Redcliffe College

Redcliffe College is a theological college specialising in training men, women and families from around the world for Christian mission anywhere in the world. It is international and interdenominational, and is a member of the Evangelical Alliance, Global Connections and European Evangelical Accrediting Association.

History

Redcliffe College began on April 5 1892 as the YWCA Testing and Training Home. [Redcliffe College, "Redcliffe College: 1892-1992" (London: Redcliffe College, 1992), p.1.] Originally based at 495 Kings Road, Chelsea, in 1896 497 Kings Road was purchased and a door was made between the two houses. Redcliffe was the first institution to provide missionary service training for women. In 1917 the College moved to 66 Redcliffe Gardens, Kensington. In 1931 the College moved again to 66 Grove Park Road, Chiswick where it remained until 1995. During the Second World War the War Office took over the College for use by the Women's Auxiliary Air Force while the students moved to Lancashire, Upper Norwood and Feering. They returned to Chiswick in 1944. In 1984 the College went co-ed, allowing men as well as women to enrol. In 1995 the College relocated to its current site in Gloucester.

Approach

Redcliffe's courses are based on an integrated training approach involving the principles of 'knowing', 'being' and 'doing'. [In an article on integral mission training, D. Whiteman argues that "training must integrate formal (knowledge/knowing), non-formal (skills/doing), and informal (character and spirituality/being) methods of training", D.L. Whiteman, 'Integral Training Today for Cross-Cultural Mission', "Missiology", XXXVI:1 (January 2008), p.5.] Its courses bring together:"Academic study", taught by lecturers with first-hand mission experience; "Personal growth", developed through the Personal Development Programme which is concerned with students' well-being before God, and through living in an international, cross-cultural community; "Practical experience", through placements (both weekly and in a block of 6 weeks).

Current faculty

Rev Dr Colin Bulley (PhD, BD, BA) - Acting Principal and Academic Dean
Dr Rob Cook (PhD, MTh, BA, BA) - Head of Theology
Tim Davy (MA, BSc, DipTheo, CELTA (TEFL)) - Assistant Lecturer in Biblical Studies
Margaret Duggan (MA, M.Ed (TESOL), B.Ed) - Lecturer in Spirituality and Mission
Derek Foster (MTh, DipEd) - Lecturer in Biblical Studies and Theology; Head of Practical Studies
Rosemary Foster (MTh, BA, PGCE) - Lecturer in Biblical Studies and Mission; Director of Placements
Rob Hay (MA, MIOD) - Director of Research and Partnership Development
Dr Jonathan Ingleby (PhD, MA (Oxon), BD, DipEd) - Postgraduate Lecturer in Mission
Sue Ingleby (RGN, Dip Couns, BACP Accredited) - Personal Development Tutor
Rev Darrell Jackson (BA) - Director of Nova Research Centre and Tutor in European Studies
Richard Johnson (MA (Cantab), MA) - Head of Biblical Studies; Library Supervisor
Andrew Kingston-Smith (MA, LLB, Cert Couns, DipHE) - Assistant Lecturer in Mission
Carol Kingston-Smith (MA, BN, CELTA (TEFL)) - Assistant Lecturer in Mission
Dr Kang-San Tan (DMin, MCS) - Head of Mission Studies
Loun-Ling Tan (LLB, MTS) - Lecturer in Asian and Mission Studies

Courses

Each course at Redcliffe comprises a range of modules including topics in biblical, theological, cross-cultural and mission studies. Current courses available include:

Undergraduate courses
Certificate in Applied Theology
Diploma in Applied Theology
BA Hons Degree in Applied Theology
Professionals in Mission Certificate

Postgraduate courses
Postgraduate MA in Global Issues in Contemporary Mission
Postgraduate MA in Intercultural Studies in Asian Contexts
Postgraduate MA in Global Leadership in Intercultural Contexts
Postgraduate MSc in Sport and Christian Outreach in conjunction with the University of Gloucestershire
Flexible Learning Mode MA - Distance learning & summer school option
Postgraduate PhDs in conjunction with the University of Gloucestershire

Short courses
'Across the Cultures' short course (12 weeks)
'Pick and Mix' short courses (from 6 weeks)
Day Courses
European Mission Studies Track
Hebrew in a Week intensive course

University Accreditation
All of Redcliffe's courses (except short course options) are validated by the University of Gloucestershire.

Placement programme

All undergraduate students take part in a weekly placement programme. Examples of placements include church and youth work, hospital or industrial chaplaincy or helping in a local school or night shelter for homeless people.Students taking the Certificate, Diploma or Degree also spend a term (6 weeks) on placement in the UK or overseas. Recent placements have included working with orphaned children in Romania, helping with a development project in Namibia and teaching English in Cambodia, as well as working in UK churches.

Publications written or contributed to by Redcliffe faculty

"Worth Keeping: Global Perspectives on Best Practice in Missionary Retention" by Rob Hay, Valerie Lim, Detlef Blöcher, Jaap Ketelaar and Sarah Hay.
"The Soul of Mission: Perspectives on Christian Leadership, Spirituality and Mission in East Asia" edited by Kang-San Tan.
"IVP Dictionary of Mission Theology: Evangelical Foundations" edited by John Corrie.
"Discovering Genesis" by Richard and Tricia Johnson.
"The Priesthood of Some Believers: Developments from the General to the Special Priesthood in the Christian Literature of the First Three Centuries" by Colin Bulley.
"Postmission: World Mission by a Postmodern Generation" edited by Richard Tiplady.

Organisations based at Redcliffe College

OSCAR - the UK Information Service for World Mission
Nova Research Centre - researching mission in Europe, innovating mission for Europe
Generating Change - dedicated to researching issues in mission and helping mission organisations affect change
Encounters Mission Ezine - a topical mission journal published online every two months

Partners of Redcliffe College

Breadline International,Christians in Gloucester (Ciglos),
Church Mission Society (CMS),Domboshawa Theological College (Zimbabwe),European Christian Mission (ECM), European Evangelical Accrediting Association (EEAA),
Evangelical Alliance UK (EAUK),Generating Change,
Global Connections - The Evangelical Network for World Mission, The John Ray Initiative (JRI), Latin Link, The Micah Network, Mission Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA),
Operation Mobilisation (OM),
OMF International, OSCAR, - The UK Information Service for World Mission,RURCON - Rural and Urban Resources; Counselling, Outreach & Networking, St Andrews Bookshop, Talent Trust Consultants,
University of Gloucestershire, The Welcome Project

Notes

External links

* [http://www.redcliffe.org Redcliffe College, Centre for Mission Training]
* [http://www.redcliffe.org/encounters Encounters Mission Ezine]
* [http://www.novaresearch.eu Nova Research Centre]
* [http://www.oscar.org.uk OSCAR]
* [http://www.generatingchange.co.uk Generating Change]