Training a new generation of Baptist pioneers 

A two-year partnership project between Baptists Together and Spurgeon’s College is seeking to create a suite of new units to train missional leaders and pioneers. Course writer the Revd Dr Sally Mann reports on the end of phase one of the project, and what happens next

It’s been a busy eight months, with an online survey, over 80 face-to-face interviews and a listening conference. But finally, the data has been analysed, and themes are emerging that will shape units to train a new generation of pioneering Baptist ministers.

The units will include applied theology, leadership and community organising skills alongside spiritual formation. Spurgeon’s, the first Baptist college to commit to offering the units, will do so alongside courses in Biblical Studies and Christian doctrine.

The first student intake is expected to be September 2021 at Spurgeon’s London and Birmingham campuses (the partnership hub with BMS World Mission in the Midlands).

Here are some of the findings from the report's executive summary:

• Over 200 participants provided data from an online survey, interviews and a listening conference. This included experienced educators from diverse missional training organisations, existing ministers in missional settings and leaders and activists in Christian projects.
• Data has been analysed and nine draft undergraduate units are being written in spiritual formation, applied theology and skills training. Details of these are included in the report.
• Phase two (Feb - Sept 2020) of this project has begun to create fully mapped unit descriptors, with suggested schemes of work. These will be made available to all Baptist Colleges and are planned to be rolled out at Spurgeon’s in Sept 2021 for delivery in their London campus and Midlands hub.
• Conversations continue as to further use and delivery options for this new resource.
• Phase three (Oct 2020- April 2021) will involve creating a package of teaching resources for the units and marketing delivery options to a new generation of missional leaders and pioneers.

The full report is available online here