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Education programme of the Scottish United Reformed & Congregational College 2012-13. Registered Charity (SCO 4318)
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SCOTTISH UNITED REFORMED &
CONGREGATIONAL COLLEGE
in collaboration with the
United Reformed Church National Synod of Scotland
Open Thursdays are courses with our ordinand
students. All are welcome, however learn about the
subject; contribute to the discussion; widen our
students experience and enhance their learning.
Held in Augustine United, Edinburgh
Term One (October to December) Preaching
Trinity Making Sense of experiences
Term Two (January to March) Seeking God Gender
Preaching
Managing Meetings Conciliarity
4 Gs: Goodness, Grace, Gladness, Generosity Children and Young People
Term Three (April to June) Spirituality in Ministry
Religion and Science
Difference in Dialogue? Adult Learning
Research Presentations Charities
See the alphabetical list for details
O
P
E
N
T
H
U
R
S
D
A
Y
S
CALENDAR
October Page
2 3 Compiling a Church Profile
4 17 Vocations
8 10 Ministry with Older People
18 � 11 Preaching
25 12 Radical Welcome - “Everybody Welcome”
25 7 Love Free or Die—Gene Robinson Film
November
1 � 8 Making Sense of Experiences
1 � 17 Trinity
6 6 Getting the Most Out of .......
8 16 The Missing Generation
9-10 8 Lay Preachers’ Consultation
11 17 War Requiem
12-15 15 Storytelling
20 3 Companion Ministry for Existing Pastoral Partners
21 13 School Chaplaincy
24 8 Lay Presidency at Communion
December
1 3 Core Skills for Children’s Ministry
January
9 � 10 Nordic Noir
10 � 14 Seeking ........
10 6 Gender: Feminisation of the Church
15 3 Companion Training for LLMR Teams
January (cont’d) Page
15 9 Making Space for God
17 6 Gender: Dangerous Church for Boys
17 12 Radical Welcome “Challenging Behaviour”
29 4 Elders’ Consultation
February
6
10
Nordic Noir
7 9 Managing Meetings
7 16 TLS Taster Evening
12 18 Your SHAPE for God’s Service
14 7 A Kiss
19-21 9 Ministers’ Conference: Ageing
21 12 Radical Welcome ”Welcomers”
28 � 1 4 Gs, Goodness, Grace, Gladness, Generosity
28 7 Growing Non-Stipendiary Ministry
March
6 3 Conducting a Community Survey for Mission
19 1 Art Talk
21 12 Radical Welcome “Telling Who We Are”
25 11 Passover
7 � 2 Children and Young People
April
3-4 14 Space for You—Ministers Quiet Time after Easter
10 � 13 Re-discovering Mission
To enquire or book
please phone or email the following
Phone 0141 248 5382
E-mail: [email protected]
113 West Regent Street, Glasgow, G2 2RU
April (cont’d) Page
2 13 Religion and Science
9 4 Difference in Dialogue
16 4 Creating Adult Learning Opportunities
17 11 Not Just Spreading Thinner
16 4 Contextual Bible Study
25 15 Spirituality in Ministry
23 16 To Be The Best ...........
May
4 G’s 28 February - 21 March 10.30 - 12.30 Augustine United ���� Goodness 28 February - A holy Life, How good have we to be?
Is a good life what it’s about?
���� Grace 7 March Film ���� Generosity 14 March Hymnody and prayer ���� Gladness 21 March Stewardship
Ampleforth Abbey Ampleforth is one of the great religious houses, a place of prayer, set in lovely Yorkshire countryside (and by the way serving great food!). We've an idea of dipping into their short events programme, booking a handful of places and perhaps taking a car down together. The new year's programme is not available yet. If you'd like to know more and might be interested, let Patsi Dickie know and we shall be in touch when we know what's on offer in 2013. [email protected] 0141 248 5382
Angels Messengers bearing divine greetings. The celestial choir. Unseen guardians. Pretty pictures in scrapbooks. A way of speaking about loss. Angels are part of our imaginative cultural speaking. This is a 'talk' that explores through art, Biblical passages, music, hymnody, poetry and more the topic of Angels. It is suitable for your women's (or men's group), a Bible study or discussion group - or perhaps even a morning or evening service. If you're interested in booking this, please phone or email
Jack Dyce [email protected] - phone 0141 248 5382
ArtTalk – Elizabeth Gray-King 19
March 10.30 - 15.30 Priesthill URC
Somehow, people can talk about pictures or objects more easily than
they talk about themselves. Words can be hard to find and hard to
share and we are often shy about verbalizing our faith. ArtTalk offers
ways to expose the Christian story and to help us lose embarrassment or worry
about telling our own stories through art and conversation.
1
2
ArtTalk is an initiative supported by the URC Mission Department and facilitated
by Revd Elizabeth Gray-King, an artist theologian with classical education in both
art and theology and with long experience of community development.
Whether or not you think of yourself as an artist, this day offers a further
opportunity to explore how art and conversation are tools for sharing our faith
story and our own stories - through creating art, displaying art, enhancing
worship, including people in new ways. The potential for making key links in
communities is huge. Take a look at www.elizabethgrayking.com
Bonhoeffer Date and details to be confirmed.
The legacy of Bonhoeffer remains strong amongst quite different
groups within the Church - his Christocentric theology, his
commitment to social and political justice, his ecumenism and
thinking about 'religionless' Christianity have all held appeal.
This event , offered primarily to ministers, is an opportunity to hear from
colleagues who have taken an interest in aspects of his work and to have
conversation around what his life and letters might still have to offer to us.
Children and Young People Ministry 7, 14 & 21 March Augustine United 13.30 - 15.30
Church has a strong tradition of working with children and
young people and most congregations see it as an important
area of work, but why? What are we trying to achieve? What
benefits are there? What are we hoping will happen?
Principles
Work with young people is underpinned by a strong set on values and an extensive
policy framework. Do these values and policies conflict with our Christian
principles or are there opportunities for churches to engage in a whole new areas
of work in partnership with communities?
Practicalities
In this session we will explore a variety of methods of working with children and
young people. Are games just for fun? Is detached work unhinged?
3
Companion Training ◊ For new Pastoral Partners and Appraisal Partners
contact Jan Adamson for further details
◊ For existing Pastoral Partners and Visitors
20 November Synod Office 10.30 – 15.00
◊ For the 2013 LMMR Teams
15 January Synod Office 10.30 – 15.00
Compiling a Church Profile 2
October Synod Office 10.30 – 15.00
(ideal capacity 10 delegates)
The new Guidelines for Compiling a Church Profile are complete
and more comprehensive than before. This day is particularly
useful for those congregations revising their existing profile or if compiling a
profile for the first time.
Conducting a Community Survey for Mission 6
March Synod Office 10.30 – 15.00
(ideal capacity 10 delegates)
Designed to work through a plan for surveying the community
for mission contains step-by-step ‘what to do and how to do it’
sessions and delegates are given detailed information to take back to their
pastorates. This work has been largely put together by the Church of Scotland
Further Ministries team in Annan and Eskdale (Ruth Harvey)
Core Skills for Children’s Ministry 1
December Synod Office 10.00 – 15.00
4
Contextual Bible Study 16 May Synod Office 19.00 - 21.00
One of the core aspects of the Church, as in many religions, is
sacred text. The Bible points to eternal and transcendent
things, but also the writings were developed in different and
changing contexts and even in response to events and arguments that were very
current. We need to have some awareness of the original contexts when we read
the Bible. We too look to the Scriptures to help us hear God's Word for today, for
our context and our questions.
This workshop is an opportunity to explore and try an approach that takes the
contexts of then and now seriously.
Creating Adult Learning Opportunities 16 May Augustine United 10.30 - 15.30
Developing informal adult learning within the congregation;
How and why adults learn; Doing Bible differently;
Group facilitation for learning ; Learning for life.
Difference in Dialogue ? 9 May Augustine United 10.30 - 15.30 Whether it be within a denomination or between Churches or
theological alignments or between faith and cultural communi-
ties, the task of meeting, speaking, listening to and learning
about and from one another can be a challenging one.
How can we develop dialogue more effectively?
Elders’ Consultation 29 January Barrhead URC 19.00 - 21.00
Previous consultations have been valued greatly by elders
as opportunities to share experiences and ideas, questions
and challenges. The theme on this occasion is the role of
elders as leaders. We hope that as many as possible will come together to join the
conversation - and the informal conversations too.
5
Engaged Disciples The informal spirituality group in the synod has been thinking about resourcing
ministers and churches to support members - new and old- around some basic
discipleship issues :
� The Bible
� Prayer
� Space for God
� Speaking about Faith
We assume folk are knowledgeable but perhaps they never
learned some of the fundamentals or they are no longer fresh
for them.
The group hopes to bring out materials for use on Sundays after Pentecost.
Faithstarters � Church Membership
� Assisted Dying
� Children and Communion
� Older People
� Mental Health
� Disability
� Evil and suffering
� Creation in Crisis
� Anger
� Health and Wholeness
� Partnership Working
� Young Carers
� Marriage
� Faith in the Public Square
Available on the Synod website www.scotland.urc.org.uk
6
Gender The Feminization of the Church
10 January 10.30 - 12.30 Augustine United Over the last few years there has been concern raised over the lack of men involved in Church. Some have termed this the "feminization" of the church. Two books in particular, The Church Impotent: the Feminization of the Church by Leon J. Podles and Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow have attempted to address this question, not without controversy. In this session we will explore whether it is accurate that men are staying away from church and, if so, why and what can be done to change that.
Dangerous Church for Boys Most of the things we do in Sunday School and other traditional activities suit girls.
They involve fine motor skills with neat, intricate, quiet work rather than big, loud
and messy stuff that boys love. Is it time to start thinking about making church
more dangerous?
17 January 13.30 - 15.30 Augustine United
Getting the Most Out of ... ◊ Sermons
◊ Hymns
◊ Communion
◊ Prayers
There's no programme note with the worship, like at a
concert. Why have those hymns been chosen? How do we
get the most out of the sermon? What are we doing in
celebrating Communion and why is the liturgy put together
like that?
In a day meeting (or a brief evening whistlestop tour), we get behind some aspects
of what happens in worship with a view to deepening insights and understanding -
and hopefully making worship even more meaningful.
6 November afternoon and evening Synod Office
7
Growing Non-Stipendiary Ministry 28 February 19.00 - 21.00 Synod Office
We know that patterns of ministry are changing, with
many factors suggesting a need to use more often
non-stipendiary ministry as part of shared ministry
teams. This day is a space for existing ministers and
congregational representatives to discuss how this form
of ministry might be extended and indeed used creatively
and effectively.
What are the lessons from other denominations?
Love Free or Die - Gene Robinson 25 October 19.00 - 21.00 Synod Office
Gene Robinson was the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican
Communion, elected in 2003 in the Diocese of New Hampshire.
This film tells his story, capturing the passion and courage, wit
and humility of this contemporary prophet. It is not just about
Gene but about the people by whom he has been welcomed
and excluded (including the 2008 Lambeth Conference) and
those whom he has encouraged. It tells us about the death threats he lives with.
Most of all it reminds us that God’s love is ‘beyond our wildest imagining’.
The film lasts about 1hr 20m leaving time for some reflection and discussion about
the issues it raises - for us personally as well as in church and society.
A Kiss February 14 19.00 - 21.00 Shawlands URC In celebration of St Valentine's Day, we reflect on the
place of The Kiss - in art and music, film and poetry, but
remembering the part that a kiss played in Jesus' story
(and some early texts suggest the exchange of a kiss with
Mary of Magdala). Love, betrayal, tragedy ... great
dramatic points with a kiss.
8
Lay Preachers’ Consultation Conforti Institute, Coatbridge ML5 4JS
9 November 17.00 - 10 November 15.00
Lay Presidency at Communion 24 November 10.00 - 15.30 Bathgate URC For those Lay people nominated to preside at communion -
but open to anyone.
Lord Help Us to Pray Prayer is a vital dimension in Christian discipleship. Jesus himself
prayed constantly and taught his disciples to pray. It is the source
of strength and growth for many. Yet we do not necessarily find
it easy to pray. It will not always be easy, perhaps it should not
always be easy and dry spiritual times are common.
The experience of the Church in many traditions however offers
any ideas and resources and practices that can nurture our prayer life and time
centred on God. We plan to offer some time and space in various locations:
details to be circulated. If you are interested, register your interest with the office
and we shall let you know plans directly.
Making Sense of Experiences Doing theological reflection
1 - 29 November
13.30 - 15.30 Augustine United
1 Reflective practice including Journalling
2 - 8 Using models of ministry
3 - 15 Discernment - Where is God in all this?
4 - 22 Where am I in all this?
5 - 29 Learning for a missional Church
9
Making Space for God 15 January 10.30 - 15.30 Venue to be determined
Training workshop for ministers on organising prayer and
spiritual events .
Managing Meetings 7 February 10.30 - 15.30 Augustine United
In churches, we spend much time in meetings.
Are there other ways of working together?
Are our meetings indeed spiritual events, led by the Spirit in
obedience to Christ?
How can they be more efficient and effective?
What is the place of leadership in our meetings?
If your meetings - church, eldership, committees - need a fresh look ...
Then this day course may help.
Units:
◊ Chairing
◊ In the name of Christ, Under the Spirit's leading
◊ Decisions into doing
Ministers’ Conference: Ageing Conforti Institute, Coatbridge ML5 4JS
19 - 21 February
(from the afternoon on day 1 to lunch on day 3)
This year's conference concerns an issue of widespread and
growing significance for ministers and churches as well as wider society - an ageing
population.
TOPICS include:
� An ageing society
� An ageing church
� Pastoral care of older people
� Worship with people with dementia
� Reminiscence work
� Social provision with older people
� Grey power
� Ageing and health
10
Ministry with Older People 8 October
Ministry to People with Dementia. Training for people providing
worship services in Care Homes with special attention to serving
those suffering from Dementia.
If you are interested, as a congregation or personally, in any
aspect of ministry with older people, including worship or pastoral care, please
contact The Revd Fran Ruthven, College Tutor and minister with responsibility for
ministry with older people on [email protected]
Nordic Noir 9, 16, 30 January & 6 February Edinburgh: 13.30 - 15.30 Augustine United
Glasgow : 19.00 - 21.00 Synod Office
Wallander, The Killing, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, Jo Nesbø's
thrillers ... seem to have captured the British/Scottish imaginations. Maybe the
Nordic melancholy chimes with our Scots' attachment to the dreich in weather
and personality.
Our course will look at such issues as "Getting on with the nation next door",
"What kind of society are we/want to be?", "Living with difference" and
"Darkness and redemption". We'll read, watch and discuss some pieces of current
Scandinavian crime fiction to see what parallels emerge between those countries
and our own.
Some suggested books/DVDs will be suggested but participants are encouraged
to bring their own choice of reading to the conversation. Register as early as pos-
sible to see suggestions.
11
Not Just Spreading Thinner ... Ministers and leaders in congregations have a growing
awareness that ministerial deployment patterns are
changing significantly: the single minister to single
congregation very much the exception. But what does that
mean for ministers - spreading thinner? off-loading traditional responsibilities?
adopting a radically different role? finding new ways of working?
And congregations too face adjustments in their leadership, in being served
perhaps by teams of ministers, in having different expectations. How will patterns
of congregational life and work change? Change is inevitable but will we
determine the new shape of things?
17 May 10.00 for 10.30 - 15. 30 East Mains URC
Passover The Passover is an episode of significance for Jewish and
Christian communities. We explore the central
affirmation of deliverance and liberation, share in
storytelling and questioning and close with celebrating a
common and symbolic meal of memory and hopefulness.
25 March 14.00 with a meal together from 17.00 until 19.30 Shawlands URC
Preaching 1 Models of preaching
2 Sermon construction
3 Delivery
4 The sermon in the context of worship
18 & 25 October 10.30 - 15.30 Augustine United
12
Radical Welcome Many churches are actively looking at and working on
making their welcome more effective and deeper. Our
programme offers a number of supportive events.
"Everybody Welcome"
This is a set of published course materials around helping
churches to think about welcome, hospitality and visibility in the community. A
number of our churches have used these materials and found them helpful.
This evening is about introducing the materials and giving space to talk and think
about how best to use them. If you'd like a taste, you can find an excerpt of the
course DVD through a search on YouTube.
25 October 19.00 - 21.00 Synod Office
"Challenging behaviour"
We declare in song or policy that "all are welcome in this place". Some who are
part of our church community or who come to us will behave in ways that can be
difficult for us. Sometimes the behaviours are acute, sometimes continual. We
can end up feeling guilty at not handling people sensitively, well, appropriately
and for the good of the person and the congregation. This evening course will
seek to deepen our understanding of what lies behind the behaviour and to
reflect on effective approaches for responding.
17 January 19.00 - 21.00 Synod Office
"Welcomers"
The people who greet at the front door on Sunday are absolutely key to your
welcome. They are your frontline folk. Those first few moments can influence
visitors' readiness and desire to come back. This evening's training is about
equipping people to do this important work effectively for us all.
21 February 19.00 - 21.00 Synod Office
"Telling Who We Are"
We can be as welcoming as we might be, but people need to know who we are,
what we are about and why they might like to join with us. This evening meeting
is about looking at some of the issues: What lies at the heart of our shared
identity? Is our marketing outreach solely local or is there a shared dimension?
Does promoting ourselves sit uncomfortably with ecumenical partnership? How
do we support our members in speaking the faith?
21 March 19.00 - 21.00 Synod Office
13
Re-discovering Mission –
what that means for the church (ideal capacity 24)
This is a two day (over 2 Wednesdays) exploring current
missional thinking for the 21st
century.
It covers five session:
Changing World, changing church
Re-imagining church: community
Re-imagining church: worship
Re-imagining church: discipleship and leadership
What this can mean for us.
10 & 17 April 10.30 - 15.00 Venue TBA
Religion and Science 2 May 10.30 - 15.30 Augustine United
We look at the relation of religion and science. Are they
compatible fields of endeavour? How can congregations engage with
contemporary science? Where do religious ethics and scientific thinking meet?
We are joined for this day by a theological educator with a science PhD, an expert
in socio-ethical issues and those who have encouraged congregations to engage
with scientific questions.
School Chaplaincy
21 November 10.00 for 10.30 - 15.30 Rutherglen URC
School chaplaincies are an important point of contact between ministers and
children & young people and indeed wider communities. More than ever, life
issues and the place of faith communities are on the educational agenda. At our
last general chaplaincy day, there was expressed a demand for a further day to
look at the challenges faced by educational chaplains, not least in a time of
changing curriculum. We hope that you'll come along to this day if you're a
chaplain or are thinking about it.
14
Seeking ... Many argue that a strong motive for people to participate in
Church life is that they are seekers, looking for God, for
meaning and for community. In this course, we share our own
seeking and reflect on how the Church and its ministers can
best nurture and supporting that seeking after.
10, 17 & 24 January 10.30 - 12.30 Augustine United
Skype for Meeting and Learning 1 November 19.00 - 21.00 Synod Office
6 November 10.30 for 11.00 - 15.00 Scottish Episcopal Church Office
If you or your organisation or committee use (or are planning to
use) SKYPE or a similar programme to share conversations in
meetings or seminars, this workshop will be of help to you.
* Getting online
* Creating conversations
* Accessibility issues
* Online environments.
This will be supported by online resource material.
Space for You -
Ministers’ Quiet Time after Easter The Bield at Blackruthven, Tibbermore
Low Week 3 - 4 April
Starts with coffee at 10.00 on day 1 to afternoon
tea 15.00 on day 2.
For many ministers, Lent, Holy Week and even Easter itself are very demanding,
spiritually as well as physically - so we've planned a couple of days of spiritual
space in a very spiritual space. The Bield at Blackruthen, just outside Perth, is an
ideal place for relaxation and refreshment : good food and comfortable
accommodation, swimming pool, walled garden and labyrinth, grounds for
walking, a delightful chapel ... Add in a very light introduction to the day and
closing prayers and you've lots of time for yourself. The Bield is compact, so
reserve your place as early as possible.
Spirituality in Ministry 25 April 10.30 - 15.30 Augustine United
How do we nurture our own spirituality in ministry?
Spiritual direction and soul friendship maintaining a
Rule of life
* resources for spiritual development
* creating space.
Storytelling 12 - 15 November
The Windermere Centre
Residential course
Bookings through the Windermere Centre
All kinds of story
Topics include
� Some skills for storytelling
� Biblical storytelling
� Stories that heal community
� Stories for change
� Reminiscence work and life story
� Intergenerational story
� Story creation and review in pastoral care Narrative preaching
Supervision Skills Details to be confirmed.
For those who support students in their learning,
e.g. ordinands, TLS students or those from other
educational institutions
� Competence and capacity
� Constructive conversations
� Formational feedback
� Re-imagination
15
The Missing Generation 8
November 19.00 - 21.00 Synod Office
There is a massive gap in church membership between 20
and 50 years old. Why is it that the church has failed to
engage this missing generation, our children and
grandchildren? And what can we do about it?
TLS Taster Evening 7 February 19.00 - 21.00 Synod Office
Training for learning and serving
“For me the TLS experience has been amazing, opening up
gateways into my faith which have deepened and enriched my understanding of
that faith, which has grown and matured allowing me to articulate my personal
beliefs more easily through the knowledge gained.”
TLS is the URC's programme of adult education and is hugely appreciated by its
students over the years. It is studied through local discussion groups, using well-
written materials, with some residential weekends and opportunities for local
service experience There is a two-year foundation course which is an introduction
to Biblical and theological ideas and ways of thinking. This can be followed by a
one-year course in a specific area, such as worship or pastoral care. For those
interested in accreditation as a lay preacher by General Assembly, this is the most
common route for preparation.
If you are curious, do come along to our taster evening to find out more.
To Be the Best 23 April 10.00 - 15.30 Rutherglen URC
Every congregation has stories to tell of what has worked for
them - but we can all be helped through learning from others'
stories. We're inviting congregations and ministers to come together, not only to
share their experiences but to work on using other people's experiences and ideas
to inform their own potential developments. What other people have found to
work for them might have something to say to you and your situation.
All you need for this day is your stories and open minds!
What does 'best' mean for you?
Focusing on what's important
Learning from one another
16
Trinity 1 November - 29 November 10.30 - 12.30 Augustine United
Some cherish the idea of Trinity as a deep truth about the
divine; others find it baffling or even not well-supported by
Scripture. Some ministers find reason not to be preaching on
Trinity Sunday! This course encourages us to engage with The
Trinity through different lens - as a model of community; in
pictorial and iconographic imagery; in preaching and
sacraments; theologically, spiritually and imaginatively.
Vocations 4 October Synod Office
We begin with a light meal at 17.30
and start the programme at 18.30 , finishing by 21.00
Information, activities and conversation to help you in
exploring your calling and/or taking forward your ideas.
War Requiem 11 November 14.00 - 16.00 Morningside United
"My subject is war and the pity of war"
Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem", using the traditional Latin
texts and the First World War poetry of Wilfred Owen. We are
introduced to the words of the requiem, rooted in the WW1
war poets, and listen to this wonderful work.
17
Your SHAPE for God’s Service 12 February 10.30 – 15.00 Synod Office (ideal capacity 8 delegates)
Designed for members who are not confident about having
anything spiritual to offer.
It aims to cover:
� Your spiritual Gifts (God’s unique gifts to you)
� What motivates and excites
� One’s abilities, knowledge and skills etc.
� Your character, personal qualities and strengths
� Life experiences and what has been gained from them
Can be used as a ‘One-off’ but is more effective when followed up by a few deeper
sessions – although the desire for this, can be established with those that sign up
for the initial one day ‘taster’.
Youth & Children’s Work Training Day 9
March
Aberdeen Details TBA
Contact Stewart Cutler [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOCATIONS
Augustine United Reformed Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL
George IV Bridge runs off the High Street in Edinburgh, parallel with North/South Bridges,
and just before Chambers Street. It is only a few minutes walk from Waverley railway
station (though a bit of a climb) or from Princes Street.
Barrhead United Reformed Church, Arthurlie Street, Barrhead, G78 2RB
By train: to Barrhead Station By bus: Arriva 103 (Glasgow to Auckenback) stops at the
top of Arthurlie Road. (only until 6.00 p.m.) Stagecoach bus X44B (Glasgow to Irvine)
stops at Main Street by Arthurlie Street, Barrhead,. This is service is infrequent. (There is
no service at night and very limited on Sunday’s)
Bathgate United Reformed Church, Marjoribanks Street, Bathgate EH48 1AT
By train to Bathgate Station (Waverley to Helensburgh and Milngavie line via Queen
Street Low Level) Leave station carpark, cross main road and turn left. Take first right
(Gordon Avenue). At top of Gordon Avenue turn left. You are now on Marjoribanks Street.
Keep going until you see the United Reformed Church on your right. If you need a lift from
the station let me know! (home 01506 656662, mob. 078 8075 5378)
18
By car from Edinburgh (via M8) leave at Junction 3A. At first roundabout take first exit. At
second roundabout take second exit, at third roundabout take third exit - for Torphichen
and Linlithgow. This road becomes Marjoribanks Street and after about 3/4 mile you come
to the United Reformed Church.
By car from Glasgow, leave M8 at junction 3A. At first roundabout take first exit, at second
roundabout third exit and at third roundabout take third exit for Torphichen and
Linlithgow. See above.
By car from Stirling direction, leave M9 at junction 4 and follow A801 for Livingston and
Lanark. Once across the bridge in the Avon gorge, turn immediately left up the hill and left
again for Linlithgow. At first junction turn right for Torphichen. Go through Torphichen and
once in Bathgate take the first exit from the big roundabout. At the end of the street turn
right and then left again into Marjoribanks Street.
By car from the south, use the A706 through Whitburn and then the A7006 as far as the
Boghall roundabout at the fire station. Take first exit and then at the next roudnabout take
third exit for Torphichen and Linlithgow (see above)
There is a local bus service which passes the church but is not much use to those coming
from outwith the town.
Conforti Institute,Calder Avenue, Coatbridge, ML5 4JS
Telephone: 01236 607120/707900 Web Site: www.confortiinstitute.org
East Mains United Reformed Church, 11 Old Coach Road, East Kilbride G74 4DS
By rail: Half hourly train service from Glasgow Central, then 5 minute walk
By Bus: No’s 18, 21, 66 to bus from Glasgow city centre to East Kilbride Town Centre then
10-15 minute walk or take a taxi.
Morningside United Church, Chamberlain Road, Edinburgh EH10 4DJ
The church is on Holy Corner and can be reached by Lothian buses from the city centre—
11, 15, 16 and 17 from Princes Street and 23 on The Mound.
Priesthill URC, The Hall, 160 Peat Road (off Hartstone Road) G53 6DE
Buses from city centre: First X8 is quickest (15mins). Leaves from Buchanan bus station,
you can catch it on Union Street before it heads for the M8. It terminates at the back of
Silverburn shopping centre so you then need to walk up Peat Road (5-10 mins). You can
also get off at the bottom of Peat Road just after the bus has turned left at the Peat Road
roundabout and just before it turns into Silverburn. First 56 from Bath St/Renfield St/
Union St. It goes into Silverburn and out again (as a 57) up Peat Road (2nd stop after
Silverburn, opp the Hall) takes about 40 minutes. There is also on site parking.
Rutherglen United Reformed Church, 69 Johnstone Drive, Rutherglen, G73 2QA
By train: There are four trains from Glasgow Central low level station leaving 08,18,38,48.
Journey time is approximately 10 minutes. From the station the Church is 10 minutes
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walk. Exit the station and follow signs to Main Street. Once on Main Street turn right and
walk along to the main traffic light junction with Mill Street (dual carriageway). Turn left up
the hill and continue until you see the church on the corner of Mill Street and Johnstone
Drive.
By Bus: A 267 brings you from Buchanan Bus Station to the Main Street, Follow directions
as above. A 18 will bring you from Glasgow city centre to Stonelaw Road. Ask to get off at
Rutherglen Health Centre and then walk along Johnstone Drive to the Church. A 21 will
bring you from Glasgow City Centre to Mill Street. There is a stop just before the Church.
Shawlands United Reformed Church 111 Moss-side Road, Glasgow G41 3TP
Buses 23, 38A, 45 and 57 amongst others run from the city centre (Union St) to Shawlands
X.
Synod Offices, 113 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 2RU
Windermere Centre, Windermere
Windermere is easily accessible from the motorway system. It is 20 minutes from Junction
36 of the M6. Try us on Multimap. Local trains run regularly from Windermere station to
connect with the main Euston/West Coast line at Oxenholme. Information about train
times is available from National Rail Enquiries.
Other information
£ Many of the events in this booklet are free of charge.
For the Thursday day-time programme, there is a charge of £7.50 per half day.
Where there is a residential element, prices will relate to the cost of
accommodation and will be advised on request. Day retreats and events (other
than Thursday) have no charge but donations are welcomed. Where there is a
cost, College Friends whether individuals or congregations, are entitled to a
reduction.
Ministers of the United Reformed Church in active service may apply for an
Education for Ministry 3 grant for their costs which can include travel. Clergy of
other denominations are encouraged to check whether or not they are eligible for
continuing education support from their own churches.
The college does require to generate income in order to meet its core costs.
However, it is anxious that no-one should be excluded from a learning opportunity
on financial grounds. If there is a course fee which you do not feel able to meet,
we would encourage you to contact the Principal.
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The College strives to make its provision as accessible as it reasonably can. If
you have a mobility issue, then it is helpful if you can contact us in advance so that
we can take whatever action we can to meet your needs. Specific infor-
mation on each place can be obtained by contacting us on 0141 248 5382. If you
have needs that relate to learning and participation such as a hearing or visual
impairment or a specific learning need such as dyslexia, please let us know.
� Unfortunately, but for your sake as well as ours, it is necessary to register in
advance for any event in the programme. Please let us know as early as you
can. Sometimes it proves necessary to cancel courses through under-enrolment
and we have to do that quite early in order to try to avoid cancellation charges.
It’s really sad when we have to cancel and then discover that some people had
intended to come.
� Where there is catering provision as part of a course or event, please do let us
know in advance if you have any dietary requirements, such as a vegetarian option
or the avoidance of allergies etc..
� While it is our intention to run all of the events planned in this programme, we
cannot guarantee this and some descriptors may be subject to modification
between printing of the booklet and the course or event itself.
LIBRARY FACILITIES
The College makes library provision for ordinands through the International
Christian College in Glasgow (about 15 minutes walk from our offices) . The ICC
library is however open for consultation to members of the public and borrowing
rights can be acquired on payment of a £30 annual fee.
For further information, see http://www.icc.ac.uk/library.php.
FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE
The College greatly appreciates the support it receives from churches and
individuals who have become Friends of the College. We will be glad to let you
have further information on the Friends, on request. Membership brings benefits
such as information on events, a newsletter and reductions in fees for courses or
the price of publications. Secretary: Margaret Fairgrieve [email protected]
EMU
Check the Synod of Scotland e-news for details also
of courses and event run by our ecumenical partners.
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COLLEGE STAFF The Revd Dr Jack Dyce is Principal of the College. Ordained in 1976, he served in
pastorates in Port Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock. For many years, he worked in
local authority adult education and held the post of Regional Adult Education
Officer at Strathclyde regional council headquarters. His first degree was in
organisational behaviour followed by an LLB. He has a postgraduate MA and MSc
in education together with professional qualifications in adult education and
educational management. He holds a PhD in adult education for research on the
application of Danish adult education thinking to Scottish lay theological
education and an MLitt in Scandinavian Studies . He is a Chartered Fellow of the
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. In church life, he served the
Congregational Union of Scotland as its final Chairman and previously as
Ecumenical Secretary. His professional interests include adult educational
methods, the varied uses of storytelling and the relationship of people of faith to
civic society.
The Revd Fran Ruthven is College Tutor specialising in ministry with older people.
She received her BA in Religion from the University of Georgia, her M.Div from
Harvard Divinity School and an MTh from Columbia Theological Seminary.
Ordained in 1985. She has served in Massachusetts, Georgia and North Carolina.
She is currently URC Special Category Minister at Morningside United Church.
College Tutor:
The Revd John Young is College Tutor with particular responsibility for the
Thursday programme. He holds BA and BD degrees. He is a retired minister who
served in Greenock West United Reformed Church, previously Nelson Street.
Associate Tutors:
The Revd Jan Adamson is URC Synod of Scotland Field Officer for Local Mission
and Development. She holds a BA on contextual theology from Manchester. For
many years she worked in management and has served as minister at Dunfermline
and Coaltown of Balgonie United Reformed Churches.
Stewart Cutler is URC Synod of Scotland Children and Youth Development Officer.
A BA in community education , he has recently completed an MSc.
Former appointments include National Adviser in Adult Education and Youth De-
velopment Officer with the Church of Scotland.
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SCOTTISH UNITED REFORMED &
CONGREGATIONAL COLLEGE
The College’s core purpose is educating people for ministry in the United
Reformed and Congregationalist traditions. Ordinands are admitted only
on the recommendation of their denomination and the college levies ap-
propriate fees for this work.
Through a reciprocal agreement with the United Reformed Church Synod of
Scotland, the College provides a broader programme to support learning of
the whole people of God for their ministry in the church and the world.
♦ The college has specialist interest in story, storytelling and
narrative approaches in worship, education, pastoral care
♦ community work and the development of churches and other
organisations
♦ adult learning approaches, methods and theory
♦ philosophical inquiry as a means of exploring the big questions
♦ appreciative inquiry and other tools for helping organisations to build
on their success and develop their life
♦ ministry with older people
♦ Christianity and engagement in civic society
♦ community education.
The College officers are
Chairperson: Miss Myra Rose Dip. Primary Education
Secretary: Mr David Rice
Treasurer: Mr Mark Kirkbride BSc FCIBS
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PRAYING IN COMMUNITY
The college community is a wide one – the staff and ordinands
and those who govern the college are but part of that
community. But the community is wider still — those who share
in the Thursday programme or attend day courses and events or
retreats or residential gatherings; ministers and lay preachers
who receive grants for continuing education; committees that
draw on the educational expertise of the college… Indeed the
whole synod with whom we are in educational partnership
shares in the life of the college.
Of course, we don’t all gather together in one place that often.
Wanting to find ways in which we can express that sense of
community, we invite those who belong in whatever way to the
college fellowship to join with us in regular prayer. On
Thursdays, those who come together for those classes will
worship at 12.30pm on those days. You can see where we are
from the programme – you’re welcome to join us if you are able.
To include as many as possible, however, we invite you to join
with us wherever you are for a few moments. Offer this short
college prayer and remember those that we particularly pray for
in that month.
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Gracious God,
Creator of humanity in the divine image
Teacher of what is loving and just and peaceful
Fountain of all truth and wisdom and grace;
Holy Trinity, expressing deepest community,
Grant your blessing to our College
Prosper us in our search for knowledge and wisdom
Nurture all who gather to share in learning together
Fill each and all with a longing to be true disciples
That the world to whom we are sent may know the abundant life
To which we are called. Amen.
Cycle of prayer
October The ordinands and all who attend college courses and gatherings
November The staff of the college
December Northern College, Manchester, Westminster College,
Cambridge and the Windermere Centre – our fellow
resource centres for learning
January The universities of Scotland and all other places of learning
within the nation
February The United Reformed Church and in particular its synod of
Scotland with whom we are in educational partnership, and its
Northern Synod, the moderator of synod, the synod officers and
members of the development team, ministers, elders and
congregations
March The Congregational Federation and Congregational churches
April The Scottish Episcopal Church and the Methodist Church in
Scotland with whom we are in collaborative fellowship through
the Episcopal, Methodist and United Reformed partnership
May The College Management committee, the college officers and
the trustees of the Baxter Trust
June The work of vocations
113 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 2RU
0141 248 5382
Scottish Charity SC004318
To enquire
or book
Phone 0141 248 5382
E-mail:
