PROSPECTUS PAGE 1
St Hild College is a pioneering theological institution for Yorkshire and the surrounding regions. CONTENTS Serving Our Region 6 Full-Time Ordination Training 8 Part-Time Ordination Training 10 Baptist Ministerial Formation 12 Theology and Leadership Programmes 16 Our Academic Pathways 20 Student Resources 22 What Next? 22 PAGE 2 01924 481 925 PAGE 3
This is a wonderful example of gospel partnership, where everybody is committed to a higher goal. Its combination of theological breadth, spiritual depth and commitment to excellence make it an exciting contribution to the renewal of the church for the mission of God. GRAHAM ENSOR, REGIONAL MINISTER AND TEAM LEADER, YORKSHIRE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION Missional leadership for the whole church ABOUT US St Hild College is a pioneering theological institution for Yorkshire and the surrounding region. It has been formed by the merger of The Yorkshire Ministry Course and St Barnabas Theological Centre. Our training combines rigorous academic theology and mission-focused Christian practice in a community of shared learning. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate awards validated by Durham University through the Common Awards programme. Our faculty brings together a strong team of lecturers and regional practitioners with research expertise in biblical theology, doctrine and history, pastoral care, leadership and mission. We provide four streams of formation: Full-time ordination training Part-time ordination training Baptist ministerial formation Theology and leadership programmes Our vision is to offer Christlike formation that equips missional leaders for the whole church. Christlike formation is at the heart of all we do. Our vision is of pastors, priests, deacons and leaders who are deeply rooted in Christ and enable others to reflect his image. Missional leadership looks for the church to grow in discipleship, in number and in service of society. This requires listening for the work of the Spirit in our communities and learning to take risks in proclaiming the kingdom. We exist to serve the whole church. We bring together Anglicans, Baptists and students from independent churches and other denominations in a generous community of mutual learning. St Hild College is a step change that will ensure a strong and imaginative future for ministerial and theological learning at a time when we need to push boundaries and improvise faithfully. RT REV JOHN THOMSON, BISHOP OF SELBY PAGE 4 01924 481 925 PAGE 5
One College, three Centres Barnabas Teaching Centre Mirfield Teaching Centre York Teaching Centre SERVING OUR REGION St Hild College is rooted in Yorkshire and serves the surrounding areas of the North and Midlands. Named after the pioneering Abbess of Whitby (c.614-680), it stands in the missionary tradition of those who first evangelised Britain. We are passionately committed to the people and places of Yorkshire and the surrounding region. We see in these contexts an excellent place to form leaders for the demands and opportunities of 21st-century ministry. Our students serve in dynamic urban centres, post-industrial towns, and dispersed rural communities. They are practically engaged in a wide range of ministries: local church leadership; parish and cathedral work; church planting and revitalisation; chaplaincy and mission projects. We operate as one College with three Centres, each of which forms a unique partnership in its context. Students are based at one Centre, but may access teaching at others. For me, community life is the highlight. St Hild and all those involved have become my family over the last couple of years. BEKI Our Barnabas Teaching Centre is based at the St Thomas Crookes Campus, Sheffield, on Mondays during the day. This reflects our partnership with regional resource churches in Sheffield, Leeds and York. The programme offers undergraduate and postgraduate awards, with additional options including Biblical Languages, Biblical Theology, Leadership, Advanced Doctrine, Mission Entrepreneurship and Apologetics in Contemporary Culture. Peer group theological reflection takes place via the monthly missional leadership programme. Formation specialises in developing skills and dispositions for missional leadership, renewal of discipleship and community transformation. The Barnabas community includes: Anglican ordinands (full-time and part-time); Baptist Ministers in Training; church leaders, interns, and other independent theological students. Our Mirfield Teaching Centre is based, with our offices, at the site of The Community of the Resurrection. The Mirfield site has been a centre for hospitality, education and prayer since 1898. Wednesday night and weekend teaching at Mirfield supports both undergraduate and postgraduate awards, with additional modules including Mission in Urban and Rural Contexts, Christian- Muslim Engagement, Community Development, and Anthropology. Full-time ordinands meet weekly in the Mission in Practice group for theological reflection on context, specialising in pioneering integral mission. The community at Mirfield includes: Anglican ordinands (full-time and part-time) and other independent theological students. Our York Teaching Centre operates alongside the York School of Ministry at the Diocesan Office, reflecting our partnership with the Yorkshire dioceses. Thursday evening teaching at York supports undergraduate awards, with additional options in contextual mission. York students attend some Saturday teaching at Mirfield and can access our other teaching centres as appropriate. The community at York includes: Anglican ordinands training parttime, learning alongside readers in training and other independent students with York School of Ministry. PAGE 6 01924 481 925 PAGE 7
I wanted to see real lives being changed by God while I was training. Contextual training provides a challenging and encouraging academic learning environment where you get to see how everything you re learning translates into real life. EVE Supervising a full-time contextual ordinand has been a joy and a privilege. They bring energy, enthusiasm and risk-taking to the table and have helped the church to grow. JOANNA FULL-TIME ORDINATION TRAINING Residential formation at Mirfield weekends and our Easter week Weekly teaching at Sheffield or Mirfield 16-20 hours each week serving in a local context St Hild College has become a pioneering and innovative provider of full-time contextual training for Church of England ordinands. We see in this model the recovery of a significant biblical and historic tradition of missional training. Residential Formation Full-time contextual ordinands engage in six residential weekends each year and our annual residential Easter week in Durham. Our weekend programme is centred around spirituality, leadership and mission. Residential weekends are precious community time during which we eat together, study together, pray for each other, worship and share the Eucharist. Students may also access additional retreat and study time at our Mirfield site, including some shared lectures with the College of the Resurrection. Academic Formation Students on this pathway access the required amount of teaching hours for full-time study, accompanied by extended practical learning in a missional context. This provides the advantages of robust full-time study in a practically-rooted setting. Ordinands meet weekly, either in Mirfield on Wednesday evenings or Sheffield on Mondays. The Mirfield Teaching Centre provides weekly theological reflection via the Mission in Practice group; the Barnabas Teaching Centre involves membership of the missional leadership programme with monthly reflection groups. Both programmes involve reflection on context with others and learning from local and national practitioners in mission. Contextual Formation Full-time contextual ordinands are based at a local parish or Fresh Expression. We work creatively with dioceses to arrange an appropriate context. Ordinands spend 16-20 hours each week working alongside and reflecting with experienced practitioners, and serving in a role where they may oversee new mission initiatives. Opportunities for wider experience are also provided through additional ministry placements and overseas visits. St Hild prayer groups meet throughout the ordination journey, providing spaces for prayer, accountability and shared leading of corporate worship. Each ordinand is assigned a personal tutor who provides mentoring and support in partnership with our staff team. Ordinands are also encouraged to develop a support network throughout their training, and to receive spiritual direction. PAGE 8 01924 481 925 PAGE 9
PART-TIME ORDINATION TRAINING Residential formation at Mirfield weekends and our Easter week Weekly teaching at Sheffield, Mirfield, York or a local School of Ministry Short-term placement experience in local contexts St Hild College builds on the long and trusted track record of The Yorkshire Ministry Course in working with part-time ordinands who bring a wealth of experience to the formation process. The College is the recognised provider of part-time ordination training for the Church of England in the Yorkshire region. Our flexible tuition provides a range of opportunities to study theology in a stretching academic context. In some cases, an intensive pathway option is available to self-supporting ordinands who want to study full-time over two years. Residential Formation Both part-time and full-time ordinands gather together for six residential weekends each year and our annual residential Easter week in Durham. The weekend programme is centred around spirituality, leadership and mission. Residential weekends are precious community time at which we eat together, study together, pray for each other, worship and share the Eucharist. Students may also access additional retreat and study time at our Mirfield site, including some shared lectures with the College of the Resurrection. Students based at Mirfield and York also gather for study Saturdays each term at our Mirfield Teaching Centre. Academic Formation Ordinands on this route need to set aside space alongside their other commitments for part-time study, normally 15 hours per week. They are supported by a personal tutor who helps them reflect on the formation process and how to manage the challenges of part-time study. Ordinands choose one of our training centres: in Sheffield on Mondays; in Mirfield on Wednesday evenings; or in York on Thursday evenings. Academic teaching for some ordinands is provided in partnership with Diocesan Schools of Ministry in Sheffield, Leeds and York. Contextual Formation Part-time ordinands engage in a placement in a parish or Fresh Expression, usually between Advent and Easter of their first year. They also experience a sector ministry placement, for instance, in chaplaincy. Our St Hild prayer groups, which meet for the duration of the ordination journey, are valued spaces for prayer, accountability and shared leading of corporate worship. Ordinands are also encouraged to develop a support network throughout their training, and to receive spiritual direction. I very quickly felt a strong sense of belonging. We are a diverse mix of people with a common purpose. This diversity is a key strength of the college. BRIAN PAGE 10 01924 481 925 PAGE 11
From the peaceful surroundings of The Community of the Resurrection to the excellent standard of teaching, you feel new life being breathed into you. DIANE PAGE 12 0114 123 456 PAGE 13
BAPTIST MINISTERIAL FORMATION Membership of the Baptist Leadership Programme Weekly teaching at Sheffield on Mondays Ministry in a recognised local context St Hild College works in partnership with Northern Baptist College to offer a fully accredited route for any students recommended for Baptist ministerial formation. Ministers in Training and non-ministerial Baptist students are based at the Barnabas Teaching Centre, Sheffield. Baptist Leadership Programme Baptist Ministers in Training from across the region join together for a programme of six Saturdays each year. The Baptist Leadership Programme helps students to reflect together on their formation contexts, developing skills for the long term as Baptist ministers. Academic Formation Baptist Ministers in Training pursue an academic pathway agreed at interview, normally a Diploma, BA or MA award. Study hours will depend on the pathway, and can be tailored to fit the needs of the student and his or her local context. Teaching is based at the Barnabas Teaching Centre in Sheffield on Mondays where, in addition to our faculty Baptist Tutor, a range of Baptist lecturers contribute in their specialities to the teaching programme. Baptist students study on the full Barnabas Teaching Centre curriculum alongside Anglican and independent students, with participation in our signature missional leadership programme. Our postgraduate programme includes the opportunity to access additional study resources and modules options at our Mirfield Teaching Centre. Contextual Formation Ministers in Training are expected to be working in a recognised context of Baptist leadership. They are supported by a member of our associate tutor network, overseen in partnership with Northern Baptist College. The associate tutor s role is to help the Minister in Training to integrate theology, life and ministry, and to accompany the process of formation in their given context. Even without the excellent lectures I d still come along just for the privilege of spending the day with such an exciting group of students from whom I learn so much. PHIL PAGE 14 01924 481 925 PAGE 15
Academically, my course has got me thinking at a much deeper level, but always with a view to the practical outworking of living a missional life in ministry. RUTH I really appreciate the fact that this high-quality, biblically-grounded teaching is offered in a way that is accessible to people. I couldn t do it otherwise. DIANA THEOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMES Weekly teaching at Sheffield on Mondays, Mirfield on Wednesday evenings or York on Thursday evenings Taster and foundation modules, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes Access to our missional leadership programme St Hild College offers a full range of programmes in theology and leadership at our teaching centres. Our students include: church leaders; curates; interns; children s, youth and student workers; ministry leaders, preachers and evangelists; and those looking for a thorough grounding in Christian faith and mission. We offer the opportunity to study as part of a mission-focused community, where sharing experience is valued, and learning is tested in context. Our programmes are designed to cater flexibly for the practical requirements and study interests of the individual learner. Academic awards range from taster modules to a Certificate, Diploma, BA or MA award. Whether studying for the first time or returning to theological study, we encourage potential students to contact us for a conversation about their individual needs. All students can access support from our tutorial team. We provide additional assistance for those embarking on theological study for the first time, returning to study after a long break, or for whom English is an additional language. Full-time students need to set aside around 16 hours per week for additional personal study. Part-time students can study at various rates, depending on the pathway chosen. Flexible, non-accredited routes requiring less study time are also available. Students opt to be based at one of our teaching centres in Sheffield, Mirfield or York. Those based at the Barnabas Teaching Centre, Sheffield, can access the monthly missional leadership programme where they reflect with other leaders on their context and on input from local and national practitioners in mission. PAGE 16 01924 481 925 PAGE 17
The experience of the lecturers is a real strength: their expertise is born out of real life experience. I have found the course incredibly useful personally. I love being able to learn new knowledge and skills, and then put them into context that week. FIONA PAGE 18 01924 481 925 PAGE 19
OUR ACADEMIC PATHWAYS St Hild College is proud to offer awards validated by Durham University via the Common Awards programme. Our academic curriculum combines biblical study, Christian doctrine and history, and reflection on mission and ministry. Our faculty brings together a strong team of lecturers and regional practitioners, working with colleagues in the Yorkshire Theological Education Partnership (YTEP) and the College of the Resurrection. Further details of all awards, and a list of faculty and their current research interests, are available on our website (sthild.org) or by request. Certificate in Theology, Ministry and Mission (Durham University, Common Awards) The Certificate is our entry level qualification, studied over 1-3 years. Modules include Introduction to the Old and New Testaments, Christian Doctrine, Mission and Evangelism. With further study, this qualification can lead to a Diploma or BA. Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission (Durham University, Common Awards) The Diploma is normally studied over 2-4 years. Modules include Introduction to the Old and New Testaments, Christian Doctrine, Christology, Worship, Pastoral Care, Mission and Evangelism. With further study, this qualification can lead to a BA. BA (Hons) in Theology, Ministry and Mission (Durham University, Common Awards) The BA is normally studied over 3-4 years, depending on prior study. It incorporates the Diploma modules, but includes higher level modules such as Further Biblical Studies, Issues in Biblical Theology, Christian Ethics, and Apologetics. The BA also provides the opportunity to research for a dissertation on a topic of choice. Graduate Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission (Durham University, Common Awards) This course is normally taken over 1-2 years by students with a good degree in arts and humanities, or equivalent qualifications. It aims to equip students for higher level theological study, for instance a Postgraduate Diploma or MA. The Graduate Diploma includes a selection of higher level modules from the BA programme. Postgraduate Diploma and MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission (Durham University, Common Awards) This course of study is appropriate for those with a prior degree in Theology or a Graduate Diploma. Following a core module in research and reflection, students may opt to study Advanced Biblical Studies, Mission, Leadership, or further Christian Doctrine, Worship and Ethics. The MA qualification builds on these postgraduate modules with an agreed research dissertation. PAGE 20 01924 481 925 PAGE 21
The course has been challenging yet so rewarding. The staff are encouraging and have made sure my pathway is the right one. They have supported me with deadlines and helped me work out my time management around work and family life. BEKI STUDENT RESOURCES Our students have access to: Teaching staff with subject specialisms at research level and experience of pastoral and missional leadership Online support and theological journal access through our Virtual Learning Environment Library facilities including theological collections at Mirfield, Sheffield, Leeds, York, Nottingham and other regional libraries Personal tutor support and help with essay writing where required Additional support for students with dyslexia Additional tutorial support for students for whom English is an additional language Prospective students are encouraged to discuss with us any additional support we can offer for successful learning. WHAT NEXT? Prospective students are encouraged to contact us to request more details, book into an Open Day or arrange an interview. Following interview with us, places for study are offered subject to our admissions policy. For information about student fees, bursaries and the dates of forthcoming Open Days, please see our website, or contact us directly. enquiries@sthild.org sthild.org St Hild College Stocks Bank Road Mirfield WF14 0BW 01924 481 925 PAGE 22 01924 481 925 PAGE 23
sthild.org enquiries@sthild.org 01924 481 925 PAGE 24