CMS helps students 'read signs of the times'

Church Mission Society is hoping its Pioneer Mission Leadership Training Course will support students in "reading the signs of the times".

This is the theme for the next academic year starting in September.

"Responding to the signs of the times is what pioneers are good at," says Jonny Baker, the course leader.

"They spot what's going on in culture and look for what the Spirit might be saying in that. Then their imagination goes to work in pioneering mission."

The groundbreaking course was launched three years ago and has grown from nine students to 50. It now offers an MA programme and C-of-E recognised training for Ordained Pioneer Ministers, alongside a foundation degree in ministry and individual modules suitable for mission practitioners.

Students come from a range of denominations and are able to take what they learn to diverse contexts like new age fairs, arts communities and prisons.

"There is nothing more gratifying than to hear stories of how the learning and experience that they are immersed in on the CMS course is helping make their projects more successful and sustainable," Baker added.

Philip Mounstephen, executive leader of CMS, said, "In the UK today, you don't need to go overseas to cross cultures, often you just need to go and say hello to your next door neighbour.

"That's why CMS is so pleased to offer our historic experience in cross-cultural mission training to the Church in this country through our outstanding Pioneer Mission Leadership course."

News
Buddhism declines worldwide as ageing and disaffiliation take their toll, Pew study finds
Buddhism declines worldwide as ageing and disaffiliation take their toll, Pew study finds

Buddhism was the only major world faith to record a decline between 2010 and 2020.

Scotland: Eleventh hour plea to MSPs to reject assisted suicide
Scotland: Eleventh hour plea to MSPs to reject assisted suicide

Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, is urging members of the Scottish Parliament to think of the vulnerable and vote against assisted suicide. 

Archbishop of Canterbury to embark on historic six-day pilgrimage
Archbishop of Canterbury to embark on historic six-day pilgrimage

The Archbishop of Canterbury will undertake a six-day pilgrimage before she is installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury later this month. 

Baptist seminary provides refuge to people displaced in Lebanon
Baptist seminary provides refuge to people displaced in Lebanon

The Arab Baptist Theological Seminary near Beirut is sheltering displaced people who fled their homes as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah forces hundreds of thousands of civilians across Lebanon to seek refuge.