Winter 2011/12
NEWS from
www.ridley.cam.ac.uk
In this issue: LEARNING TO ARGUE FOR ORTHODOXY We ask two final-year ordinands how the Cambridge “Tripos” degree has prepared them for ministry p 2
A CROSS-CULTURAL GOSPEL Director of Pastoral Studies Ali Walton on multicultural perspectives from New Zealand p 4
WHAT ROLE FOR THE CHURCH IN POLITICS? Ordinand John Aldis visits South Sudan and returns with questions for the UK p 4
TAKING THE PLUNGE INTO THE WATERS OF LIFE Drawing confidence and refreshment from the Centre for Pioneer Learning p 5
RIDLEY HEADS SOUTH ON MISSION Mission without “big events” or dog collars p 6 LEARNING TO LIVE IN GOD’S TIME Taking a sabbatical from the tyranny of the urgent p 7 March 30 – April 1, 2012
Motivation in Business
A Spring Conference at Ridley Hall, Cambridge
www.faith-in-business.org
COMING UP AT RIDLEY IN 2012 The Centre for Pioneer Learning p 5 The 2012 C.F.D. Moule Memorial Lecture p 8 Simeon Centre and Faith in Business events p 8
Local and global mission Responding faithfully to the challenge In November, we hosted a delegation from the American Bible Society who were in England for the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible (KJB). Shortly before their visit, we dipped into our treasure trove of rare books and rediscovered our very own first edition version of the KJB. It was donated by the widow of one of the Cambridge Seven, the celebrated nineteenth century missionaries to China, two of whom studied at Ridley Hall. As such it symbolises Ridley Hall’s longstanding commitment to making the message of the Bible intelligible both in England and across the globe. In this edition of News from Ridley you will find this dual “local and global” commitment illustrated in a number of ways. One of our students reflects on the value of studying the Cambridge “Tripos” degree and on the lessons to be drawn from his time alongside a bishop in Sudan, whose father trained at Ridley. Our Director of Pastoral Studies shares her
Learning to argue for orthodoxy Taking the Cambridge “Tripos” as an ordinand One of the unique facets of Ridley’s provision of training is its ability to offer the Cambridge University BA in Theology and Religious Studies (“Tripos”). Tripos is a demanding option with a heavy workload of essays and a strong emphasis on final exams. Yet it is regarded as a gem of a degree and a significant opportunity for the ordinands who take it. We spoke to two final year Tripos ordinands, John Aldis and Mark Smith, to find out why. John is hoping to serve the Church as a theological educator in Africa, and wanted to pursue the course that would give him the greatest depth and rigour in engagement with academic theology. Looking to pursue a similar vocation in the West, Mark feels that “it is often easy for evangelicals in particular to bury their heads in the sand when it comes to theology. I was personally keen to have my evangelical convictions shaped, challenged and deepened by thorough theological engagement – both to learn more, and to learn the skills for thinking theologically in the future.” 2
sabbatical experience of the multi-cultural Anglican Church in New Zealand and the implicit challenge for cultural awareness in UK-based ministry. An Australian delegate at the first International Fresh Expressions conference at Ridley draws inspiration from English experimentation with “Messy Church”. Ridley Hall’s development plans constitute a determination to take forward this overlapping “local and global” commitment. With enhanced facilities, we could do so much more. In an economic recession, that places us in an adventure of faith. Please join us in praying that God will provide and enable us to respond faithfully to the call to make the message of the Bible intelligible on our doorstep and to the ends of the earth.
Andrew Norman, Principal
3D model of the proposed new development at Ridley
Picking up the same theme John explained: “The examiners look for cogent arguments which show breadth of knowledge. So I have learnt not simply to hold on to what I regard as orthodox faith, but to argue for it.”
I have learnt not simply to hold on to what I regard as orthodox faith, but to argue for it
One of the marks of Tripos is the supervision. We asked John what happens in a supervision that’s special. “When you first read up on a topic you think you understand it... until you’ve written an essay on it. Then you realise in fact you hadn’t understood it at all. When you read your essay aloud to your supervisor you realise over again that you don’t understand it! But by the end of the process, whether it feels like it or not, you have grown in understanding, and this process of learning happens three times every two weeks.” Mark added: “Tripos is demanding in terms of lots of essays. The irony is that weekly essays with lots of reading, under pressure, with other commitments vying for your time, is a very good training for a weekly sermon!” Mark particularly enjoyed the course on Christian doctrine. “It introduced me to classical theism and
An update on our building plans
New members of the Ridley team
We were delighted to receive planning permission for the new development in June and are now working with our design team to develop the design to a point at which the works can be tendered and construction can start, funding permitting.
Anne Aldridge joined the staff at Ridley Hall in September as a Pastoral Tutor to the Ordinands and also a Tutor on the CYM courses.
The design team is led by Julian Bland from Bland Brown and Cole (Architects and Design Team Leader) and Andrew Sweasey from Davis Langdon who is acting as the Project Manager. The detailed design is steadily coming together and the design team are currently working with the various consultation groups from within the College in order to fine tune the detail. All the plans are being modelled in 3D (see example left) which is very helpful when trying to visualise the layout and room detail.
The start of term saw much excitement with the arrival of a large drilling machine to drill some test holes on the site to inform design in relation to the ground source heat pump design and the design of the building foundations. These tests were successful and the results have been very helpful in informing the design work. Fundraising continues in order to reach the target needed to build the new development. Colin MacRae, Bursar
Anne trained initially as a teacher and worked with children and teenagers. Following this she worked as a Pastoral Assistant in a local church whilst training on the EAMTC for ordination. She was ordained in 1999 and became Curate in a large village church on the outskirts of Cambridge. Alongside this she was chaplain to the children’s hospice at Milton. In 2003 she became a full-time chaplain at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and remained there until July this year. Anne is married to Rob and they have four adult children and two granddaughters.
Jason Ingalls and his wife Monique moved
into Ridley Hall in August 2011. While Monique fulfills a teaching and research fellowship at the University, Jason is serving Ridley in several capacities.
He helps foster community on the weekends by opening his home to students for teas and other events; he participates in the community’s life through chapel and weekly activities; and he looks after the UK and Overseas Bursaries development programmes. An American, Jason is a priest in the Episcopal Church (USA).
the riches of the orthodox tradition from Augustine through Aquinas and Calvin.” And John’s favourite course? “Metaphysics. Along with Hebrew, this is the sort of thing that it’s very difficult to teach yourself. I would never have understood the philosophy of Kant or Heidegger without the help of a supervisor and the threat of a deadline.” But what’s there to like about final exams? “The only thing to like about three-hour exams” replies John instantly “is finishing them and saying with the psalmist: ‘It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I may learn your statutes’.” What will they take from Tripos into the future? FIND OUT MORE AT www.centreforyouthministry.ac.uk
Mark: “A great deal – training in writing to deadlines, in thinking systematically and rigorously, in forming a cohesive and coherent argument, in engaging with a variety of perspectives whilst seeking to remain biblically faithful – not so much practising a ‘generous orthodoxy’ as learning to be ‘generously orthodox’.”
John: “A profounder knowledge of the Bible. In Advanced Greek lectures we learnt how to use text critical notes to assess different manuscript variations, and we were allowed to examine various manuscripts under a magnifying glass in the University Library. It felt a bit like learning how to dismantle a car, reassemble it and then drive it again. It filled me with respect for the scholars whose painstaking labours have given us our modern English bible translations.”
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A cross-cultural gospel Ali Walton is Director of Pastoral Studies at Ridley Hall, and as part of her sabbatical she visited New Zealand to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of mission in a multicultural Church. My time in New Zealand presented me with unfamiliar landscapes within the Anglican Church. Attending a groundbreaking conference organised by the Missions Board of the Anglican Church of New Zealand, I was introduced to worship through the eyes of three very different cultures.
Why “groundbreaking”? This was the first time the three tekangas (or houses) of the Church – the Pacifica, which involves those who have a heritage in the South Sea Islands, the Pakeha (originating in the white European settler church), and the Maori – had met together as one to explore mission. Each took turns to lead worship, and each was radically different to the other. Radically different worship, and yet at its centre the same radical message of Christ for the whole world. The trip vividly brought back into focus for me the universal relevance of the gospel and the need to present it in a way that is alive to every culture.
Responding to criticism
Further fruit of Ali Walton’s sabbatical will take the shape of a new Grove book scheduled for publication later this year.
Personal criticism is one of the most wounding and eroding aspects of ministry for those involved in leadership. This new addition to the Grove Pastoral Series will look at how Jesus dealt with criticism, how we should deal with it, and unpacks what the roots of the criticism might be in the life of the one criticising us. With clear and practical advice on how to respond to criticism – and how not to – it will provide valuable reading for many in leadership. www.grovebooks.co.uk
Looking out over Lake Rotorua is a Maori church with an etched glass window depicting the risen Christ, seemingly walking on the Lake’s water, dressed in the cloak of a Maori chieftain. The image stayed with me as I returned to Ridley with a renewed desire to equip our ordinands to proclaim Christ with boldness in a way that is culturally engaging and relevant to our particular context.
What role for the Church in politics? Final year ordinand John Aldis visited the newborn nation of South Sudan and brings back questions for the Church in England. To what extent should the church be involved in building our nation? It’s not a question that seems particularly appropriate or pertinent in the UK. It is a pressing one however in South Sudan – the newest nation in the world. This was my observation in any case, when I visited the diocese of KajoKeji to shadow the very affable Bishop Anthony Poggo shortly before their declaration of independence on the 9th July 2011. In the UK the church can devote itself nearly uniquely to spiritual work because our politicians and civil servants have successfully taken on the responsibility of looking after our education, health, infrastructure and food supplies. This is not the case in South Sudan.
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I flew from Uganda by Missionary Aviation to a dirt airstrip in Kajo-Keji. The bishop was aboard, so when we landed we were met by choirs from two diocesan
schools. The commissioner was present and he wished the bishop to address the crowd to tell them that in the absence of rain they should continue to pray to God rather than harassing the witch doctors. It occurred to me that a bishop here is, for better or worse, necessarily a politician. This was confirmed during my short stay when the Bishop introduced me to their theological college (with the only internet access in the neighbourhood), an orphanage, a tailoring school for girls abused in the civil war, an AIDS centre and an agricultural programme. In a country which has achieved independence after nearly 50 years of civil war, Christians cannot avoid asking, how should the church be involved in building our nation? We may not be forced to ask it, but is still pertinent to ask: what role should the church in the UK take in educating its children and in caring for its sick and poor?
Taking the plunge into the waters of life Shortly before his ordination in Adelaide Diocese where he will be planting a new fresh expression of Church, Steve Daughtry signed up for the Centre for Pioneer Learning’s first International Conference on Fresh Expressions and Pioneering. One of 53 delegates from 9 nations, Steve looks back on a time of support, resourcing and encouragement. Too many discussions about the “death” of the church seem to resemble the classic children’s song, “There’s a hole in my bucket”. If you don’t know it, then imagine a circular argument that goes nowhere and achieves nothing. Happily, the first International Fresh Expressions conference at Ridley was singing to a different tune. To walk into a room full of different accents and theologies is daunting enough. To quickly understand that most of those people are established or emergent “pioneers” in ministry makes it even more troubling. In such circumstances it was good to emerge from the week recognising that beyond the clashes of culture and practice there was sounded a strong clear note of hope.
Perhaps Lucy Moore’s resilient, exhausted and humble testimony about Messy Church summed it up best for me. She told us the story of a small idea, still not fully understood, that has grown, not because of its brilliance, but because it is grounded in hard work and a faithful desire to reach out and meet expressed needs.
You see, for FE people, it’s not about the bucket, it’s about the water. It’s about the life, not the death.
Going home to Australia I don’t feel the need to “fix the bucket” or even “re-invent the bucket”. I feel more like I need to listen for the sound, sniff out the scent and dip my hands into the living water. Maybe I’ll even dive in. Thanks to the conference I know I won’t be swimming alone.
Coming up at the Centre for Pioneer Learning in 2012... BREAKOUT National Pioneers’ Conference Swanwick Conference Centre, Sept 12-14, 2012
F.D.A. in Pioneer Ministry
The annual meeting place for pioneers – an opportunity to be together, learn from each other and interact with key speakers in the field.
The Centre for Pioneer Learning is partnering with the Centre for Youth Ministry to offer a flexible degree for pioneers, to be launched in September 2012. Email David Male for more information on dm432@cam.ac.uk.
Look out for more information at
www.breakoutpioneer.org.uk
An exciting opportunity for pioneers
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Ridley heads South on mission Ridley’s lifeblood is mission. Founded on the crest of a missionary wave in the late 19th century, the college still expects staff and students alike to engage in missional events as a core element of training. This September, a college-wide invitation took us to the Diocese of Chelmsford and the deaneries of Harlow and Ongar. Straddling rural Essex, suburban and urban contexts, the deanery provided a remarkable range of opportunities for proclaiming Christ, from school assemblies, door-knocking and “Grill-aVicar” pub activities, to outreach dinner parties and even, in the case of an enterprising student, dressing up as a sheep to communicate the Parable of the Lost Sheep/Good Shepherd to hundreds of children. He is reported to have done this like a natural!
We aimed throughout to help congregations catch a vision – that mission is local, from the people, for all. All are ministers; our challenge is to step out of our various comfort zones, to learn to speak out our faith, and to do so Our challenge is to most of the time without the benspeak out our faith, efit of “big events” or dog collars. and to do so most of
the time without the It was enormous fun and real graft in equal measure, full of benefit of “big events” laughs and challenges. Some of or dog collars us were invited to help with the best church fete we had ever attended! But above all, we were reminded of the awesome privilege of sharing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and deeply encouraged to see people take steps of faith during the week. We enjoyed the welcome, fellowship and partnership in the Gospel with the churches of the deanery, many of which are passionate about outreach and serving their community. At the end of it all, we are left humbled and inspired by the commitment of key leaders – both lay and ordained – to a difficult and complex mission field. May God’s kingdom come, in Harlow and Ongar and in all the worlds which we inhabit and love.
Getting theWord out
New publications from Ridley staff Ridley staff write, edit and contribute to a wide range of publications, including books, book chapters and journal articles. We have selected just a few released in 2011, and in the publishing pipeline for 2012.
New Testament Jesus: A Very Short Introduction by Richard Bauckham (OUP, 2011)
“Paul in the Book of Acts: Differences and Distance” by Michael B Thompson in Expository Times 122/9 (June 2011): 425-36
Old Testament
“‘Kingdom of Priests’: What is Priestly in Exodus 19:6?” by Philip Jenson in On Stone and Scroll: Essays in Honour of Graham Ivor Davies ed by J K Aitken et al (De Gruyter, 2011)
Preaching and Lectionary
“Bible Notes” written by Michael B Thompson for the weekly lectionary in Roots (Jan/Feb 2011)
“Preaching the Gospel from the Gospels” by Paul Weston in Preaching the New Testament ed by Ian Paul (IVP, 2012), forthcoming
Ethics
Living with Other Creatures: Green Exegesis and Theology by Richard Bauckham (Paternoster, 2011)
Christian Hope and the Global Economy by Richard Higginson (IVP, 2012), forthcoming
Mission
Pioneers 4 Life: Explorations in Theology and Wisdom for Pioneering Leaders ed by David Male (BRF, 2011)
Theology in Missionary Perspective: Lesslie Newbigin’s Legacy co-edited by Paul Weston (Wipf & Stock, 2012), forthcoming “The Net Church Huddersfield” by David Male in As a Fire By Burning: Mission as the Life of the Local Congregation ed by Roger Standing (SCM, 2012), forthcoming
Theology
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“Michael Polanyi and the Writings of Lesslie Newbigin” by Paul Weston in Critical Conversations: Michael Polanyi and Christian Theology ed by Murray Rae (Wipf & Stock, 2012), forthcoming
The Ridley Hall Annual Fund 2012 In all the years that I have been ordained I can hardly think of a greater privilege than playing a part in enabling Ridley Hall to have the resources to train a new generation of Christian leaders.
The Annual Fund, which is now entering its second year, is proving to be one of our most effective vehicles when it comes to opening up this opportunity to more people. Its purpose is to pool a large number of gifts, of all sizes, so that together they can make a significant contribution to College life. We launched the Annual Fund without being quite sure what sort of response we would get. To our delight 2011’s £70,000 far exceeded targets, hopes, and expectations – and now these funds are making huge difference. have How you erence made a diff
s a large al Fund allow to tions y Hall Annu The Ridle small dona relatively number of collective impact. r came have a majo donations ’s first year and from In the Fund and individuals, ed States hes Unit paris the from world, from Korea, all over the the Middle East, to of America France. and Germany rosity your gene and their the projects out include: ordinands ent of Some of carry for first year ial elem led us to er weekend weekend is a cruc has enab y year annual pray 9,000 ever am. The the 2011 s £8,000–£ Ditchlingh • running All Hallows, formation, and cost enabling spouses at tual 120 years, and spiri time for over ded lead community r for the first and replace corro towe bellng, le the chapel h was rotti ndary doub • repairing wood, whic seco the lling erve iency by instag the heating us to pres energy effic adin ge’s upgr g the Colle en windows, and • improvin n iring brok mmodatio glazing, repa student acco ry area bedding in libra the g the to • upgradin ovements safety impr health and • making ways it has “In some le time, but been a crucib ty to get the opportuni prayer, to grips with waiting t and ” discernmen been the gold. on God has
to Ridley
or ‘Ridley Hall’ payable to ined from ue made can be obta ent Office card, by cheq tion form by credit Developm and a dona be made from the her details Gifts can .ac.uk or order. Furt .ridley.cam 3 741079. by standing site www Gift y Hall web y.cam.ac.uk tel: 0122 ted with the Ridle y £1 dona ridle ever ent@ For ribution. at developm g your cont e in ider Gift Aidiner 0.25p back. Please cons ugh Cambridg JAF BLG, claim a furth Ridley thro Aid we can PO Box 9123 y Hall. ve gifts to tax-effecti bridge in America, d for Ridle can make arke s Cam or ayer earm tab.org US taxp must be at www.can 23. All donations America, 7-91 can provide , NY 1008 New York ugh Gift Aid, ents. , ideally thro benefit of all stud ll amounts use for the le giving sma when gift h we can Lots of peop Annual Fund whic especially al ahead and, , for example: a substanti y to plan time Ridle over les unt s g enab t amo l over 5 year Regular givin up to a significan ally Tota add annu can aided, Amount £750 month £150 £1,500 Amount per £300 £2,250 £10 00 £450 £20 give £7,5 together £30 d, would thly, gift aide g £10 mon givin each 10 donors s. over 5 year to Ridley
How to give
Among other things during 2011, we have been able to make buildings more energy efficient and beds more comfortable! Part of the Annual Fund helped fund ways students could enrich their prayer lives, while repairs to a 120-year-old section of the chapel roof made the place of prayer 1 2009-201 ck Ridley Diocese en-Picksto Mary, Ely Susan Bowd e, Bluntisham St curat Assistant
T R SUPPOR FOR YOU 9HG THANK YOU bridge CB3 Road, Cam Ridley Hall ity No. 311456 Ridley Hall, tered Char Regis
more habitable. None of this may sound spectacular, but each is an essential part of the larger whole, enabling the college in its vital work of preparing clergy and youth leaders for tomorrow’s church.
We are now launching the 2012 Annual Fund and would love to more than match the sum we received last year. We can already see how such funding will enrich the library, help upgrade the college’s very necessary IT infrastructure, pay for student placements, and very likely fund something vital that has yet to appear or happen! LL RIDLEY HA 12 FUND 20 ANNUAL
We are delighted to be able to enclose with this issue of News from Ridley a brochure that illustrates what the Annual Fund is doing and where the funds are going. May we encourage you to consider looking at the opportunities that Ridley provides to give to advance the work of God’s Kingdom in the forming of pastors, thinkers, evangelists and educators for the work of Christ’s church throughout the world. Richard Kew, Development Director
A Golden Wedding Present
Learning to live in God’s Time
Last summer John and Jean Wheatley Price celebrated their fiftieth anniversary. Rather than being inundated with presents they did not need, the Wheatley Prices encouraged friends and family to make a gift to Ridley – and over £2000 was received!
Iain Murdoch, a Church of Scotland parish minister from Wishaw, Lanarkshire, spent three weeks’ study leave at Ridley.
This was the way in which one couple has been able to say “thank you” to Ridley for equipping them for a lifetime of ministry in England and East Africa.
I arrived at Ridley Hall in January last year physically and spiritually drained by the struggles of a difficult snow-bound winter, the demands of a busy parish ministry and a growing sense of foreboding at the challenges facing the Church. I had recognised my need for “time out” and space to wait on the Lord, away from the tyranny of the urgent; and also for reflection on the Church with those from a different tradition. With those on Staircase F, I shared coffee, prayer, and friendships, and communal meals in the dining room gave opportunities to listen to the stories of ordinands of varying ages, staff and guests, from the UK and across the world from Brussels to Uganda, Washington DC to Adelaide. I found myself encouraged by their enthusiasm, commitment and diversity. I also appreciated the weekday discipline of morning and evening prayer according to the Anglican Prayer Books (unfamiliar to me) and was able to attend eight Sunday services in town from a variety of traditions. I also read a lot, but most of all, I enjoyed time without interruption, to pray. I was learning again to see time as God’s gift, worthy of careful investment and I brought back with me a renewed commitment to the continuing challenge to decide priorities and stick to them, to make space in order to be open to the Spirit’s direction. To talk about spending your sabbatical at Ridley, contact the Revd Dr Adrian Chatfield on ac588@cam.ac.uk
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Coming up at Ridley in 2012... An evangelical future: Learning from our past Wednesday 13th June 2012 (11.15am) We are delighted to be welcoming Professor David Bebbington to speak at this year’s Moule Day for alumni. Professor of History at the University of Stirling, David Bebbington has also taught at institutions across the world including Regent College, Vancouver, Notre Dame University, Indiana and the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
His particular research interests revolve around the worlds of religion, ideas, society and politics. He is author of Evangelicalism in Modern Britain (Routledge, 1988) and other publications include The Dominance of Evangelicalism: The Age of Spurgeon and Moody, published by IVP in 2005 and honoured in 2006 as a ‘Year’s Best Book for Preachers’ by the American Preaching magazine. Postal invitations will be sent to all alumni. Look out for more information at
www.ridley.cam.ac.uk
Faith in Business conference
Simeon Centre Lent Day
March 30th to April 1st (Fri-Sun)
Saturday 25th February (10am-4pm)
Christian faith impinges on motivation and ambition ...But how exactly? A rich diet of inspiring talk and candid sharing lies in store for you at this weekend conference hosted by Faith in Business.
Explore the Christian journey of life lived in the light of eternity at this day of preparation for Lent hosted by Ridley’s Simeon Centre for Prayer and the Spiritual Life.
March 30 – April 1, 2012
n o ti a v ti o M s in Busines
The great journey of Life
Living well in the light of eternity A day of Lenten preparation
Saturday 25th February 2012 A Spring Conference at Ridley Hall, Cambridge
www.faith-in-business.org
10am-4pm at Ridley
Hall, Cambridge
Registration Fee: £20; please bring a packed lunch with you; drinks will be pro vided.
Call 01223 746593
or book your place online at
www.simeoncentre.co.uk