Cranmer Hall: Formation for Pioneering Ministries
At Cranmer Hall we believe that faithfulness to the gospel and to the emerging culture means that all of our ordinands should be trained to engage in effective evangelism, pioneering mission initiatives and the planting of new churches.
As an ordinand at Cranmer Hall you will have the opportunity to engage in the following as part of your route through training
Pioneer Ministry module. Running across two terms and taught in a permanent prayer room in the heart of the city of Durham. Module content includes a focus on: contemporary culture; mission & evangelism; leadership; character; team-building; entrepreneurship; innovation; sacramental ministry in fresh expressions, and starting, leading and sustaining fresh expressions of church.
Mission module. Running across two terms, the module includes teaching and reflection on cross-cultural evangelism, church-planting and fresh expressions of church. The module also includes participation in an urban micro-mission and a faith-sharing weekend undertaken in collaboration with local churches.
Deep-listening attachment. Running across two terms, the deep-listening attachment is designed to give students a chance to engage with a community in a specific geographical area. Ordinands work in pairs and utilize a range of personal and professional skills and resources to construct a multi-layered understanding of the area. They work towards a substantial presentation of potential opportunities for establishing fresh expressions of church in the given context. The attachment is undertaken in collaboration with local churches and is supervised by Michael Volland, our director of mission and tutor in pioneering.
Pioneer Reading Group: An opportunity to study and discuss key pioneering texts. This group meets each week and is convened by Michael Volland.
Matt Woodcock, Ordinand 2009-2011 (OPM July 2011)
'The pioneer module and placement here at Cranmer Hall has profoundly changed my outlook on life and ministry. The greatest strength of the training is that it is entirely rooted in the practice of ministry in the real world. At the same time it is deeply informed by scripture, prayer and the latest writing and thinking. The pioneer training here at Cranmer has enabled me to take risks and has not shied away from difficult ecclesiological and missiological questions. I leave Cranmer Hall feeling equipped to take up my new role as an Ordained Pioneer Minister serving in the centre of Hull.'
The Rt Revd Graham Cray, Archbishops' Missioner and Team Leader of Fresh Expressions
"The team at Cranmer Hall are developing an imaginative and rigorous approach to training ordained pioneer ministers. I commend it as a place where men and women are being effectively equipped to engage the emerging culture with the message of the gospel."