Resources and Information
**new** Spurgeon's College
Free Taster Day for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies in Theology
10 December, 10am-2.15pm
Spurgeon’s College, South Norwood Hill, London, SE25 6DJ
Come and train to be a competent, capable changemaker in our world today by studying Theology at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
We are inviting you to join us at our Campus during a teaching day to get a feel for life as a student at Spurgeon’s College You will be able to attend our short chapel service, join a lecture, meet with students and staff, tour the campus including the library as well as finding out more about the courses we offer.
For more information, please register here or contact the admissions department for further information: admissions@spurgeons.ac.uk
*We have a café where you will be able to purchase hot or cold drinks as well as snacks and lunch.
**new** The College of Preachers
Preaching for Advent & Christmas
Saturday 2 November, 10.30-13.00 | Online via Zoom
Workshop Leader: John Woods
This workshop will explore how we can effectively discuss these themes in our Advent preaching, making connections with the Christmas story and the Christian belief that Jesus will return, bringing the Kingdom of God in all its fullness. This workshop will be led by Pastor Dr John Woods. This workshop will be led by Dr John Woods. Dr Woods is the Training Director of the School of Preachers Trust. He has had four decades of experience in pastoral work in the UK and since 1993 has taught preaching in Latvia and other parts of Eastern Europe. He is the author of God is in the House.
Preaching at Baptisms
Tuesday 14 January, 10.30-13.00 | Online via Zoom
Workshop Leader: Jennifer Brown
In this workshop, we will explore ways to communicate the meaning of baptism, drawing on relevant scriptural passages and the symbols used within the baptism service itself. We will also look at how baptism preaching can be evangelistic, an invitation to those present to start their own journey of faith. The workshop will be led by the Revd Dr Jennifer Brown. Dr Brown is the Director of Training for the College of Preachers and a parish priest in the Church of England's Oxford Diocese, and has more than a decade's experience as a theological educator.
Preaching the Story of Holy Week
Tuesday 25 February, 10.30-13.00 | Online via Zoom
Workshop Leader: Michael Beck
This workshop will explore the narrative that connects these events and consider ways in which our preaching through Holy Week can tell a coherent story of the journey to the cross, while still managing to be effective ‘stand-alone’ sermons. The workshop will be led by the Revd Dr Michael Beck. Dr Beck has been a priest for 44 years in a variety of settings: mainly parish but also 5 years in a major cathedral, as well as having been a police chaplain and a locum hospital chaplain alongside parochial work. He has been a member of the College of Preachers since 1980 and a tutor for over 20 years.
Preaching and Apologetics
Saturday 22 March, 10.30-13.00 | Online via Zoom
Workshop Leader: John Woods
“Always be ready to give a reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3.15)
This workshop will explore the importance of apologetics within the Church, the relationship between preaching and apologetics, and how our sermons can become effective and powerful tools for equipping Christians to think and speak confidently about their faith. This workshop will be led by Rev Dr John Woods, who is the Training Director of the School of Preachers Trust. He has had four decades of experience in pastoral work in the UK and since 1993 has taught preaching in Latvia and other parts of Eastern Europe. He is the author of God is in the House, which seeks to reimagine how we prepare sermons.
The Language of Resurrection: Finding the Right Words
Wednesday 2 April, 10.30-13.00 | Online via Zoom
Workshop Leader: Rod Garner
This workshop is for preachers wishing to engage with preaching the resurrection in a secular age. Preparing for Holy Week and Easter provides the fitting, even urgent context, in which teaching and faithfulness to the word of God can be enriched by the fruits of theology and the creative imagination. This workshop will be led by Rod Garner, Anglican priest, writer and theologian. Rod has served in four urban parishes and taught at colleges and universities in the UK and America. He is an Honorary Fellow at Liverpool Hope University and Emeritus Canon of Liverpool Cathedral. He is the author of numerous books, his most recent being Outsiders: Marching to a Different Drum (Liverpool Hope University Press 2022).
For more information about these workshops, including prices and links to book tickets, please visit www.collegeofpreachers.co.uk/events.
Save the date! In addition to our workshops, our next preaching conference, with the theme of ‘The Wonder of Words’, will be taking place in 2025. The conference will be held at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick from 9th to 11th September.
**new** BMS Regional Speakers
BMS World Mission are looking for BMS Regional Speakers (5 positions across the country), to nurture and strengthen relationships with churches and gain new regular supporters, so they can see more communities transformed in Jesus’ name. Please share the details so BMS can find the best possible spread of speakers across the UK. Regional Speakers Job advert.
Torch Trust for the Blind
SLFC Q&A
Thursday 17th October at 2pm (1 hour)
Registration Link - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsf--rpj4vGtTk5i0r7lGmO3RRuNhtJ6mJ
Meet our expert panel from Torch Trust and ask your questions around welcoming and including blind and partially sighted people in all aspects of your church. No question is too trivial or inappropriate, we’re all at different stages in our sight loss friendly journey. As well as asking our experts, churches with experience of inclusion are also welcome to chip in with hints and tips on how they have overcome any challenges.
Additional date for Introduction to SLFC
Thursday 14th November at 2pm (45 minutes)
Registration Link - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlceqpqT8vHdbre1Ekzi5oMpsYOxGg5HQr
Sight Loss Sunday - Sunday 13th October
This October we invite you to mark Sight Loss Sunday at your church. Sight Loss Sunday is an opportunity for churches across the UK to put on a sight loss accessible service and to become more aware of ways that services can be adapted to be more sight loss friendly.
This year Sight Loss Sunday will be taking place on the 13th October. This year’s theme is Walking by Faith. We hope that churches around the UK will join us in celebrating the gifts of people who are blind or partially sighted, and recognising that they have vital roles to play in communities and congregations. With your support, we can reach more churches than ever before with our resources, supporting churches to become more sight loss friendly.
Resources
This year we have released a third set of resources to help your church mark Sight Loss Sunday. We have added these new resources to our website and as with previous years, you may pick and choose the ones which feel relevant to you and your church. The resources include suggested songs, Bible readings, sermon notes and some additional resources. The previous years’ resources are still available to be used, so you also have the option to mix and match, and use elements from any of them. You are welcome to use as many as you would like and we hope you also take some of these ideas into your future services. You can access our resources here: torchtrust.org/SLSunday We hope you’ll find the resources inspirational and if you mark Sight Loss Sunday, we’d love to hear from you.
Baptist Union resources
**new** Project Violet International Symposium
15 & 16 January 2025
Online
The Centre for Baptist Studies in conjunction with Baptists Together are organising this online Symposium, to which we are inviting academically-engaged Baptist women from around the world to discuss the findings of Project Violet and the actions arising from this extensive investigation into women’s experiences of ministry. There will be three 2-hour sessions each day; 8am to 10am, 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm. All times are GMT, please check how these work for attending from your time-zone. The cost is £45 for online access to all content from both days. We don’t want cost to be a barrier to attending so please contact the conference organizer if cost is a concern as we have some bursaries available. Building on the experience of Project Violet we are making this a woman-only space in order to encourage women's participation. Further details and the link to register can be found here https://www.cbs-oxford.com/pv.html
The direct booking link is https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/centre-baptist-studies/t-zzqlklv
Sam Sharpe Project 2024 Annual Lecture
Thursday 24 October 2024, lecture starting at 7.30pm
The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education (Birmingham, B15 2QH)
Hosted in partnership with the Centre for Black Theology at The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education in Birmingham, this year's Sam Sharpe Lecture will be delivered by the Revd Dr Carlton Turner - tutor in Contextual Theology and Mission Studies, as well as Deputy Director of Research, at the Queen's Foundation. His theme for the lecture will be: 'Fighting for Freedom, Fighting for Wholeness: Revolutionary Reactions to Colonial Christianity'
There are three ticket types available this year:
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Lecture with Meal - £10 per person - Caribbean Meal between 6-6.45pm at Queen's Foundation, followed by Lecture at 7.30pm
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Lecture only - £5 per person - Lecture at 7:30pm
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Online Lecture - Free - Joining instructions will be sent nearer the time to those who register to join the livestream
A Drinks Reception to which all delegates attending the Lecture are invited will be taking place after the Lecture at 9pm.
Book your place for the Lecture in Birmingham, or online
Space at the Queen's Foundation is limited, so please register now to guarantee your place at the Lecture. Payment is by debit or credit card only and is non-refundable. Please use the same link to register to join online.
Closing date for booking: Sunday 13 October - unless all places are booked before that date.
Thrive Weekend Away
Friday 18-Sunday 20 October 2024
High Leigh Conference Centre (EN11 8SG)
Speakers: Barbara & Bill Carpenter
Thrive exists to encourage networking amongst the spouses of Baptist Ministers in the UK, whatever their stage in ministry. The weekend away will be a time to refresh, restore and renew. For more information, about the weekend away, and about the work of Thrive please visit thrivebaptistspouses.org