Ministry in an Urban World

Peter Neilson, chair of the Urban Expression steering group in Glasgow wites:

This course at the International Christian College in Glasgow was devised by Dr David Smith, a highly respected theological reflector and author on urban theology and globalisation. With his retiral this year, the course is now led by the Rev Dr Wesley White who leads a creative church plant in the Partick area of Glasgow. He is part-time course leader and part-time church leader - a healthy mix of skills and experience.

The course saw its first graduates in the summer - people working in Poland, Berlin, Scotland, England and Ireland. The second cohort includes a Kenyan Anglican priest who has ministered in the slums of Kibera in Nairobi, a Bengali who works with an extensive organisation among the poor of Calcutta, as well as our own Paul Ede from Possilpark. The course is a professional Masters Degree designed to help people reflect on their own ministry and context - looking at the urban world, the urban church, managing change and exploring our personal and spiritual development in the urban context.

The international and global dimensions of the course are enhanced by the fact that, in addition to three residencies in Glasgow, we take students to Nairobi to experience non-Western urbanisation and to Berlin to explore East-West European urban issues. Course tutors include Wesley White, David Smith, Richard Tiplady (British Director of the European Christian Mission - managing change track), Dr Gwen Henderson (Cliff College lecturer on spirtuality and emerging church) and myself on the personal and spiritual development track

The next cohort will begin in April 2010 so now is the time to consider who might benefit from this excellent course which evolves with every stage and every group of fascinating people from around the world. We would like to see 15 people on the course this year.

For further information, please check the website and apply directly to the college for further information: www.icc.ac.uk/content/mth-ministry-urban-world