: Evangelical Foundations edited by John Corrie.
Discovering Genesis by Richard and Tricia Johnson.
The Priesthood of Some Believers: Developments from the General to the Special Priesthood in the Christian Literature of the First Three Centuries by Colin Bulley.
Postmission: World Mission by a Postmodern Generation edited by Richard Tiplady.

Organisations based at Redcliffe College

OSCAR - the UK Information Service for World Mission
Nova Research Centre - researching mission in Europe, innovating mission for Europe
Generating Change - dedicated to researching issues in mission and helping mission organisations affect change
Encounters Mission Ezine - a topical mission journal published online every two months

Partners of Redcliffe College

Breadline International, Christians in Gloucester (Ciglos), Church Mission Society (CMS), Domboshawa Theological College (Zimbabwe), European Christian Mission (ECM), European Evangelical Accrediting Association (EEAA), Evangelical Alliance UK (EAUK), Generating Change, Global Connections - The Evangelical Network for World Mission, The John Ray Initiative (JRI), Latin Link, The Micah Network, Mission Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), Operation Mobilisation (OM), OMF International, OSCAR, - The UK Information Service for World Mission, RURCON - Rural and Urban Resources; Counselling, Outreach & Networking, St Andrews Bookshop, Talent Trust Consultants, University of Gloucestershire, The Welcome Project

External links

Redcliffe College, Centre for Mission Training
Encounters Mission Ezine
Nova Research Centre
OSCAR
Generating Change