Prospectus for EMW's Theological Training Course

8/14/2019 Prospectus for EMW's Theological Training Course

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The Theological Training Course of the EvangelicalMovement of Wales (EMW) is designed to train menfor gospel ministry in the 21st century. The thinkingbehind the Course is that there is an urgent needfor men who can faithfully preach and teach Gods

timeless truth and relate and apply it to our everchanging world.


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Philosophy and aimsOnly God can give the graces and impart the gifts which areneeded for gospel ministry. The Course seeks to help developthese gifts and graces in a number of ways. It does not provide ageneral theological education for anyone who is interested in such

studies; rather, it seeks to give the necessary training to help aman develop the graces and gifts which God has imparted to him,so that he will be an effective preacher and teacher of Gods Word,a pastor of Gods people, and be able to function evangelistically inGods world.

Who is it for?Men who will serve God effectively and who will benefit from the

Course will have a conviction that they should give themselveswholly to the preaching and teaching of Gods Word and the careof Gods people, and will have a burden to bring people to faith inJesus Christ. Their home church will have responsibly assessedthem and will share the conviction that they should devotethemselves to gospel ministry.

The Course is particularly suited for men whose circumstances orconvictions are such that attendance at a theological college is

not possible. Men already in preaching / pastoral / evangelisticministry who have not had the opportunity of training may alsofind the Course to be especially suitable for them.

What does the Course involve?The Course lasts for four years: years A, B, C, and D. Men may joinin any year (thus it is possible to start in Year D or end in Year A).All students, therefore, study the same material at the sametime.

There are 2 residential sessions, one in the week of August bankholiday and the other in Easter week. These sessions begin onMonday morning and end on Friday afternoon. Each morning thereare lectures in the following subjects: Biblical Studies, SystematicTheology, and Church History.There is free time each afternoonbetween lunch and afternoon tea, during which men may use thesports facilities at the Conference Centre where the Course is run,or at the Bala Leisure Centre opposite the Conference Centre.Alternatively men may choose simply to enjoy the scenic beauty

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of the surrounding area or spend time with their families if thesehave accompanied them.

Between tea and dinner there are lectures on Pastoral Theology(which, as can be seen from the syllabus, is widely defined). After

dinner there will either be an open discussion session or a papergiven on a subject chosen from a wide variety of issues, such ascontemporary culture, issues of theological concern, or historicalor biographical material. These papers are then followed bydiscussion.

For the rest of the year students will follow a course of guidedreading, having to submit a total of nine assignments through theyear. There will be six written assignments after the August

session (one per month) and three after the Easter session (alsoone per month). Where at all possible students will be allocatedto a local tutor with whom they should meet each month for ninemonths of the year. The tutors function will be to help thestudents thinking with respect to the written assignments, aswell as to be something of a mentor to him.

In addition, it will normally be the case that a student will beactive in his home church, being given opportunities to preach, to

take meetings, and to be involved in evangelistic and / or pastoralwork.

The contents of the CourseAll the lecturers are committed to the evangelical faith, and allstudents will be required to give whole-hearted assent to theEMW Statement of Doctrinal Belief found at the end of thisprospectus. While no specific stance is taken over those issueswith respect to which evangelicals differ (e.g., baptism, church

government), the arguments for the respective positions beingfairly stated and assessed, the position of the EMW and of theCourse is that the Statement of Doctrinal Belief is understood,with respect to the doctrines of grace, against the backgroundof the great Reformed confessions of the church (Westminster,Savoy, 1689 Baptist, 1823 Welsh Calvinistic Methodist). While menof differing conviction with respect to these matters may beaccepted onto the Course, the standpoint with respect to thedoctrines of grace is, therefore, Reformed or Calvinistic, but allied

to the experiential emphases which characterized CalvinisticMethodism.

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Details of the syllabus are set out towards the end of thisprospectus.

How is the Course delivered?By a mixture of lectures and discussions, guided reading and

assessment of written assignments.

What qualifications are needed?The essential qualifications are that a man must have a sense ofconviction that he should devote himself wholly to the work ofpreaching, teaching, and pastoring, and, in the normal course ofevents, have the support and endorsement of the officers andmembers of his home church that he is suitable for this work.

No formal academic qualifications are needed to be accepted ontothe Course. This should not be interpreted to mean that theCourse is a soft option. Quite the contrary! Men with first classdegrees or doctorates from excellent universities have testifiedto the fact that the Course stretched their minds. On the otherhand, men of lesser academic abilities or with few, if any, academicqualifications have found the Course to be extremely profitableand beneficial. Since God calls and equips both types of men for

gospel ministry, we believe it to be right to provide training for allthose who are gifted and equipped by God.

What qualifications are given?No formal qualifications are awarded. This does not mean that theCourse lacks spiritual and intellectual rigour or that students donot need to apply themselves to their studies; rather, it reflectsour conviction that there is no biblical warrant for such aprocedure, and that such an approach is inappropriate to

preparation for gospel ministry. However, in recognition of the factthat men have given themselves to a demanding course of fouryears study, a certificate will be awarded to those men whocomplete the Course, in acknowledgement of the fact that theyhave attended the residential sessions and completed thewritten assignments. For those who are able to attend, thiscertificate will be publicly awarded during the Annual EnglishConference of the Evangelical Movement of Wales atAberystwyth, in the August of the year in which the studentcompletes the Course.

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Relationship with other evangelical bodies andtraining courses / institutionsThe Evangelical Movement of Wales is glad to be part of Affinity. Itis committed to evangelical unity. As such, it has cordial relations

with other training institutions and initiatives. It believes that, inthese days of both great need and great opportunity, it isessential for evangelicals to be in co-operation, not incompetition. Two of the lecturers also lecture on the PFS courserun by the FIEC, while two of the lecturers lecture at LTS, and athird lecturer is a former Principal of LTS. Another lecturer haslectured in the past at LTS and at the former ETCW (now WEST).One of the lecturers pastors a church which has in its membershiptwo of the faculty at WEST, as well as numerous students from

WEST who attend the church.

As different keys fit different locks, so different courses will besuitable for different men. We rejoice in the fact that some menwill find LTS, PFS, or WEST to be more suited to their needs. Atthe same time we acknowledge that some men will find the EMWCourse is more suitable for them.

ApplicationsApplications will be sympathetically considered from men who areconvinced that they should devote themselves to gospelministry. The applicants home church will normally have tosupport the application. His home church will need to confirm itsbelief that the applicant has been born again and that he hasbeen equipped by God in such a way as to hold out promise forfuture gospel ministry. Applicants must be whole-heartedlycommitted to the evangelical faith and be able to give unreservedassent to the Doctrinal Belief of the Evangelical Movement ofWales. (If at any time a student can no longer assent to thisstatement of belief, it is expected that he will make this factknown to the Principal and, if so requested, resign from theCourse.)

The leadership of the Course reserve the right to turn down anyapplication they deem unsuitable and also to suspend from theCourse any student who is either not profiting from it or who, itbecomes clear, is not suitable for the Course.New students are normally admitted at the beginning of theCourse year, that is, the August session.

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FinanceMost students will be funded by themselves or by their homechurch. This being the case, every effort is made to keep thecosts of the Course as low as possible. This does not mean thatthe quality of the teaching is substandard; rather, we wish to give

the very best value for money. Further details can be obtainedfrom the Registrar, whose address will be found on the applicationform attached to this prospectus.

The Faculty

Revd Stephen Clark, MA (Oxon.):Principal. Systematic Theology

Revd Christopher Bennett, MA (Cantab.)Biblical Studies: New Testament

Revd Andrew Davies, BA (London) MA (Oxon.)Church History

Revd Philip Eveson, BA (Wales.) MA (Cantab.) M.Th.(London):Biblical Studies: Old Testament

Revd Philip Swann. MCSPPastoral Theology

Revd Roger Welch, BA (Kent) MTh (Wales)Church History

With respect to pastoral theology, other lecturers, who are notpart of the faculty but who have particular experience (e.g., mentalhealth, world mission), will assist in the Course. Evening sessionswill be addressed by members of the faculty and by visitingspeakers.

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The SyllabusThe course is divided into four consecutive years. Applicants can

join the Course in any year and continue throughout the four-yearcycle. Thus someone starting in Year A would do Years A, B, C, D(in that order). Someone starting in Year C would do Years C, D, A

and B (in that order).

Year A

Biblical StudiesThe Pentateuch, with special reference to Creation, Fall, Covenantwith Abraham and Israel, paying particular attention to theprogressive nature of revelation and the importance of this tobiblical theology. The Pre-Exilic Prophets with special reference to

Hosea in Israel and Isaiah in Judah.

Church HistoryThe Early Church. Origins and Growth; Persecutions; Life, Worshipand Church Order; Controversies up to 451 - the Church and theRomans Empire.The Mediaeval Period. Relationship of Eastern to Western; Growthof the Papacy; Monasticism; Scholasticism; IntellectualDevelopments; Mysticism; The Demand for Reform; Preparation forthe Reformation.

Systematic TheologyThe Doctrine of Scripture - Revelation, Inspiration, Authority andInterpretation; Text and Canon of Scripture; ContemporaryChallenges.The Doctrine of God - His Being, Attributes; The Holy Trinity;Works; Contemporary Challenges.

The Doctrine of Man - His original state; in sin; under grace;Relevance to Contemporary Issues.

Pastoral TheologyPreparation of the man of God; preparation of the message fromGod (giving special attention to exegesis and hermeneuticsapplication in preaching, and the relationship of Word and Spirit).

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Year B

Biblical StudiesThe Johaninne Literature.Luke-Acts.

Church HistoryThe Reformation in Europe. Luther; Calvin; Knox; Zwingli;Anabaptists; Counter-Reformation; The Reformation in England;The Origins of Puritanism.

Systematic TheologyThe Doctrine of Christ: His Person, States, Offices; Historic andcontemporary controversies.The Work of Christ with special reference to the Atonement;Challenges to preaching the Atonement.The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit: His Divinity, Personality; His work inthe church and the individual

Pastoral TheologyPreaching and the church service; different types of preaching;pastoring the flock

Year C

Biblical StudiesThe Wisdom Literature with special reference to Ecclesiastes.Jeremiah and Haggai.

Church History

Puritanism and the Rise of Nonconformity.The Evangelical Awakening in Wales.; Early Welsh Nonconformity;The Rise of Calvinistic Methodism.The Revivals of 1859 and 1904.

Systematic TheologyThe Doctrine of the Application of the Work of Redemption:special attention will be paid to contemporary challenges to thedoctrine of justification by faith, and to differing views of

sanctification.The Doctrine of the Church: Introduction

Year C contd overleaf

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Pastoral TheologyPastoral problems: interface between pastoral matters andmedical issues; structuring church services; weddings and funerals.

Year D

Biblical StudiesThe Epistle to the Romans; 1 Corinthians; Colossians.

Church HistoryThe Evangelical Awakening in England and America.;Nineteenth and Twentieth-century Developments;The Missionary Movement; Intellectual and ReligiousDevelopments; Conflicts and Attitudes of the Twentieth and

Twenty-First Centuries.

Systematic TheologyThe Church: Relationship between Old and New Testament view ofGods people; Features, Functions, and Form of the Church(including Structures, Offices, Gifts, and Ministries)The Doctrine of the Last Things.

Pastoral TheologyThe local church and evangelism; church and society; the churchand world mission.

Although there is no formal teaching of the biblical languages, helpcan be given by the Biblical Studies lecturers (who are universitytrained to degree or post graduate level in these languages) tomen who so require it.

In all sections of the Course, issues over which

evangelicals are in disagreement in their

interpretation of Scripture will be treated with

integrity and charity, and with an earnest desire

to be faithful in all things to the Scriptures.

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EMW Statement of Doctrinal Belief

Controlling PrincipleWe believe the Holy Scriptures, as originally given, to be the infallible Word of God, ofdivine inspiration, and therefore we accept them as our sole authority in all matters of

faith and practice.

Specific Doctrinal BeliefsAs a consequence of our faith in the infallible Word of God we believe the following asessential doctrines of the Christian faith.

We believe:

A) in the only true and living God, the Holy Trinity of divine Persons inperfect unity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each of whom co-equal andco-eternal, and sovereign in creation, providence and redemption.

B) In the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is holy, righteous,full of grace, mercy compassion and love. In His infinite love He sentforth the Son, that the world through Him might be saved.

C) In the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, whose truehumanity and full deity were mysteriously and really joined in the unityof His divine Person. We believe in His virgin birth, in His perfect life andteaching, in His substitutionary*, atoning death on the cross, where Hetriumphed over Satan, sin and death, in His bodily resurrection and Hisascension into heaven, where He now sits in glory at the right hand ofGod.

D) in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, whose work isindispensable to regenerate the sinner, to lead him to repentance, togive him faith in Christ, to sanctify the believer in this present life andfit him to enjoy fellowship with God. For spiritual power andeffectiveness His ministry is essential to the individual Christian andthe Church.

E) that as a result of the Fall all men are sinful by nature. Sin pollutes andcontrols them, infects every part of their being, renders them guilty inthe sight of a holy God and subject to the penalty which, in His wrathand condemnation, He has decreed against it.

F) through faith (and only faith) in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose deathwas a perfect oblation and satisfaction for our sins, the sinner is freely

justified by God who, instead of reckoning to us our sins, reckonsChrist's righteousness to our account. Salvation is therefore by graceand not by human merit.

G) the Lord Jesus Christ will return personally, visibly and gloriously tothis earth, to receive His saints to Himself and to be seen of all men. Asthe righteous Judge, He will divide all men into two, and only twocategories-the saved and the lost. Those whose faith is in Christ willbe saved eternally, and will enter into the joy of their Lord, sharing withHim His inheritance in heaven. The unbelieving will be condemned by Him

to hell, where eternally they will be punished for their sins under therighteous judgement of God

*By this phrase we understand penal substitutionary atoning death

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Name -Address -

Post Code -Signed -

I wish to apply for admission to theTheological Training Course. I havestudied this brochure and declare that Iam in sympathy with the aims and

methods described in it. Please send methe necessary forms.

Response FormTo be returned to: The Registrar, Theological Training Course, Evangelical Movement of Wales,

Bryntirion, Bridgend. CF314DX


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Registered charity no 222407

Documents

Prospectus for EMW's Theological Training Course