Cranmer Hall News - The latest

Through The Pilgrim Door

Michael Volland

There’s a lot of talk about ‘fresh expressions’ of church emerging in our culture. But what does it actually feel like to be given a blank piece of paper and told to start something from scratch? Michael Volland takes us with him through the first year of his pioneering ministry. With the full backing of one of the oldest denominations in the West (the Church of England), attached to a cathedral but given free rein, Michael steps out to discover what ‘church’ might mean for those who have written it off as an irrelevant institution.

Michael’s narrative skills, first enjoyed in ‘God On the Beach’, are back in evidence as he steers us through the obstacles, challenges, and unexpected encouragements he finds along the way. As he tells the story, Michael reflects on the need to balance innovation with a sense of history, challenging assumptions in both traditionalist and pioneering church ministries.

For those considering a new church plant or pioneering ministry – or those who are simply curious – Through the Pilgrim Door shows what can be done with a little finance and a whole lot of faith.

You can order your copy of Through The Pilgrim Door here.

Another former John's student elected as Bishop

Rev George Erwau, who did a degree in Theology from 1995-1997, has been elected as the new Bishop of Soroti, a Diocese in Teso in north eastern Uganda. He will be consecrated later this year

Michael Volland appointed as Director of Mission and Pioneer Ministry at Cranmer Hall

Cranmer Hall in St John’s College, Durham University has taken the exciting step of appointing one of the country’s leading pioneers in mission to its teaching staff. Michael Volland will be one of the youngest Anglican tutors ever appointed to such a key role, but he brings with him a wealth of experience in Fresh Expressions of church and contemporary mission.

Michael worked in youth ministry and on a range of mission initiatives before training for ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. Whilst at Ridley his first book, God on the Beach, was published by Survivor. Michael was ordained deacon and Pioneer Minister at Gloucester Cathedral, and has spent the past three years acting as Assistant Curate at the cathedral and pioneering a Fresh Expression of Church, known as the feig community, in the city centre.

Michael has a BA in Fine Art from Newcastle, an MA in Theological Education from Kings College London, and is currently reading for a Doctorate at Kings College London. His second book, Through the Pilgrim Door: Pioneering A Fresh Expression of Church, is to be published by Survivor in August 2009. He has a wide range of interests including surfing, which first became a passion when he was an undergraduate in the North East.

Michael will move to Durham in the summer with his wife and their three children. He is hugely excited about the prospect of joining the community at Cranmer Hall and looks forward to developing training for both Ordained Pioneer Ministers and those who expect their future ministries to include active engagement with emerging and Fresh Expressions of church.

The Warden of Cranmer Hall, Canon Anne Dyer comments: ’I am delighted that Michael has agreed to come to be part of our staff team. We have a passion for mission that extends from Pioneer Ministry through to social justice and world church issues. In Michael we have someone who has wide personal experience of mission, together with a commitment to researching and writing.”

The Principal of St John’s College, Rev Dr David Wilkinson, ‘Michael’s appointment is very exciting indeed. Cranmer Hall has been at the cutting edge of social justice, the training of women and preaching and communication. Over the past few years we have been energetic in equipping ordinands for mission in contemporary culture. To now have someone with such expertise and experience in pioneer ministry and fresh expressions allows us to continue this work to a level of not just national but international significance’.

Further enquiries: David Wilkinson 0191 334 3895

Cranmer Hall’s Young Vocations Day

A sermon preached at Cranmer Hall’s Young Vocations Day by David Willinkson the Principal of St Johns College and Cranmer Hall is published in The Church of England newspaper.
The text can be downloaded here. PDF format 13KB

William Leech Research Fellowships in Applied Christian Theology

The William Leech Research Trust invites applications for William Leech Fellowships in Applied Christian Theology. Fellowships can be held for periods of three months to one year and will support projects to undertake research in order to develop theological reflection on Christian hope, the discharge of Christian pastoral responsibility, and the communication of the gospel in the contemporary context of the U.K., with particular reference to the North East of England. The Fellowships may be held, with their agreement, at: (a) Durham University; or (b) the Colleges of St Chad’s and St John’s, Durham; or (c) Newcastle University; or (d) be associated with an appropriate church organisation in the North East of England. Fellows are required to reside in the North East of England and engage with churches of all denominations in the region.

Further particulars and application forms for these Fellowships are available at http://www.newcastle.anglican.org/ under the ‘news’ section.

Applications must be submitted in Microsoft Word 97 format to mailto:leech.fellowships@btinternet.com by May 29th, 2009. Interviews of short-listed candidates will be held on Thursday 16 July in Newcastle.

Records broken as MAs awarded!

At the recent 2008 Board to award the MA in Theology and Ministry new records were set by successful students. Twenty six students were awarded the MA in Theology and Ministry from Durham University, the highest number since the MA started in 2001. And six students achieved a Distinction, the equivalent of a First Class in a BA, another record for the programme.

Visit our MATM page for details

The Archbishop of Canterbury Visits St John’s College and argues for the important place of theology in any world-class University.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt Rev Rowan Williams, gave the annual St John’s Borderlands Lecture to a packed lecture hall of over 350 people. The lecture was chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Chris Higgins, and was followed by a dinner at the College where church leaders, academic staff and students engaged in further conversation with the Archbishop.

James Menzies, a theology graduate and current student at Cranmer Hall writes:

In an age when the discipline of Theology is re-negotiating its place within the university and the world, Archbishop Rowan William’s Borderlands Lecture, Theology and the Reading of Books comes as a timely assessment of how Theology can meaningfully and distinctively inform the humanities.

Texts, he argues, are not simply inert, not simply “voiceless things” to quote Mihail Baktim. Rather, they invite a response from the imagination, the process by which the text comes into existence. As we read the text something happens: the text becomes alive. Yet because reading is “always an act of translation”, it is not simply an entry into the mind of the author. When we read, there is always present an element of our own interpretation, as we seek to make sense of the textual
communicative meaning in light of our own experience and conceptual framework. So reading is, in a sense, never a completed act; there is always space for re-reading that draws out “afresh and anew” different meanings and ideas from the text as we and others come to it again and again from our own differing perspectives.

Such re-reading finds a natural place in Theology, which “is about reading books”. The difference here though is the nature of the text: the Holy Scriptures as revelations of Divine origin are inexhaustible, and so no reading will ever get to the point where it can safely corral a definitive meaning of the text. There will always be “excess”, and the “freedom of excess”, an unbounded creative freedom that finds its source in the overflowing, intra-personal relationship of the Trinity.

Thus Theology, as the “tutor of the humanities”, has a vital role to play in maintaining the constant generation of new ideas and understanding, by drawing attention back to the excess of meaning present in texts. For, as those who engage with the ultimate source of this excess, Theologians have a responsibility to maintain a focus on the generative element of texts. This entails that if Theology is to have a place amongst the humanities, it cannot be one of a mere “reduction to other disciplines”- too often there has been a move to re-define Theology in terms of history, sociology, and anthropology and so on. Instead, Theology is here specifically to help all those involved in humane enquiry to “learn something of excess”- and consequently needs to be held to account if it does not.

One particular instance of the insight Theology can bring to the humanities as a whole is an awareness of the contemporary phenomenon of “consumerist reading”. Such reading, which seeks to mine a text for its informational content, does damage to the integrity of that text. Because it does not take into account the text’s capacity for excess and thus its creative and generative quality, a vital element of it has been lost, to the point of devaluation and collapse. Instead, Theology’s awareness of textual excess demands a listening to and engagement with texts to realise their full potential, to reclaim their innate identity and imaginative possibilities.

Inherently postmodern yet historically aware, Archbishop Rowan’s provocative and stimulating address gave cause to reconsider how and why we read books, and in particular how Theology is able to contribute beyond its own traditionally-accepted bounds to return to a more appropriate place within the academy. ‘

The annual Borderlands Lecture is hosted by St John’s College, University of Durham as part of the wider Borderlands project. The project seeks to explore and investigate the “borderlands” between Theology and other academic disciplines.

Principal gives Church of Ireland Annual Theological Lectures at Queen's Belfast

David Wilkinson became the first non-Anglican to give these lectures which stretch back over 50 years. Many found themselves standing or sitting on the floor as the lecture theatres were packed with one of the biggest attendances in the history of the lectures. Previous lecturers included Archbishop Michael Ramsey, Professor CDF Moule, Dr Elaine Storkey and Bishop Tom Wright. Dr Wilkinson explored the 'Search for God: Can science help' and focused on the beginning and end of the Universe.

Principal becomes a Bible champion!

The Principal, Rev Dr David Wilkinson is one of the leading supporters of the Evangelical Alliance's 'Biblicising the Church' initiative.

The Evangelical Alliance is working together with over 40 Bible agencies, including the Bible Society, Scottish Bible Society, London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, Scripture Union and Wycliffe Bible Translators, in an initiative to help Christians re-engage with the Bible.

The initiative, which will culminate in a year-long campaign in 2011, will encourage bible reading, translation, and training.

Other 'champions' include Bishop Tom Wright, Stephen Gaukroger, Terry Virgo, David Jackman and Andy Croft.

David Wilkinson comments, 'I am delighted to support such a project which resonates well with our growing research work in biblical literacy and communication headed up by Rev Dr Pete Phillips and in preaching headed up by Rev Kate Bruce. I am not sure about being a champion! - but I am passionate about the importance of the Bible in the training of the future leaders of the church, and in renewing every local church'

Steve Croft and the Archbishop of York

'St Johns gives another Bishop to the Church of England'

Rev Dr Steve Croft, former Warden of Cranmer Hall in St Johns was consecrated as Bishop of Sheffield at a service in York Minister led by the Archbishop of York.

Steve was a student at the College and led Cranmer Hall before becoming Archbishop's Missioner and Team Leader for Fresh Expressions.
He becomes the third Warden in a row to become a Bishop following the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard (President of St John's Council) and the Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Rev Ian Cundy.

The former Wardens of Cranmer Hall

The Principal of St John's, Rev Dr David Wilkinson, who was present at the service, commented 'We are delighted for Steve, and he and the family will be in our prayers during this time of transition. It is a wonderful picture of the way that Cranmer Hall continues to provide senior leadership for the Church of England who are passionate about mission, theological depth and evangelical witness'

'The relevance of the Bible to the Big Bang, the end of the Universe, environmental care and ......the church!'

In a series of lectures around the country, David Wilkinson has been exploring the importance and relevance of the Bible in different contexts. He spoke at St Paul's Howell Hill and at St Peter's Eaton Square on Big Bang cosmology and the Christian understanding of creation. Then at a research seminar for the Faraday Institute at St Edmunds College Cambridge on the scientific picture of the end of the Universe and the biblical picture of new creation. The following day he spoke on the biblical base of creation care to an ARocha conference in Cambridge. The final part of this mini lecture tour was to give the keynote lecture at the Evangelical Alliance's Biblicizing the Church Project which draws together a number of leading individuals and organisations in the areas of biblical scholarship, publication and communication.

'Preaching Conferences break all expectations'

The first day conference was full with 150 participants some months in advance. The 'overflow' conference will now see another 70 people from around the North East gather together to learn how to preach from Mark's gospel. Speakers include Rev Kate Bruce, who is Research Fellow in Preaching, Mark Bonnington, Handley Moule Fellow in Biblical Studies and former Principal, David Day. The current Principal David Wilkinson comments, 'It continues to an astonishing response - showing just how much need there is and how the College's reputation as a centre for the training of preaching is valued'

Recapturing the Christian doctrine of creation

The Principal was one of the lecturers at the annual Christians in Science conference 'Celebrating Darwin: creation, evolution and theological challenges'. Held on Saturday 1st November in London, it brought together many leading scientists who are also Christians.

Dr Wilkinson argued that the biblical doctrine of creation has often been submerged under controversies of creationism, deistic tendencies and a concentration on Genesis 1 to the detriment of the richness of other biblical passages on creation. He suggested that the Bible needs to be taken seriously in this area - to see creation in the light of new creation, and a God who sustains every moment of the Universe's existence. While allowing a fruitful dialogue with science, and in particular Darwinian evolution, it will also lead to an emphasis that the most important insight into creation is the Creator God who is to worshipped, enjoyed and trusted.

Other papers included a paper from the Durham Christians in Science group, Darrel Falk and Henri Blocher.

'Training the next generation of church leaders'

'The Call and the Commission' is a forthcoming book from Authentic Media, which asks the question of the next generation of church leaders will be formed and trained. The book is edited by David Wilkinson, the Principal of St John's, and Joanne Cox, a former student at Cranmer Hall and the Wesley Study Centre. The connection with Cranmer is further strengthened by a chapter by Canon Anne Dyer, warden of Cranmer Hall.

The book arises out of the passion of evangelist Rob Frost, who worked on it with David and Joanne right up until his death last year. Rob was concerned that our present structures of training did not allow the gifts of the new generation of young people to be fully used and developed by the church.

The book brings together a wide range of leaders from the Anglican, Methodist, Pentecostal, Salvation Army and Baptist tradition. It features theological reflection alongside insights on leadership formation from other disciples.

It argues that theological colleges and courses should look to the future rather than being constrained by the models of the 70s and 80s.

Using the style of the BBC Life on Mars series, current younger Cranmer students have provided an irreverent You Tube video to promote the book

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9iemUhswH24

College principal's scientific thought

As part of Radio 4's "Big Bang Day" Revd Dr David Wilkinson presented a special Thought for the Day in Radio 4's prestigious Today programme.

You can listen again to it here

The programme was part of a day of science-themed programmes on Wednesday 10th September to mark the switch-on of the CERN particle accelerator. The experiment, which is the largest and most costly in the history of science, attempts to recreate conditions in the universe in the immediate aftermath of the Big Bang.

Dr Wilkinson said "It's a privilege to present Thought for the Day on what could be a significant day in the development of science. The CERN experiment is exciting. It will tell us a little more of the beauty, intricacy and astonishing laws of physics by which God created the universe.

But why have a Thought for the Day on a day dedicated to science? "Because God is not just a god of the gaps but the author and sustainer of the whole story. Science is a gift from God that allows us 'to think God's thoughts after him.'"

Much of Dr Wilkinson's work is about the relationship between science and Christian faith. His background is in theoretical astrophysics. His first PhD was in the study of star formation, the chemical evolution of galaxies and terrestrial mass extinctions such as the event which wiped out the dinosaurs. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and has published a wide range of papers on these subjects. He has a second PhD in Systematic theology.

David Wilkinson is the author of numerous books including God, Time and Stephen Hawking and The Message of Creation. He broadcasts regularly on matters of science and faith, and also presents BBC Radio 4's historic Daily Service and Sunday Worship strands.

Bishop Francis Loyo

Between 13th and 16th July, just prior to the Lambeth Conference, St John's College was privileged to host Bishop Francis Loyo and Mama Linda Loyo.

Francis is Bishop of Rokon in Southern Sudan, an area which was on the front line in the long civil war and was left devastated. Bishop Francis and Mama Linda were separated for 7 years because of the war. They are helping their community in many ways to rebuild and develop.

Francis studied at Cranmer Hall in 2004 and gained the MA in Theology and Ministry. He made a deep impact on College and on local churches and groups. In response, staff and students set up the Edith Jackson Trust, to help to develop education in Southern Sudan.

The Trust, in collaboration with the Diocese, has just completed the first 2 classrooms of the new school in Rokon. The plan is to build a complete primary school in Rokon, before going on to assist with other educational projects in the Diocese. If you would like to know more, please visit the Trust's web site http://www.edithjacksontrust.org.uk/

During his time in Durham, Bishop Francis spoke at a special service and packed meeting in St Margaret's Church, was fed a real Yorkshire fish and chip supper in All Saints' Church (Pocklington) and met with students and staff at Cranmer Hall before we prayed with and for him in a service of Compline compiled from English and African sources.

Revd Dr Alan Bartlett
(Chair of Trustees and DMin Director at St John's College)