Course Description
Church and Christian faith practices are in the midst of critical sea-change made all the more intense and unsettling by the Covid 19 pandemic. Navigating this contemporary cultural change presents opportunities and challenges for effective Christian discipleship, to re-imagine and experiment in both ancient and new vessels. This course will use biblical and theological perspectives combined with insights from history and the social sciences to provide portals through which to understand and engage with an increasingly disruptive environment. It will include exploring a range of creative expressions of Christian life for both individuals and communities this Advent, and equip people for spiritual renewal in diverse local contexts.
This is an open access course available as a 10-credit course (accredited by the University of Glasgow) or audit-only for those who just wish to engage with the learning programme for their own personal benefit.
Church and Christian faith practices are in the midst of critical sea-change made all the more intense and unsettling by the Covid 19 pandemic. Navigating this contemporary cultural change presents opportunities and challenges for effective Christian discipleship, to re-imagine and experiment in both ancient and new vessels. This course will use biblical and theological perspectives combined with insights from history and the social sciences to provide portals through which to understand and engage with an increasingly disruptive environment. It will include exploring a range of creative expressions of Christian life for both individuals and communities this Advent, and equip people for spiritual renewal in diverse local contexts.
This is an open access course available as a 10-credit course (accredited by the University of Glasgow) or audit-only for those who just wish to engage with the learning programme for their own personal benefit.
Short Courses
Learning and Development
with Trinity College Glasgow and the University of Glasgow
About
Short courses are accessible learning opportunities in practical theology, church ministry and mission for a rapidly changing world. They are suitable for learners from a wide variety of backgrounds. They are designed for many kinds of leaders and members across churches who want to learn in their spare time. Learners can opt to undertake assessments and thus qualify for 10 credit points per course towards a Higher Education certificate or other University of Glasgow approved theology programmes, or alternatively audit for their own personal benefit.
Autumn 2022 Short Courses
CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ART AND CHRISTIAN WORSHIP
Oct 6th - Dec 1st, 2022
Thursday Evenings, 7-9pm GMT
This course explores and develops the role of contemporary visual art in Christian worship. Taking practical, creative and theological approaches, this course seeks to expand and cultivate imaginations, and stimulate churches and Christian worship in new ways, especially in these changing times.
DESIGNING & LEADING CHRISTIAN WORSHIP
Oct 3rd - Nov 28th, 2022
Monday Evenings, 7-9pm GMT
Become more skilled at designing and leading meaningful, participatory acts of church worship. A practical introduction to designing and leading Christian worship utilising theologically rich patterns and practices and adapting these to participants contemporary church context.
LISTENING IN MISSION
Sept 29th – Nov 24th, 2022
Thursday Evenings, 7-9pm GMT
This course explores the practice and theology of listening, reflection and research within local communities in order to develop church skills in mission attentiveness. The course is designed to introduce activities, spiritual practices and practical steps that can be deployed in a local church or a pioneering mission setting.
PREACHING IN CHURCH CONTEXTS
Sept 21st – Nov 30th, 2022
Wednesday Afternoons, 4-6pm GMT
This creative, practical and stimulating course will help you to develop as a preacher through reflection on why and how we preach. We will explore the relationships between the form of biblical texts and the sermons we preach on them, as well as reflecting on delivery, style and method. A key feature of the course is the opportunity to learn from tutor and peer feedback on sermons preached in class.
What participants are saying about our short courses:
“Overall, with the subject matter, there was a very good progression of thinking, excellent use of the resources of people who write about this subject, giving confidence to research yourself.”
“As a person who has not been in education for many years I enjoyed the informality of zoom classes.”
“Just a short note to thank you both directly for your leadership, direction and syllabus preparation during the 10 weeks of the course. I found it both practically beneficial in not just my Church life but also in my own day job and intellectually stimulating throughout.”
“The material had obviously been well researched and was very current and relevant to the current situation in which the Church finds itself.”
“It was a thoroughly practical course which was undergirded by both experience and relevant theory and theology.”
“The course leaders were warm and welcoming each week and the guest lecturers certainly peaked my overall interest. Meeting in this way to study has made me eager to do more in the future.”
“I was very impressed by the professionalism along with the encompassment of the spiritual aspects which can often get overlooked in academia.”
“For me there was the bonus that we worked at a `live' project all the way through, and what we did as individuals had real time impact.”
Previous Courses include:
MANAGING DIFFICULT CHURCH CHANGE (online delivery)
*REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED*
This course will help leaders active in local church contexts to identify and interpret challenges facing your church, and equip you with tools to develop faithful and creative responses to manage difficult church change.
INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL HEBREW (online delivery)
*REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED*
This course will introduce those with very little or no previous knowledge of Hebrew to the forms and structures of the language of the Hebrew Bible, enabling you to read selected passages of scripture, and to explore the value of being able to do so.
CREATIVE WRITING AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
*REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED*
This course developed creative writing as a mean of reflection upon personal, spiritual, and contemporary cultural experience. Course participants analysed different approaches, learned skills and produced their own creative writing in a supportive and participative environment.
ELDERS & LOCAL CHURCH LEADERS IN CHANGING CONTEXT
*REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED*
This course explored the why and what of local leadership in the Church of Scotland and other Reformed churches, both historical and contemporary. It examined how changed circumstances and the mission calling of the church invites us to re-examine the calling and tasks of elders and local leaders in the congregation, and what this kind of practice looks like, especially in the midst of difficult church change.
REIMAGINING CHRISTIAN PRACTICE IN AN AGE OF UNCERTAINTY
*REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED* (online delivery)
Church and Christian devotion are facing a time of change unprecedented since the Middle Ages and made even more intense and uncertain by the Covid-19 pandemic. History suggests that such times of crisis provide the environment for innovation, creativity and renewal. This course aimed to identify the challenges while also offering examples of emerging expressions of Christian life and spiritual practices that are sustaining people at this time.