NEWS
Pray
Let us pray.... Loving God, We pray for all those who are seeking vocational guidance at this time in the academic year.
We pray for all those who are in the sixth form and FE who are visiting open days at Universities and planning the next steps in their vocational education.
Praying for those working in careers guidance and teaching and learning support.
We pray for all young people who are considering taking their first steps into work.
We pray for all adults who have been engaged in further and higher education who are planning to return to work after career breaks, spells of unemployment or raising a family.
May God uphold and direct those in need of support and direction. May the paths be clear and the purpose be steady.
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and He shall direct your paths' Proverbs 3:5-6. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen
Photograph used by kind permission. To find out more about Adrian Wyatt and his Christian photography work and workshops ade.wyatt@gmail.com Xross Purposes - tel: 07976 362 615
All are welcome!
Welcoming students to your Church
The Free Churches Group Higher Education working group have had a positive and productive working relationship with the Student Christian Movement (SCM) over the last few years.
We are pleased to announce that the SCM has produced an accessible and informative guide, to help you, as a church, give a warm welcome to students in your area. I am sure that with the new academic year coming up in the autumn and with many students leaving their home areas for the first time, to study away from home, this resource will be a helpful asset to our churches.
New resource available for churches
'Welcoming Students to your Church' resource, is designed to help churches reach out to and support students during their time at university. Inside the guide, you’ll find the key findings of recent research into student spirituality, case studies from a range of SCM Link Churches and some practical tips for working with students.
The guide is available to read online here, and we also have a limited number of printed guides available in return for a small donation to cover postage and packaging. Churches can order a printed guide here.
A participant's review from the Forum - Hope in HE
On a bright May morning last year, I made my way to the Bloomsbury Baptist Church to begin a new job as the Education Assistant to the Free Churches Group. The first day's work was to support the Hope in Higher Education (HE) Conference. It all felt unfamiliar and exciting. In many ways, just like how young people and adults entering university for the first time might feel. A mixture of nerves, anticipation and new experiences!
The conference was in the form of a forum to enable plenty of conversation and ideas to develop among the participants. The Forum was the next step in the Free Churches developing a response to the issues and opportunities in the HE sector; in particular, by articulating a way forward following the publication of the Hope in Higher Education report by the HE Working Group. The Report can be read HERE.
The HE Working Group has been chaired by Revd Dr Stephen Heap. The keynote address was presented by Professor Les Ebdon. Pictured below.
It was well-attended with over 30 people many different Free Church denominations. All of the participants cared deeply about the key issues in higher education and the place of faith on the university campus. Many of those present were in university chaplaincy roles and it was clear that this is a key part of understanding and developing the potential in university from a faith and free church perspectives.
There were workshops on key issues in higher education, the place of religion on campus, chaplaincy and student work and local churches and higher education. The workshops were full of lively debate with actively engaged delegates. People at the forum were from a wide variety of church denominations and professional backgrounds which added to the texture and pace of the conversations. People showed a positive generosity in listening to each other and thinking about different perspectives.
Open Space Forum in the afternoon kept us all on our toes, following our delicious lunch. (Open Space Forum activities pictured below). This technique helped us to review and distill some of the key points from the presentations and workshops; a summary of issues and possible actions has emerged from the whole forum which can be taken forward as part of our positive action for free churches and HE.
The UK is facing a time of challenge and change for the HE sector, as well as a situation that those gathered felt we could make a positive response to. In the 2010 report on A Free Church Voice on Education a commitment was made to articulate the nonconformist Christian voice in education with conviction and confidence. This Hope in HE Forum in May 2016 offered an opportunity for us to shape and progress this goal.
From my perspective, with a first day in a new job, it gave me a great introduction into the care and compassion which free churches' folk have for higher education. It was a time of debate, hospitality, passion and prayer. Just as students entering HE for the first time need to manage a transition into a new world, the new work for me is a challenge and an opportunity. I will continue to pray that the work of the Free Churches' Group can offer a grace-filled and transformative contribution to Hope in Higher Education. I have very much enjoyed seeing this important work develop over the last year. We now have a vision and policy statement and are working on delivering an Action Plan.
One of our main conclusions, as a forum, is to produce a positive statement about the breadth and passion of those involved in HE from the Free Churches' perspective. A more comprehensive report from the Forum can be found HERE. This will help to raise the profile of higher education in free churches and give the free churches a solid platform to campaign and develop resources to complement higher education.
Sara Iles, Education Assistant, Free Churches Group
(This article was originally published in August 2016)
Hope in Higher Education Forum
Read the Forum report and find out more about our work in HE
The Hope in Higher Education Forum took place at Bloomsbury Baptist Church in summer 2016. The Forum was organised in order to bring to bring together a range of key decision-makers in denominations, and people with interest and experience in higher education, mission and evangelism, and work with young people.
The Forum offered opportunities to build networks of expertise and shared interest, but
most importantly to begin to plan strategic action and involvement with higher education.
The aim was to make specific recommendations for action, and for plans to begin to take
shape on the day, and for the momentum to build from that point.
This report aims to provide a record of the discussions, questions and recommendations
emerging from workshops and plenary sessions. It is in no way a complete record but
offers a summary of key points. The summaries have been presented in different ways:
some lend themselves to presentation as a mind-map, as there are a number of discrete
and inter-related themes; others have been presented as lists of bullet-points, sometimes
divided into the sections provided by the groups.
Much progress has been made in the last year on the actions and ideas from this Forum.
FCG are continuing to work with experts and representatives from the field of Higher Education to make progress on these developments.
If you would like to find out more about this important work or explore ways your church / denomination might get involved, please contact Sarah Lane Cawte, FCG Education Officer: sarah.lane.cawte@freechurches.org.uk
To read a full copy of the Forum Report, click HERE.
'Don't lock people out of education!'
Adult and Community Learning - education gives us freedom to grow!
Free Churches Group Education Assistant, Sara Iles, is a member of the Society for Education and Training (SET). This society is for professional teachers and trainers in the further education and training sector.
Fellow SET member, Nafisha Graham-Brown, in a recent interview, urges us: 'Don't lock people out of education!'. Nafisha works with some of the most disadvantaged in our communities. You can see the video and read the full article here:
The Free Churches Group (FCG) are developing a strategy and action plan to support improving awareness and partnership working with further education. To find out more about this work or to get your church involved, contact: sara.iles@freechurches.org.uk
The FCG are fully committed to education which develops each one of our God-given potential. You can read more about the FCG work in FE HERE.