Summer 2017
NEWS from
www.ridley.cam.ac.uk
In this issue: A Better Tomorrow Begins Today: Establishing a new Episcopal university in South Sudan pp 2–3
MAKING A DIFFERENCE Delegate Ken Dickson draws inspiration from the Spring Faith in Business conference p 4
FOCUS ON PARISH COMMUNICATIONS Dona McCullagh looks at the theology of how our parishes communicate p 4
PIONEERING: A KIND OF JAZZ Tutor in Pioneer Learning Ian Adams looks to improvisational jazz for patterns and possibilities in pioneering ministry p 5
ARCHDEACON’S BEER FESTIVAL Becky Dyball reports on a event that challenged preconceptions p 6
EMBER LIST 2017 Pull-out centrefold invitation to pray for each of our student leavers this summer pp 7–10
MEETING THE NEEDS OF A CHANGING WORLD CYM at Ridley heralds a new future as the Department for Lay Ministry Training and Formation at Ridley Hall p 11
LESSLIE NEWBIGIN RESOURCES Website launched in partnership with the Newbigin House of Studies, San Francisco p 13
Growing in wisdom to proclaim Jesus Christ What is Ridley called to be during this season of its life? An answer for me began to emerge while reading David Ford’s The Drama of Living during a retreat at Easter: the community that is Ridley Hall exists to enable those whom God calls here to be growing in wisdom in order to proclaim Jesus Christ. This understanding of the purpose of the College draws together some important ideas. To begin with, those who find themselves involved with Ridley are called to participate in a community. However, having started with this word, community, we have to admit that it is often hard to agree on what we mean by it. We have plenty of idealised notions of what a Christian community might be. In Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer warns us to take care not to love our dream of community too much, lest we destroy the community. So, taking care to avoid being overly idealistic, what can we say about the community that is Ridley Hall? It is helpful, albeit a little serious-sounding, to acknowledge that we are a community of learning rooted in the Anglican tradition. We must also admit that we are a community that is continually forming and reforming as students and families arrive, settle,
A Better Tomorrow Begins Today A New Episcopal University in South Sudan
Ridley’s Director of Pastoral Studies, Eeva John, writes about her recent trip to South Sudan to support the establishment of a church university. The world’s newest country: tribal tensions, civil war, refugees, mass internal displacement of people and, now, famine. If you know anything about South Sudan, then these are likely to be at the top of your list of ‘facts’. 2 2
prepare to leave and are sent out. Most importantly, we are a community gathered around the risen Christ; people committed to worshipping, praying, eating and laughing together. Being together is not always easy. In fact, it is often downright challenging, and this is precisely the point. We are brought together by God to learn how to love and to serve. Since God is love, and because ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ (Proverbs 9:10), we are also able to say that we are a community whose members are growing in wisdom. Our growth in wisdom is not only for our benefit; it has a further purpose. It was the longing of Ridley’s founders that the Good News of Jesus be proclaimed throughout the world. The plaques in our chapel commemorating those who have lost their lives overseas in the service of Christ testify to some of the early commitment to this vision. As we grow together in wisdom, the community at Ridley is given grace to grasp and enact a generous understanding of proclamation; an understanding that has depth and breadth, which is driven by love and characterised by compassion. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be witnessed to in word and deed and, as we learn from John 13:34–35, it is most powerfully attested to when those who profess to love Him love one another. Michael Volland, Principal
South Sudan is indeed a troubled country. Of its approximately 13 million people, 1.8m are refugees in neighbouring countries and another 1.8m are internally displaced through war and its accompanying atrocities. The lack of security means that people are too frightened to farm their land, and roads are so insecure that transporting goods from neighbouring countries is increasingly difficult, causing food prices to soar. So what am I doing supporting the Episcopal Church of South Sudan to establish a church university, when there are so many immediate and seemingly more urgent needs? Education is
the key to stability, peace and development in South Sudan. The country desperately needs doctors, nurses, trained teachers, engineers, agriculturalists, lawyers and business people who are committed to building a just, peaceful and prosperous nation. There is a huge lack of university places in the existing state universities, which means that the increasing numbers of secondary school leavers have nowhere to go — and consequently are more likely to perpetuate the violence that plagues the country. What’s more, education needs to be framed in
has a South Sudanese Director and a Management Board chaired by Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul and is on its way to being registered with the government of South Sudan. It is supported by ECSSSUP, a UK charity which I chair. On this last visit, my daughter (a management consultant) and I travelled to Wau to assess one of the participating colleges and then, back in Juba, facilitated a workshop that brought together the staff of eight colleges from around the country. Together, over three long hot days in the capital Juba, this group of thirty
a way that builds integrity of character and a desire to serve the nation. So for the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, founding a university with a Christian ethos is one of the many facets of what it means to build God’s kingdom in South Sudan. I first became involved in 2011, when I had the privilege of carrying out a feasibility study for this project, visiting theological colleges, Bible schools and vocational institutes around the country. Now, the project
fellow educators hammered out the vision, values and mission of this new multi-campus university, and worked their way through a range of important issues that would enable us to launch the new university. Many of these institutions began as theological colleges but have diversified to provide other courses to meet felt needs: business, administration, development, agriculture, IT. On numerous occasions staff and students have had
Participants of The Episcopal University Workshop: representative staff and trustees from eight colleges from different parts South Sudan, with Joseph Bilal, the Project Manager, and Eeva and her daughter Hanna, who facilitated the workshop
Background image: The land on which the Juba campus of the university will be built
to abandon their campus and flee to the bush because of the war. But the determination to continue to work for long-term goals is astonishing and hum-
Education needs to be framed in a way that builds integrity of character and a desire to serve the nation
bling. Resources are minimal, conditions are tough — with water, food and electricity hard to come by — and security is never guaranteed. Here, dependence on God is tangible and the call to follow Christ is palpably costly. But our South Sudanese colleagues embodied a solid hope and a gritty, joyful faith that makes it an incomparable privilege to be accompanying them in this work. To find out more — including how to support this project — visit www.ecsssup.org.
At the workshop — Eeva reflecting with Professor Abraham Kot Riak, a member of the university management board
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Making a Difference: Christian Impact on the Business World With almost daily reports of corruption, fraud, poor employment practices etc, the challenge and importance of making a difference by spreading the aroma of Christ in our workplaces has never been greater. I was looking forward to Faith in Business’s latest conference and learning from others’ experiences. I was not disappointed. The conference brought together 50 people, mainly from business plus some academics. Most were UK-based but there were opportunities to learn about other cultures too. Presentations were all quite different but, for me, one strong thread running through was: the need to have and demonstrate integrity. Phil Staunton gave a very personal and candid presentation about integrity in business. He discussed how circumstances often present real challenges but God remains a dependable rock during our setbacks. This theme was picked up
in Moses Cui’s talk on Chinese business education when he emphasised the need for integrity between words, actions and beliefs. Integrity was also mentioned by Antony Elliott who, like Phil, gave quite a personal talk on the journey towards the work he now does that is impacting on behaviour within the banking sector. The importance of trust was raised by Richard Leftley in his inspirational talk on providing micro-insurance in the Developing World. I related to his ‘big vision’ based on Isaiah 58 and also to his ‘Snakes and Ladders’ description of poverty. One phrase Richard used reminded me of George Muller, a hero of mine: ‘Take the principles of business and take God at His word.’ Wise words for Christians seeking to make a difference at work for God. Thanks to Richard Higginson and team for once again organising an inspiring, encouraging and refreshing conference which provided a great insight into how God works through his children to ‘make a difference in the business world’. Ken Dickson, Founder and Managing Director, Axiom-e Limited, business advisors and educators
Why Focus on your Parish’s Communications? When Baptist minister Peter Baker wants to shut down a conversation quickly, he tells people he’s a Minister of Religion. But more frequently when asked his occupation he replies, ‘I’m in the communications industry’, adeptly summarising a primary purpose of the Church. ‘We’re here to get a message across,’ he writes in a guest blog, ‘God’s message — the most important message ever. For the God of Christian faith is in the communications business. And that means we have to communicate His truth with clarity, creativity and conviction.’ Communication is at the heart of our vision of God — from God’s self-communication in Jesus as his Word incarnate, to the written Gospel and the Church’s spreading of the Good News through proclamation and mission. And more than this, just as God took on human flesh 4
to join our conversations, the Church is in the business of communicating in ways that are culturally relevant. And yet so often in the busyness of parish life, we overlook so many of the ways in which we are communicating — for better or worse — the vitality of our faith and our God of creation. If you are reading this and have the daunting image in your mind of an unkempt noticeboard, or a website that might have been created in the 1990s, do not fear! Why not pick up a copy of Neil Pugmire’s 100 Ways to Get Your Church Noticed? It’s not an in-depth ‘How To’ but it will give you a wealth of ideas and tips to get you started. Dona McCullagh, Ridley’s Communications Officer, is also Churchwarden of Caldecote and Childerley, where she brings many of her design and communications skills to bear in the local parish context.
Pioneering: A Kind of Jazz It began with a conversation with a friend who is a jazz musician. Our talk came round to the album Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. ‘You’ve got to listen to this’, he said. Kind of Blue is one of those pieces of music that changes things. It takes known ingredients, then does something with them that we perceive as miraculous. I want to suggest that the practice of improvisational jazz may be a fertile theme for pioneering mission in the 21st century. I don’t mean the actual playing of jazz — although that might be part of the deal. But I am suggesting that the spirit and soul of improvisational jazz may offer us patterns and possibilities as we try to be people of the Christ in and for our fast-changing cultures.
One of the vital ingredients of great jazz music is a love for the tradition
One of the vital ingredients for creating great jazz music is a consciousness of, and a love for, the tradition. Kind of Blue was hugely innovative when it was created in 1959, but it was still jazz. It carried the stories, the forms and the spirit of the tradition from which it
emerged and to which it gave itself. In our exploration of Pioneer Learning at Ridley Hall and in the Cambridge Theological Federation we encourage
each other to rediscover the depth and wonder of the various Christian traditions from which we have come. If the jazz of Kind of Blue reminds us to know and love our traditions it also calls us into improvisation. Each track on the album begins with a theme — but then moves in unexpected directions. Soundpaths open up that are still faithful to the spirit of the piece, but releasing the music to fly higher and further, to go to places that it may not have been before. In John’s Gospel Jesus asks Nicodemus to ‘be born from above’ and pictures this encounter with God as sensing and responding to the breeze. Imagine individuals and communities of Jesus consciously
Each tradition will find its own unexpected but lifegiving improvisations
and happily rooted in a particular tradition — but also daring to be ‘born from above’, improvising new possibilities in their neighbourhood or network. What will this look like? It’s delightfully hard to tell. Each tradition will find its own unexpected but life-giving improvisations. The jazz of a pioneering Christianity will be given colour, texture and shape by local setting, by the personality of the players, and by the ever-surprising Spirit of God. Ian Adams, Tutor in Pioneer Learning and Context-based Training
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Context-based Learning for Life Whether lay or ordained, old or young, new believers or experienced leaders, the way we learn for discipleship and ministry can be enhanced by emulating the ‘training’ the disciples underwent at the side of Jesus, the ultimate teacher. Three members of the staff team at Ridley Hall have worked with Grove books to publish an illuminating guide explaining how the PC3 pathway — based on participation, classroom, context and community — mirrors the learning experience of the first disciples, and can have lasting and tangible benefits for ministry students, youth workers, lay Christians, churches and wider communities.
Michael Volland, Eeva John and Robin Barden all have significant experience in developing and delivering context-based training for a wide range of lay and ordained people. They draw on this experience in this Grove booklet, which offers the Church a fruitful approach to equipping, forming and transforming disciples and ministers of Jesus Christ. Context-based Learning for Discipleship and Ministry: Introducing the PC3 Approach is in the Grove Pastoral series (P148) and can be ordered via the Grove website or Amazon.
Archdeacon’s Beer Festival In what has fast become an annual tradition, Ridley’s ordinands now host a beer festival, challenging the image the outside world might have of a theological college! Over 15 local ales and delicious ciders were on offer at the 2017 Ridley Hall Archdeacon’s Beer Festival, held last term. As well as a snack shop, commemorative glasses and festival guide, guests could enjoy table games including Dingbats, an emoji movie quiz, word searches, Uno and Jenga. The entertainment didn’t stop there with great company or simply some time with the day’s paper, and reached its crescendo with an open mic full of exceptional talent and performances from both staff and students. Stacey, who found the event online and decided to come along said, ‘I had an excellent night and had no idea vicars could be such good fun!’ She wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the evening with ordinands — many friends and family joined in the fun. The evening was a great success and we look forward to next year’s. Special thanks to all volunteers on the day: the Rural Coffee Project, Cambridge Moonshine Brewery, Draycott Brewery, Lord Conrand’s Brewery and our special guests Heart Family Brewery all the 6
way from Wellingborough. All your great services and products made the event possible. Becky Dyball, Ridley Ordinand
Ember List 2017 Our annual ‘Ember list’ draws on a tradition of Ember Days, which were formely set aside by the Church for fasting and prayer, and considered especially appropriate for ordinations. With this pullout centrefold we invite you to pray for this year’s leavers, and their families, as they prepare for their future ministry, whether it be in the world of work or in parish or lay ministry.
Dawn Airey and Chris (Ezra)
Formerly Social Worker Parish: Wollaston with Strixton, Easton Maudit and Bozeat (Peterborough) I feel incredibly privileged to have been given the time to train residentially here at Ridley, particularly time to immerse myself in the Bible and the formational process involved in being part of an intense community as we set our faces towards God’s missionary purposes.
Rich Atkinson and Lizzie
(Beatrice & Ezekiel) Formerly Senior Church Leadership Team Member with responsibility for under 30s Parish: Holy Trinity Brompton (Kensington) I loved having time at Ridley to read, study, debate and think as well as meeting some fantastic people. It has been precious to have the space to allow God to shape and mold me, and our family, ready for curacy at HTB and whatever else God has for us in the future.
Rory Balfour
Formerly Assistant Chaplain My time in the Ridley bubble has been a unique experience. It has been a pleasure to meet others who are also trying to pursue God’s call and proclaim his Good News to a sinful world. My two years here have been encouraging, challenging, frustrating, life-giving, ministry enhancing, terrifying, comforting and most of the time hilarious.
Mike Bigg and Katy (Matthew & Thomas)
Formerly Secondary School Head of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics Parish: Brampton, Grafham & Ellington (Ely) We are looking forward to moving about 10 miles up the road to begin a new phase of ministry and seeing where God is leading us. Ridley has been good for us; the formation in prayer, study and reflection will set us up well for parish life. Good friends and memories abound — it gives much hope for the future of Christ’s Church!
Wendy Carr and Jason (Aaron & Erin)
Formerly NNEB Nursery Nurse Parish: St Peter & St Paul, Tonbridge (Rochester) Moving to Cambridge to study at Ridley has been the most amazing adventure for me and the family. Experiencing an incredible balance of hard work with lots of fun and laughter whilst being shaped, challenged and grown in so many ways! We will miss Ridley but are excited to see what God has in store for us Tonbridge.
Samuel Carter and Angela
(Isaac, Daisy, Lucy & Henry) Formerly Senior Policy Adviser, Ofcom Parish: All Souls Eastbourne (Chichester) Ridley had been a real blessing to my family and me. We have made good friends and I have hugely benefited from the academic rigour of the Tripos and MPhil. I look forward to continuing by God’s grace to learn and flourish within the Church of England.
Jassica Castillo-Burley and Roy
(Elnathan) Formerly Senior Analyst, Wyeth Laboratories Parish: West Felton & Whittington (Lichfield) The training at Ridley has been outstanding. I have been challenged, taken out of my comfort zones in preparation for ministry, all with great support. It has been an adventure and has enabled me to see who I really am and what I am capable of. I feel more prepared for what God will do next . . .
Nduku Chika and Joy
(Princess & Prince) Formerly Company Director Parish: St Chad Chadwell Heath (Chelmsford) All glory, honour, adoration, praise and thanksgiving be unto our God for what he has done and what he is doing. Ridley will ever remain ever Green in my life.
Adam Childs and Becky (Seth)
Formerly Teaching Assistant Parish: Saint Mary’s Walthamstow (Chelmsford) I’ve really enjoyed my time at Ridley; it has been a time of great change for us as a family. We got married just before we started at Ridley and have had our first child during our time here. I think I have changed a lot as well and I’ve really appreciated Ridley being the place in which that has happened. We are all really looking forward to moving to Walthamstow and are excited about what curacy will bring.
Felicity Cowling
Formerly Campaigns and Digital Communications Coordinator Parish: Transforming Wigan (Liverpool) I have so loved being part of the Ridley community for three years. Each year I’ve been richly blessed and challenged, and have made some wonderful friends. I’m looking forward to working with a great team (including my fiancé, Sam!) as well as beginning married life up north.
Ant Dixon and Amy
Formerly Fundraising Consultant Parish: New ‘mid-county rural resource church plant’ (Southwell and Nottingham) In 2014 we arrived at Ridley two freshfaced newlyweds; we leave three years on incredibly grateful for deep friendships, a time of growing in confidence in God and the gifts he’s given us and for the incredible community at Christ Church Cambridge who’ve loved and supported us along the way. New adventures in Southwell now await!
Danny Driver
Formerly Sports Intern, Sweaty Church Parish: St George’s, Gateshead (Durham) I’ve loved my 3 years at Ridley making lifelong mates, being stretched theologically and setting a good foundation for future ministry. I’m itching to get going and involved with a church plant that’s nine months old as we seek to share the Good News of Jesus across Tyneside.
Becky Dyball and Alex (Noah)
Formerly Keynote Speaker Manager, Tearfund Parish: The Ramseys & Upwood (Ely) I have had the gift of being part of the Ridley community in my late teens (when my Mum Fiona Windsor trained) and now as an ordinand. On both occasions God has equipped, inspired and invoked the calling on my life. As a family we look forward to this next chapter and all it may bring.
Jon Featherstone
Formerly Corporate Partnerships Coordinator, City Gateway Parish: Christ Church Cockfosters (London) I leave grateful for everyone I have learnt from in my time here and for having trained in such beautiful surroundings. I’m being ordained because of a longing to see the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed and God’s people growing in their love for him and would be very grateful for your prayers as I enter that joyful ministry!
Alexander (Lexy) Guest
Formerly PGCE (RE) Student Parish: Waltham Abbey (Chelmsford) My time at Ridley can really be summed up as an adventure where I laughed, grew, was challenged and transformed in ways that I had never imagined possible. My prayer life has become fruitful and deeper than I expected, and the friendships I have made will without doubt go with me and bring me joy for the foreseeable future.
Michele Hampson
Formerly Adult Psychiatrist Parish: Holy Trinity & The Priory Churches, Nottingham (Southwell and Nottingham) I have enjoyed the privilege of being part of this friendly, diverse prayerful community which has helped me grow in faith and commitment to my future role. I now look forward to returning back home and to putting the learning into practice. I do so knowing that I have the pleasure of continuing to journey with some of the good friends I have made here.
Sarah Hancock and Adam
Formerly Church Administrator at Soul Survivor Watford Parish: St Francis Church, Luton (St Albans) My two years at Ridley have flown by, it has been a great home to study, to be encouraged and challenged. I will miss being part of the community but we are excited to be moving to Luton to see what God is doing there.
Jacob Harrison and Zippy
Formerly Stepney Intern Parish: Christ Church, Chorleywood (St Albans) I am very grateful to have had three years to know Jesus’ love more deeply, to study the Bible and learn to sit more fully under its authority, and to be trained for ministry within the Church of England.
Gareth Howles and Naomi
(Lydia, Sebastian, Vincent & Wilfred) Formerly Church Youth Worker Parish: St Mary’s, Burley-in-Wharfedale (Leeds) I have enjoyed my short time at Ridley. I have learnt a lot and made some great friends to help sustain me through ministry. It has been amazing to spend time in the beautiful city of Cambridge as a family but we are all looking forward to moving back up north to the hills and cannot wait to begin the challenge of sharing the good news of Jesus with the people of Yorkshire.
Sarb Klair and Karen
Formerly Hedge Fund Manager Parish: St Nicholas’ Church, Thames Ditton (Guildford) I have made some lifelong friends at Ridley. It has been helpful to see the breadth of views within the Anglican Church and receive some interesting teaching during my time at Ridley. Looking forward to proclaiming Christ and Him crucified.
Rachel Monie and Danny
(Jordan, Beth, Victoria & George) Formerly NHS Manager & Lay Pastoral Minister Parish: Atlantic Coast Cluster (Truro) God has greatly blessed us as a family during our time at Ridley. He has also challenged us and surprised us repeatedly, not least in the unexpected location of my curacy! We leave here strengthened by the love and prayers of the Ridley community which give us confidence as we step into the exciting future that God has prepared for us.
Russ Morgan and Ann
(Amy-Linn, Gabriel & Isaac) Formerly Catering Manager, Lee Abbey Parish: St Andrew’s Cullompton (Exeter) My time at Ridley was both formative and exciting. There were challenges but through it all, God’s purpose and grace shone through. I worked and studied with amazing people and am blessed for the friends I made while here. I leave Ridley with greater confidence in my ability as a minister and know that when God calls, he supplies!
Iain Osborne and Susan
(William & Mary) Formerly Board Director, Civil Aviation Authority & Monitor Parish: All Saints, Oakham (Peterborough) God has been kind in giving me Ridley, and I have found joy in responding to His call. Moving into ministry seems possible now; not because I am adequate, but because He has such love for the people of Oakham.
Mark Pybus and Keren
Formerly Music Teacher and Freelance Musician God’s plan for my life as I await ordination in 2019 are not clear as yet. However, I am convinced that it will be a time of grace and formation. Ridley has been a wonderful place of spiritual nourishment and learning. The loving community has been a great source of refuge and strength.
Jane Quinton and Graham
Formerly retired PA! Parish: St Martin’s, Chipping Ongar with Shelley (Chelmsford) I will be leaving Ridley still astonished that I have actually had the privilege to be here, train here, and meet so many wonderful people here . . . Even though assignments have sometimes seemed like a nightmare I still actually feel like I am ‘living the dream’. Ridley has been amazing and an absolute joy — God is good! :-)
Claire Robertson and Paul (Doug & Ed)
Formerly Piano Teacher: Duo-pianist Parish: Two Rivers Benefice, Essex (Chelmsford) Ridley has been an exciting and challenging adventure, experiencing different traditions within our caring and prayerful community. Thanks to H staircase and my wonderful tutors for all their encouragement and guidance. Paul and I are looking forward to moving to Steeple Bumpstead and experiencing what God has in store for us there.
Dan Ross and Amy (Caleb)
Formerly Economist Parish: Christ Church Upper Armley (Leeds) Training at Ridley has been both a wonderful and a challenging time of growing into my calling. I am very grateful for my time here and also for the wonderful family at St Paul’s, Cambridge. We are very excited about discovering what God has in store for us in Leeds, and beyond!
John Saxon
Formerly Special Needs Teacher, Dept Leader Parish: Saffron Walden & Villages Team ministry (Chelmsford) Ridley has been a wonderful experience and privilege, working and learning alongside a variety of people in Hall and the wider Federation. It has taught me disciplines of study and prayer that I look to continue as I learn more about ministry and growing a community of worshipping and witnessing disciples in my curacy.
Craig Sinclair and Sarah
(Audrey & Matilda) Formerly Project Manager, Events Sector Parish: Wulfric Benefice (Bath & Wells) Ridley has been a great time to focus on study and to make some amazing friends. I look forward to the ministry that is ahead of me and I am so grateful for all the ways that the community here has prepared me for that.
Roland Slade and Caroline
Formerly Mission Recruitment, CMS Parish: All Saints Marlow (Oxford) I’ve enjoyed being Social and Photography Deacon, and organising events like the college ball. It’s been great to live on F staircase and also enjoy the wider Cambridge student scene — singing in chapel choirs, playing in orchestras, and punting to Grantchester. I’m looking forward to being back in Oxford Diocese and keeping in touch with Ridley friends.
Nick Smith
Formerly wandering millennial Parish: Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill (Southwark) I am thankful for my time at Ridley, especially the beauty of the gardens here. I am looking forward to the new challenge of finding beauty in an urban environment, but I’m sad to be leaving this place of peace.
Dan Tansey and Beti
(Abs, Christian & Sera) Formerly Regional Manager, Christians Against Poverty Parish: The Woottons, King’s Lynn (Norwich) It’s been a great blessing to return to study at over 40 and to do so in such a fantastic environment. I’ve met many wonderful people during my time at Ridley and have been blessed to be a part of the community. I now look forward to being let loose to serve and love the people of the Woottons in Jesus’ name.
Claire Todd
Formerly Senior Children & Family Counsellor Parish: St Cuthbert’s, Marton (York) My time at Ridley has been an amazing privilege, where I have been challenged and grown. Living in community has taught me much about others, myself, and grace. As I look towards the future and follow God’s call on my life, I will take with me the countless blessings of love, friendships, fun, creativity, all shrouded in a life of prayer and service.
David Bartram Torrance and Christine
Formerly PhD Student in Divinity, Cambridge Parish: Highfield & St Denys’, Southampton (Winchester) I’m so grateful to God for drawing me to Ridley. Fellow ordinands are bright, kind and faithful. The tutors are passionate about bringing theology to bear on proclaiming the good news, deepening 10
our worship of God, shaping our day-to-day lives and equipping us to interpret Scripture. I will continue to thank God for these people as I leave.
Sally Wallace-Jones and John
Formerly Teacher Parish: Benefice of Hingham & High Oak (Norwich) I have loved being at Ridley and I will miss all the wonderful people I’ve met but I am looking forward to curacy. I am excited and slightly daunted about the prospect of joining a large rural benefice with eight churches; however, my incumbent, like me, was a student on H staircase, so I know I am going to a good home!
Andy Woodman and Jo
(Emilia and Bethany) Formerly Hostels Manager, New Hope Parish: St Thomas (Norwich) I have grown in so many ways during my time at Ridley and enjoyed the change of pace from my previous job working for a homeless charity. I have learnt a lot and had a huge amount of fun! I am looking forward to joining the team at St Thomas, and to being a part of all that God is doing in Norwich.
Lay Ministry Students
Please pray for Ridley Hall lay ministry students leaving this year: Sam Buxton, Jess Chamberlain, Matt Cooper, Michelle Pratt, Fiona Roberts, Sam Smith, Claudia SteinCarr and Jason Terry.
The World is Changing . . . and We are Changing to Meet it Ridley Hall has been training children, family and youth workers since 1998, under the auspices of CYM. We are proud of all our graduates, the impact they have had on the lives of so many, and the professionalism with which they have gone about this task. We have learnt a lot over this time, and from September we will be utilising this experience as we say an amicable goodbye to CYM and become The Department for Lay Ministry Training and Formation at Ridley Hall. The move to lay ministry training enables Ridley to meet the need within the Church for a more diverse leadership of full-time lay personnel. Full-time lay positions often have a focus on youth and children’s ministry, but they also focus on all ages, chaplaincy, mission etc. Accordingly, students studying lay ministry at Ridley Hall will have the opportunity to specialise in specific roles, including youth ministry, but also in more generic roles such as pastoral assistant or chaplain. The strength of our approach to contextual ministerial training and formation, underpinned by theological reflection, is it allows us to offer one degree for multiple specialisms. At the heart of this change is the desire to offer training to all those who are called to lay church leadership, irrespective of age and focus. We have already moved our teaching to six block weeks over the year in order to maximise access for students of all ages and to ensure students have a substantial training experience within a relevant ministerial context. This has been a great success, not only providing a positive learning experience for all, but also enabling students to form a worshipping community within which they can explore their particular vocation with the support of peers. For further information or if you are interested in accessing training, from one module to a whole degree, please do contact the Director of Lay Ministry, Robin Barden at rb499@cam.ac.uk.
Paul Weston abseils off church tower
Tutor in mission and climber Paul Weston abseiled off the 13th century tower of St Mary’s church in Gainford, County Durham in March. Former Ridley student Eileen Harrop invited Paul to bring his climbing skills and theology to bear in a mission initiative involving the four northern Anglican dioceses. The ‘Talking Jesus’ event aims to reach people outside the church with the good news of Jesus. In a talk illustrated with photos from some of his mountain adventures in the Alps and Himalayas, Paul said, ‘Climbing is about trust, just as faith is about trusting Jesus who goes before us — for this life as well as the one to come.’ 11
Lesslie Newbigin Summer Institute July 10–13th 2017: Open Lectures As part of this year’s annual Newbigin Summer Institute we are holding two Open Lectures on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th — both at 4pm (finishing 5.30) — in the Cripps Auditorium at Magdalene College. On the Wednesday, Professor Eamon Duffy (Emeritus Professor of the History of Christianity in the University of Cambridge) will speak on ‘Reformation and the End of Christendom: two visions’. On Thursday 13th, Dr Rowan Williams (Former Archbishop of Canterbury) will speak on the missionary calling of the Church in the West today. If you would like to book a place at one or both of these free events, please contact us at newbigincentre@gmail.com. In recognition of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the Institute this year is
Professor Eamon Duffy
Dr Rowan Williams
entitled ‘Lesslie Newbigin and the Household of God’ and will focus on the missionary calling of the Church in the light of its Reformation heritage. Other speakers include Dame Mary Tanner, Bishop Graham Tom-
Charismatic Worship at Ridley
As part of the worship life of Ridley Hall, students arrange termly evenings of charismatic worship. Often this is led by the students, but for the meeting in the Lent term we were pleased to welcome a team from St Philip’s Church in Sheffield, who came to lead us in sung worship, to pray for us and to offer individual words of prophecy. The evening proved to be a powerful time of worship and prayer and the Holy Spirit inspired many accurate words of prophecy. It was attended by students, spouses and sabbatical guests, all of whom were prayed for. Several people com12
lin, Revd Dr Scot Sherman, and Revd Dr Paul Weston. As this newsletter reaches you, there may still be a few places left for the full conference, so if you are interested please consider joining us as we explore some of these key themes through the lens of Newbigin’s thinking, including his passion for the unity of the Church, and his particular ‘take’ on the themes of ‘election’ and ‘justification’. For more details visit www.ridley.cam.ac.uk. Paul Weston, Director of the Newbigin Centre
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mented afterwards how touched they were by the words of encouragement they received. Ridley is a broad community with students from all different traditions, so it is great to be able to have these evenings to encourage the charismatic students and to introduce those from different backgrounds to this way of worshipping. Discerning God’s voice is a key skill for priests, and events like this help students to grow in faith and confidence in using the charismatic gifts of the spirit with boldness and sensitivity for public ministry. Matt Broughton, Senior Student
Launch of the ‘Newbigin Resources’ website As part of its mission to equip the wider church for mission in the West and to encourage research, the Newbigin Centre has recently launched a website (newbiginresources.org) in partnership with the Newbigin House of Studies, San Francisco. Some of the written material was formerly available on the Newbigin.net site, but it has now been given a completely new interface and has added audio files, along with a comprehensive bibliography of Newbigin’s output. New material is being added each week as copyright permissions are granted. Do explore this wonderful resource and share it with friends.
We have already had enthusiastic responses from around the world, underlining again Newbigin’s unique ability to address cultural issues in the light of the gospel. If you have Newbigin tapes that you would be willing to share with us please would you consider sending them? Please contact us at newbiginresources@gmail.com with details, and we will advise on how to send the material.
It is exciting to have the material from Newbigin.net made available through Newbigin House of Studies in San Francisco, USA, and the Newbigin Centre at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, UK, with Scot Sherman and Paul Weston as Curators. Paul has been instrumental in bringing all of these things together, from inception to the present, and his extraordinary strengths, expertise, experience, and education uniquely qualify him for this position. Highly recommended. Tom Foust, one of the original compilers of the database
www.newbiginresources.org
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Not Preaching Ridley This year marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. January had barely begun when I received an email from the vicar of St Edward’s in Cambridge inviting me to come along one Sunday and preach. My enthusiastic acceptance was due in large part to the fact that the sermon would be delivered from a pulpit occupied by a number of prominent sixteenth century reformers, including Nicholas Ridley. By the time you read this I will have delivered that sermon. As I write, however, I am prayerfully considering what to say. Thus far I have concluded that, although our wonderful College is named after a learned and influential man of faith, and a martyr, Christians are not called to preach Nicholas Ridley. Like Ridley, we are called to preach Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Nicholas Ridley will certainly get a mention, but my focus will be on Jesus, and I imagine that Ridley and his reforming colleagues would approve. After all they believed passionately that their listeners should clearly understand that forgiveness of sins and the hope of life in all its fullness is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ. Michael Volland, Principal
Rt Revd Keith Sutton 1934–2017 Ridley Hall was saddened in the Spring to hear of the death of a very distinguished former Principal, the Rt Revd Keith Sutton. Keith was a graduate of Jesus College Cambridge who trained at Ridley Hall in the early 1960s before serving as a curate in Plymouth, chaplain at St John’s College Cambridge and tutor at Bishop Tucker College in Uganda (during the turbulent Idi Amin years). He was appointed
A portrait of former Bishop of Lichfield Keith Sutton painted by Andrew Festing
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Principal at Ridley Hall after a very difficult period in the College’s history, when the College had had three principals in one year and student figures had sunk alarmingly. Keith had the immediate effect of restoring confidence through his integrity, wisdom, maturity, warm-heartedness and positive outlook. He was Principal for five years, from 1973 to 1978, during which the fortunes of the College revived dramatically, and Ridley became part of the newly formed Cambridge Theological Federation. Keith Sutton was subsequently Bishop of Kingston (1978–82) and diocesan Bishop of Lichfield (1984–2003). One fellow-bishop described him as ‘the saint within the House of Bishops, a man of grace and truth’. He subsequently served as a retired bishop in the dioceses of Truro and Exeter. For his last few years he suffered from dementia and lived in a care home. Keith was married to Jean, who died in 2000. They had three sons and a daughter, to whom we send our condolences. Ridley Hall is profoundly grateful for the way God used this great man at a crucial stage in our history.
On the Road A snapshot of some of the past year’s speaking engagements by members of Ridley’s teaching staff.
Getting theWord out Recent and forthcoming publications from Ridley staff, students and alumni
Ian Adams has performed poems from his collection Unfurling: Poems of Life, Love and Faith at cafes, pubs, churches, cathedrals and festivals and led ‘Soulful’ and ‘Unfurling’ retreats. In March he led a day for the Diocese of Bath & Wells on ‘Peaceful You, Peaceful World’.
Spirituality
Chris Pemberton spoke in Switzerland for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation and lectured at Westminster Theological Centre on Spiritual Formation and Leadership and 18th-century British Revivals.
Seeking Light: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany by Ian Adams (online: Proost, 2016)
Robin Barden has led seminars on ‘Demystifying the Teenager’, delivered in partnership with the Diocese of Ely.
Richard Higginson taught a week’s MA course on Christian Ethics at Bethel Bible Seminary, Hong Kong and gave a talk at Midland Hotel Bradford on faith and business. He also spoke on Radio 4 about the challenges of global capitalism. Philip Jenson gave a talk at King’s Ely Senior School at Ely Cathedral and spoke on the Psalms at the Wave Café in Bourn. During Holy Week he taught a block week on the Old Testament for Ridley’s Department for Lay Ministry.
Eeva John spoke on ‘Thinking about Assessment’ to Common Awards theological educators and on lay vocations for the Church in Wales. She has also preached at Fitzwilliam College Cambridge and given talks at parish level on ‘Consumerism and the New Testament’ and ‘Living in the Word’. Rob McDonald spoke on ‘Expecting the Spirit’ at the Diocese of Derby’s ordination retreat and on ‘The Holy Spirit and Leadership’ at Leadership College London, St Mellitus. He also gave two invited lectures in the Diocese of Peterborough on worship and on trinitarian theology.
Mike Thompson led a clergy day on ‘Preaching the Gospel of Matthew’ in Birmingham Diocese and delivered a lecture on ‘Soul in the Scriptures’ as part of the Faraday Institute short course ‘Reading the World: Science and Sacred Texts’. Michael Volland spoke on ‘Emerging Themes for the Church’ at the Grove Books annual conference and ‘An Introduction to Context-based Learning’ at the Common Awards annual conference. He also delivered a talk on ‘Entrepreneurship in Rural Contexts’ to Winchester clergy. Catherine Wright will lead the Diocese of St David’s ordination retreat in June.
Wilderness Taunts by Ian Adams (London: Canterbury Press, 2016) Peace Be With You: 40 Invitations to Live in the Spirit of the Resurrection by Ian Adams (online: Proost, 2016)
Playing with Icons: The spirituality of recalled childhood by John Pridmore (Sewanee, Tennessee: The Center for the Theology of Childhood of the Godly Play Foundation, 2017)
Mission
Give Me A Drink: 21 Sketches for Mission by Ian Adams (online: Proost, 2016)
Sweaty Church Startup Pack contributed to by Danny Driver (online: Scripture Union, 2017)
Faith and Work
‘Mission and Entrepreneurship’ by Richard Higginson in Anvil vol.33 no.1 (April 2017)
‘Faith in Business’ and ‘Entrepreneurship’ by Richard Higginson in The Kingdom at Work Project Bulletin 10 (March 2017)
Theological Education
Context-based Learning for Discipleship and Ministry: Introducing the PC3 Approach by Eeva John, Michael Volland and Robin Barden (Cambridge: Grove Books, 2017)
‘Jesus, the Theological Educator: Lessons in transformational teaching from the Gospel of Luke’ by Eeva John in an upcoming Festschrift (July 2017)
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Ridley24 Micro-Festival on the Lawn
After a successful pilot event last September, Ridley 24 is back! We’ve really enjoyed looking at your feedback and learning lessons about what worked and where there was room for improvement. We’ve put together what promises to be a really exciting programme suitable for all the family. This year’s event will run from Friday 8th September through to the evening of Saturday 9th September, again all based in and around the quad at Ridley Hall. The programme is full of great local musicians as well as a range of speakers. Also featured will be artwork and photography exhibition and a range of fantastic activities for children available at various times throughout the weekend. There’ll be campfires, food from a great local vendor, Tin Kitchen hot drinks and cakes from the Rural Coffee Project out of their Land Rover, a Cinema room, and new for this year we’re launching the Chapel Sessions, a space for live classical music, acoustic sets and prayer and reflection. 16
We’d love for you to join us. Its going to be an amazing chance for you to see, hear and learn more about Ridley Hall and bless us and contribute to our worshipping life, while also being equipped yourselves. Tickets are on sale now at the Ridley24 website. Head over to www.ridley24.co.uk where you’ll be able to find out more about the bands and speakers we’ve got attending, as well as being able to secure your place for the weekend.