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Oxford Centre for Church Growth PROSPECTUS 2013–2014

3 Welcome

4 Introduction

6 Why Oxford?

8 Why OCCG?

10 Academic study

12 Practical equipping

14 Further information

16 How to apply

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2“For years, I have had a longing for something fresh to happen in Europe. —ANDY BUCKLER, PASTOR, FRENCH REFORMED CHURCH—

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OXFORD CENTRE FOR CHURCH GROWTH

The great father of missions, the Apostle Paul, had it on his heart to evangelise the unevangelised in Europe. In order to do so, he planned to stay in Rome where he hoped that the Church would facilitate and furnish him for his push into Spain (Romans 15:24).

Similarly, we believe that God has called St Aldates to partner with pioneering church leaders into Europe. Oxford Centre for Church Growth is a mission base where select young apostolic ministers can join St Aldates Church community and be equipped for growth and church planting. Living in St Aldates community, candidates can choose to be enrolled as Oxford University postgraduates through Wycliffe Hall theological college and pursue robust theological studies tailored to modern mission.

We are very excited by what God is bringing together for European mission and the small but strategic part we have to play in this.

With love in Christ

Charlie Cleverly Simon Ponsonby Rector, St Aldates Dean of Studies, OCCG

Anita Cleverly Senior Pastor, St Aldates

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PROSPECTUS 2013–2014

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Planting or growing churches in European cities is a hard and complex calling, often ambushed by spiritual warfare and pragmatic opposition. That is why we feel drawn to call together future church leaders of Europe to teach methods, processes and structures—both spiritual and practical—which enable church growth and minimise barriers to that growth. This is the vision of the Oxford Centre for Church Growth (OCCG), set up by the Leadership of St Aldates Church, Oxford. We seek to influence, train and partner with a new generation of church leaders passionate about growing vibrant, Bible-based, evangelical charismatic churches in some of the disused or under-used church buildings in European university cities.

St Aldates is a place which has a rare convergence of gifting and experience, being able to sustain a large set of ministries in a strategic university city. The fundamental belief of the vision is that, whether due to the grace of God, history, position, leadership or congregational demographic, St Aldates has something special to offer to other similar churches and we long to ‘give it away’ and hence multiply impact.

Wycliffe Hall has embraced the St Aldates OCCG vision and is partnering with us by delivering the Certificate for Theology Graduates (CTG) to those joining the OCCG community. This is a one-year course of study, fully accredited by Oxford University.

The overall programme includes this rigorous academic study, provided by Wycliffe Hall, alongside practical training and observation of day-to-day life at St Aldates. Thanks to this combination, the OCCG programme is a great opportunity for current and prospective church leaders to obtain a defined and accredited academic award, together with a deep practical and vocational insight.

This year we are also launching a second stream, the Church Growth Programme (CGP), targeted at those who have a passion to grow or start vibrant Bible-based evangelical churches, but do not have a formal theological qualification.

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5“Whoever wins Oxford and the minds and hearts of her students—and those of similar cities around Europe—wins the world. —PATRICK MCDONALD, SENIOR PARTNER, OXFORD VENTURES—



such as the Church Mission Society (CMS), Oxfam, Viva, the Zacharias Trust, Opportunity International, Open Doors, the International Federation of Evangelical Students (IFES) and Innovista.

The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and lays claim to nine centuries of continuous existence. Academic teaching existed here in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from 1167. The University is comprised of 39 self-governing colleges and seven Permanent Private Halls, of which Wycliffe Hall is one.

Throughout its history, Oxford has produced gifted men and women in every speciality. Among these are kings, queens, princes, prime ministers, presidents, archbishops and Nobel prize-winners. Since 1355, when Edward III paid tribute to the University for its invaluable contribution to learning, Oxford has continued to be praised for its unique and crucial role as a centre of excellence in teaching and research.

Oxford has excellent facilities and resources for learning. The University’s and city’s history has been built upon books being read, written, published, studied and debated. The central library of the University—the

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Oxford has been an important English town since the 10th century. Today, it is one of the world’s most well-known cities and has a long tradition as a centre of intellectual and philosophical debate.

It has a particular historical significance for Christian belief as the place where the monastic tradition began to become scholastic; where Wycliffe and Tyndale began to translate the Bible; where Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley were burnt at the stake as Protestant martyrs in the 16th century; the place where the Wesley brothers and George Whitefield met and founded the Methodist Church; the home of the Oxford Movement in the 19th century; and the place where CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien discussed the place of Christian allegory in the fantasy genre over a pint of beer in the Eagle and Child pub in the 1950s.

Today the tradition continues, as Oxford is the centre of the debate between the ‘New Atheism’ of Richard Dawkins and Philip Pullman and leading Christian apologists such as Alister McGrath, John Lennox and Ard Louis.

In addition, Oxford has long been a centre for Christian mission and social action. It is home to organisations

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Bodleian—is a copyright deposit library and so entitled to request one free copy of every book published in the UK. The Bodleian’s collections of books and manuscripts are used by scholars around the world and it is planned that all OCCG students will be permitted access to the library.

The opportunity to study church growth in Oxford is unique. OCCG students can take advantage of this and join the talented students and scholars from around the globe who are all drawn to this magnificent place of learning.

Together with its partners, St Aldates can change and shape not just the city of Oxford, but cities around the world. —MICHAEL RAMSDEN, EUROPEAN DIRECTOR, ZACHARIAS TRUST—


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Academic study is provided by Wycliffe Hall’s dynamic team of dedicated tutors, who are outstanding teachers as well as experts in their fields. They come with a wide range of experience in leadership, teaching and ministry in the UK and across the world. Professor Benno van den Toren (Wycliffe’s Dean of Faculty) will oversee the CTG programme for Wycliffe Hall.

Practical teaching in church growth is provided by the St Aldates Leadership Team, including Charlie and Anita Cleverly and Simon Ponsonby. They bring a unique blend of charismatic theology with deep biblical reflection and exposition, infused by wide experience in the field.

OCCG students will have 20 table-talk sessions through the year with senior church leaders to encourage reflection on their studies and placement and identify areas of further action.

Charlie and Anita Cleverly lead St Aldates Church. Prior to this, they pastored a French-speaking church in inner-city Paris for ten years and founded conferences promoting intercession throughout France. Together they serve on the leadership team for the New Wine

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?Spend a full academic year in the inspiring surroundings of Oxford. Enjoy the stimulation of a challenging academic theology programme, combined with practical training, mentoring and exposure from respected church leaders with lifelong experience of European church ministry.

Key benefits of the Certificate for Theology Graduates include:

• Fully accredited qualification (worth 120 CATS/60 ECTS points)• Academic study at Wycliffe Hall combined with St Aldates community training• The acclaimed Oxford supervised seminar and tutorial system• A small student group, enabling enriching interaction with lecturers• Time to study the key elements of the Christian faith• Full exposure to all the ministry programmes of St Aldates Church• Being part of the vibrant worshipping community of St Aldates Church

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“I want to thank St. Aldates for so gracefully and openheartedly inviting me to take part and see what the church as a whole does. I’ve learned so much.... —JOHANNA BULLER, OCCG STUDENT—“

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conferences in the UK and since arriving in Oxford they have pioneered ‘Love Oxford’, a city-wide church initiative. They are passionate about developing intimacy with God in their own lives and in the church and about seeing the transforming power of the gospel manifest in our society today.

Simon Ponsonby (OCCG Dean of Studies) planted a church in Bristol before being ordained and leading the dynamic student ministry of St Aldates: winning, training and sending out hundreds of undergraduates. Simon is Pastor of Theology at St Aldates and all three St Aldates leaders are internationally-recognised speakers and authors.

Practical equipping is provided through involvement in the ministries of St Aldates Church. These include: Students, Children’s Church, Aldates Community Transformation Initiatives (ACT!), Worship, Prayer, Youth and Internationals.

St Aldates Church Growth Programme (CGP) is specifically targeted at those who have a passion to

I believe in St Aldates because it is a Word and Spirit church: sitting under the authority of God’s Word and open to the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit. —WILL DONALDSON, TUTOR FOR MIXED MODE & PART-TIME TRAINING, WYCLIFFE HALL—


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grow or start vibrant Bible-based evangelical churches, but do not have a formal theological qualification.

Key benefits of the programme include:

• Practical training and mentoring from respected church leaders with lifelong experience of European church ministry

• Full exposure to all the ministry programmes of St Aldates Church

• Being part of the vibrant worshipping community of St Aldates Church

• Time to study the key elements of the Christian faith • Mentoring in preaching and speaking from gifted

communicators • The opportunity to attend individual lectures at

Wycliffe Hall or study towards the Certificate in Theological and Pastoral Studies.

All CGP Students will participate in the Practical Teaching and Practical equipping elements of the OCCG programme, alongside the CTG students.

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Wycliffe Hall was established in 1877 as an evangelical Anglican theological training college. Today it is a Permanent Private Hall of Oxford University. Wycliffe has a long history of equipping and sending people out across the globe. It is an evangelical college with a vision for training godly leaders in ministry, people with a solid grounding in the Bible and people passionate about mission.

As a Permanent Private Hall of the University, Wycliffe Hall is committed to the pursuit of academic rigour and integrity in evangelical biblical scholarship. As a Christian seminary, it provides an environment in which students can grow into the likeness of Christ intellectually, spiritually and emotionally as members of a Christian community who serve, study, worship and pray together.

The student body is comprised of postgraduates at Oxford University, ordinands training for ministry and some students studying other affiliated courses. It is a vibrant, inspiring and supportive community of future Christian leaders honing their skills in order to see transformation of church and society.

The Certificate for Theology Graduates, delivered by Wycliffe Hall, will be based on four essays, allowing for a specific focus on evangelism and church growth. Students will be expected to present a written work of 10,000 words on each of the following subjects:

1. Mission and Ministry (theological reflection on the placement in St Aldates)

2. Ecclesiology (what it means to be Church in the contemporary world)

3. Christian Mission

4. Personal choice from:

• Christian Witness in the Contemporary World• Christian Worship • Christian Spirituality • Christian Faith and Other Religions (with a focus on Islam).

Two of these essays can be combined in a single long essay of 12,000-15,000 words.

CTG students will be taught through regular seminars and personal tutorials on their writing projects.

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Our students are very much looking forward to being part of the OCCG experience. We already see it as an important part of their training. —TOMAS NYGREN, PRINCIPAL, JOHANNELUND BIBLE COLLEGE, SWEDEN—“

The Certificate in Theological and Pastoral Studies is delivered by Wycliffe Hall and is available as an option to students on the CGP programme.

The certificate is designed specifically as preparation for Christian ministry. The range of subjects and the nature of the course material reflect this. The course combines serious study of the Bible and Christian doctrine with its practical outworking in Christian ministry.

Below are the subjects and papers taught for the course. Students are also encouraged but not required to study Greek.

• The Old Testament• The New Testament• Church History• Christian Witness in the Contemporary World

There are no exams, although those taking the option to study Greek will be required to sit a written test. All subjects are assessed by essays of 2,000—2,500 words (each worth a notional 30 CAT points) or a project of 4,000—5,000 words.

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All OCCG students will be exposed to each area of ministry within the church and have an opportunity to understand the practical details of how they succeed. The following descriptions give a flavour of the kind of work students will be involved in.

Students. OCCG students will work as part of a dynamic student leadership team with undergraduates from Oxford and Brookes Universities. They will come alongside students, meeting with them one-to-one and leading cell groups to encourage, mentor and pastor them. They will be involved with running Student Night, our weekly student gathering, as well as many other events, such as balls and mission trips.

Internationals. We are called to make disciples of all nations. The Internationals department’s main goal is to create an inclusive, outward-focussed, loving international community within St Aldates. Students will learn to reach out to and to disciple people from different cultural backgrounds. Their job will include helping to build the International Pastorate and the Chinese Fellowship, interceding for Muslims, reaching out in Commonwealth House, welcoming people in the Entrance Area of the Church and leading international-focussed tables at the Alpha course.

ACT! Students will play an integral role in St Aldates’ ministry to the marginalised in Oxford. They will have the opportunity to shadow, support, work alongside and be trained by the ACT! Director, gaining invaluable experience in a wide range of exciting projects,

including prison ministry, community meals for the homeless and vulnerably housed, mentoring ex-offenders, working with refugees, leading Bible studies, ongoing discipleship and a week’s healing retreat in Cornwall with the ACT! Pastorate.

Prayer. As Martin Luther King said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Prayer is a foundation stone of our relationship with God, yet it often gets squashed out of our schedules by other pressures. The role of OCCG students will be to help the church to stay focussed on prayer—a church whose vision it is to become a ‘house of prayer for all nations’. Students will do this by assisting with the administration and leadership of our existing prayer meetings (early morning prayer meetings every weekday, monthly church gatherings, specific nation intercession groups, annual national days of prayer), as well as supporting the vision for our recently-opened prayer centre: potentially a future permanent 24-7 prayer room for the city.

Worship. Students will be involved in leading and facilitating worship in the many departments of the church, from small groups to main Sunday services. They will come alongside the Worship Pastors, assisting them with all aspects of the worship life of the church, including administration, recruitment, audio-visuals and seasonal events. They will be involved in various bands and in Fuel for the Fire, which is the worshipping community at St Aldates, providing worship and musical development for all areas of ministry in the church.

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Children’s Church. Within Children’s Church, students will work with over 200 children on a Sunday and at other midweek events which they will help to plan and run. We try to foster a sense of community in Children’s Church, so that the children can relate to each other and the leaders as friends for accountability, support and fun. Students will also have the opportunity to be involved in our schools work, planning and running after-school clubs with unchurched children, involving drama, crafts, games and Bible studies.

Each term, we run Mighty Warrior Parties and other events to which children can bring along their friends. OCCG students will form a key part of the team, facilitating the children’s learning about friendship with Jesus.

Youth. Students will have the opportunity to get involved in the lives of 14–18 year-olds in Oxford and the surrounding area. They will help to lead and plan our youth group Reality on Saturday nights, plus midweek Bible studies and other events. They will meet up with

the youth one-on-one to mentor them and build strong relationships. They will join the team in the privilege of seeing young people grow in their faith. They will be able to see the potential that this next generation has and encourage them to reach out and take hold of what God has promised them for the future.

The practical equipping will also include weekly one-to-one meetings with leaders of departments at St Aldates Church.

Church Administration and Management. In churches of all sizes, the background activity of administration plays a vital role in maintaining the health of the organisation. Students will be given insight into the principal areas of administration and management, including finance, facilities, events (both church and commercial) and communications. There will also be a detailed review of the handling of weddings and funerals. In addition, students will cover church governance structures and their relationship to denominational hierarchies and national government.



The OCCG programme opened my eyes to a greater vision of how to be church. It is unique and I highly recommend it. —NIKOLAJ CHRISTENSEN, OCCG STUDENT—“

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N St Aldates is a busy city-centre church with three services every Sunday and a packed midweek programme of events, groups and courses. It is a tri-generational church with a heart to minister to all those who come through the doors, while equipping all members to be ministers of the gospel in their homes, streets, colleges, schools and workplaces.

St Aldates has an active church attendance of around 1,500 and is one of several fruitful churches in Oxford. It is established as a sending and training base for the surrounding area.

The church has established an intern training programme which has seen significant growth over the last five years, with teams spending one year in service and training before being sent out to churches around the UK and Europe.

The church is positioned strategically—both physically and politically—at the centre of Oxford and has a well-established set of ministries to students, families, the poor and youth.

A standard week in the life of an OCCG student will include all the elements of the programme: the core academic study (marked as CTG), practical theological teaching, discussion seminars, ministry programme work and community meetings.

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ACADEMIC YEAR CALENDAR 2013–2014

The academic year calendar follows Wycliffe Hall term dates and indicates the periods when the academic study programme will take place. Term dates for the OCCG programme (incorporating practical teaching and equipping) will typically be extended by one week at either end of the academic term, with exact dates to be confirmed. This will provide a two-week holiday for Christmas & New Year and another two-week holiday for Easter.

Michaelmas Term Sunday 6 October 2013 - Saturday 7 December 2013

Hilary Term Sunday 12 January 2014 - Saturday 15 March 2014

Trinity Term Sunday 23 April 2014 - Saturday 21 June 2014

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TEACHING VENUES, FEES & ACCOMMODATION

The academic activity of the CTG course, including tutorial sessions, will be located in Wycliffe Hall. There is also an excellent theological library which will be a centre of study and essay preparation. In addition, students will have access to the Bodleian and other Oxford University libraries.

St Aldates practical teaching will be delivered in St Aldates Parish Centre, where a set of rooms will be made available as a base for OCCG students throughout the year, with internet access, presentation facilities and kitchen facilities.

OCCG students will spend part of their time working alongside and shadowing the various ministry leaders in St Aldates. These sessions will take place across the three St Aldates buildings in central Oxford: the main church building, the Parish Centre and the Catacombs Youth & Prayer Centre. Full of character, our buildings are conveniently situated in the heart of historic Oxford, close to Oxford University colleges, many tourist attractions and just five minutes from train and bus stations.

We expect the fees for the CTG to be around £8,500 and for the CGP to be in the region of £1,200 (which excludes the fees for the Certificate in Theological and Pastoral Studies). Students have to pay for their own accommodation and food, but generally eat very well (and for free) at various church events they attend

during the week.

It is expected that OCCG students will be accommodated in Commonwealth House, in the centre of Oxford and adjacent to the St Aldates buildings. The house is made up of a terrace of seven houses (adjoining a very popular coffee shop called G&Ds) in what was originally a 17th century listed building off Pembroke Square.

Commonwealth House’s main strength is its location. Set between Oxford’s famous Cathedral (Christ Church College) and the Modern Art museum in the heart of Oxford University’s colleges, the house also benefits from having three supermarkets nearby. Rooms in Commonwealth House will typically be occupied by two students, with communal lounges and kitchens provided. Rooms are of the same standard as Oxford University accommodation. A wireless internet connection is available.

We hope that living in Commonwealth House will provide community and fellowship along with good opportunities for building friendships and support networks. This experience will be modelled on our well-established and very successful School of Ministry intern programme. Feedback from this gives a high value to the benefits of communal living.

Given Oxford’s student focus, there is ample alternative accommodation available for students who prefer to live more independently in the city or plan to come to Oxford with their families.

This year we welcome applicants with a first degree in Theology, as well as those without a formal theological qualification. All applicants should be passionate about Christ and making Him known to the nations and should have a vocation to church growth and leadership.

We envisage that applicants will come from a variety of backgrounds. Some will be church leaders of the future who wish to develop a ‘tool kit’ of skills and experience to better equip them in their local situation. Others will be established church leaders looking for incremental growth in their current setting, by renewed vision and sharpening of practical skills.

To apply for the Certificate for Theology Graduates or for the Church Growth Programme, please complete our application form (available to download from our website, www.occg.org.uk) and send it to:

Oxford Centre for Church Growth, 40 Pembroke Street, Oxford, OX1 1BP, UK

All the applications should be received by the end of May 2013.

A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS AT THE HEART OF OXFORD

St Aldates Parish Centre, 40 Pembroke Street, Oxford, OX1 1BP, UKphone. +44 1865 254 800 | fax. +44 1865 201 543 email. [email protected]

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Reviewed and short-listed candidates will be forwarded to Wycliffe Hall, who will then conduct their own process, involving an online application form and interviews, either face-to-face or by telephone.

Because of Oxford University’s language requirements, we expect all the candidates to present a good level of English language fluency (both written and verbal). Therefore, all non-native English-speaking applicants need to satisfy one of the following requirements:

• IELTS: overall score of 7.0 (with at least 7.0 in each of the four components)• TOEFL (paper-based): overall score of 600 with a Test of Written English score of 5.5• TOEFL (internet-based): overall score of 100• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency (CPE): grade B• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): grade A• European Baccalaureate: score of 70% in English.

For further details, please contact our OCCG Team via [email protected] can also visit our website: www.occg.org.uk

Copyright © 2012 St AldatesDetails correct at time of going to press . Check online for updated informationPhotography courtesy of www.johncairnsphotography.co.uk . www.jonathanself.co.ukSt Aldates is an Anglican church within the Diocese of OxfordSt Aldates is a registered charity no. 1131154

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