M ODULE D ESCRIPTION
Sections 1 – 7 are key module details which once validated cannot be changed without revalidation
1. Module Title: The Learning Church
2. Credits:
CATS 15
ECTS 7.5
Level: 5
3. Programme: FdA Practical Theology and
BA (Hons) Practical Theology
Module
Code: PT2911
Status:
Current Revised
Status:
Optional
Type: blended learning
4. Pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
5.
Learning Outcomes for the module.
By the conclusion of this module, a student will be expected to be able to :
a) demonstrate a critical understanding of the nature and complexities of Church in the
twenty-first century;
b) demonstrate awareness of recent cultural and religious changes which are shaping patterns
of Church;
c) reflect on and critically analyse the relation between new patterns of Church and traditional
ecclesiologies, particularly congregational models of church;
d) organise and run a programme in a local church setting, encouraging and enabling
the church to learn together, through one of a number of approved programmes;
e) enable a church to evaluate and build on a learning experience in the light of cultural and
religious contexts.
6. Catalogue Summary
This optional module focuses on the church as a learning community. It draws on the student’s
experience of running an approved programme at his/her local church and, through reflection, to
introduce the student to different patterns of Church, and to explore the relation with traditional
church, particularly congregational models.
7. Assessment Pattern
Essay (2500 words)
Project Report (1500 words)
Weight %
67
33
Pass Req
Agg
Comments
The assessment includes evidence in
the form of participant evaluations
of the programme. These must be
present for the assignments to be
passed. Comments may be made for
the student’s formation for ministry,
but they do not contribute to the
word count or mark
8. Indicative Tutorial Team
Rev Dr Graham Adams
Rev Sara Iles
9. Indicative Learning and Teaching Activities
Activity Type
HESA Category
Lecture
Scheduled
Seminar
Tutorial
Practical classes and workshops
Supervised time in studio/workshop
Fieldwork
External visits
Work-based learning
Project supervision
Demonstration
Sub-Total
Placement
Placement
Year abroad
Sub-Total
Guided independent study
Independent
15 credits x 10 notional hours = 150 hours
Total Hours
Hours
3
3
3
0
0
50
0
0
0
0
59
0
0
0
91
150
10. Sample Assignments
Assignment 1 (2500 words)
The emphasis on the nurture of genuine Christian community where the members of it take
responsibility for its growth and well-being as well as its organisation suggests at the very least that
emerging church aspires, even if unwittingly, towards something akin to the Congregational Way’
(Robert Pope, ‘Emerging Church: Congregation or Aberration’, International Congregational Journal,
7.2). Discuss, giving examples from at least three different situations of Emerging Church.
OR
Give an account of the cultural and religious changes in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
in Britain that have given rise to the phenomenon described as Emerging Church.
Assignment 2 (1500 words)
Following your experience of teaching the programme at your own church, use one model of the
Pastoral Cycle to reflect on and evaluate its impact. Indicate which model you are using and what
sources you have used for the evaluation. You should draw on participants’ evaluations and
reflections in the way described in the module notes, but these do not form part of the word count.
11. Indicative Outline Content
This module is based on teaching either Growing Disciples or Mission Shaped Intro at the
student’s local church. There are module notes and a guidebook, and three teaching sessions as
below:
Module Notes
Unit 1: What is a learning church?
Unit 2: Changes in Faith and Culture
Unit 3: Fresh Expressions and traditional churches
Guidebook
Introduction to the two programmes
Running the programme
Appendices
Teaching Sessions
Session 1: What is a church? What is a Congregational church? What is a learning church?
Session 2: The place of Faith in Britain today
Session 3: Reflecting on the experience of running the programmes (based on assignment 2)
12. Indicative Reading
Please note that resources, including course notes/presentations, papers and discussions, as well
as access to online journals, are available through the University of Winchester Learning
Network: www.winchester.ac.uk.
Growing Disciples available from the Congregational Federation
Mission Shaped Intro course at http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/missionshapedintro
Anderson, Ray Sherman, An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches (Oxford: Bible Reading
Fellowship, 2007)
Brookes, Andrew (ed.), The Alpha Phenomenon: Theology, Praxis and Challenges for Mission and
Church Today (London: CTBI Publications, 2007).
Carson, D. A., Becoming Conversant with Emergent: Understanding a Movement and Its
Implications (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2005)
Cooling, Margaret, Creating a learning church : improving teaching and learning in the local
church (Oxford: Bible Reading Fellowship, 2005)
Croft, Steven J. L., Transforming Communities: Re-Imagining the Church for the 21st Century
(London: DLT, 2002)
Greenwood, Robin, Transforming Church: Liberating Structures for Ministry (London: SPCK, 2002)
Growing Disciples Phase 2 pamphlet 'Growing Together as a Learning Community' (Nottingham:
Congregational Federation, 2010)
Hartwell, Becky, Sprouting Churches: The Good Guide to Starting and Improving Work with
Children and Young People (Nottingham: Congregational Federation, 2007)
Hinton, J. and P. B. Price, Changing Communities: Church from the Grassroots (London: Churches
Together in Britain and Ireland, 2003)
Hinton, Jeanne and Peter B. Price, Changing Communities: Church from the Grassroots (London,
CTBI, 2003)
Hinton, Jeanne, Changing churches: Building Bridges in Local Mission (London, CTBI, 2002)
Hopewell, J.F., Congregation: Stories and Structures (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1987)
Hull, J., What Prevents Christian Adults from Learning? (Philadephia: Trinity Press, 1991)
Lees, J., Word of Mouth: Using the remembered Bible for building community (Glasgow: Wild
Goose Publications, 2007)
International Congregational Journal 6.1 (Fall 2006), Theme: Revisioning Theological Education
Morisy, Ann, Journeying Out: A New Approach to Christian Mission (Continuum International
Publishing Group, March 2004)
Moynagh, Michael, Changing World, Changing Church (Oxford: Monarch, 2003)
Moynagh, Michael, EmergingChurch.Intro (Oxford: Monarch, 2004)
Orr, Meg, Creative Learning in the Local Church (Grove Spirituality Series, Cambridge: Grove
Books, 2005)
Oxley, Simon, Creative Ecumenical Education: Learning from one another (Geneva: WCC Risk
Publications, 2002)
Pagitt, Doug, A Christianity Worth Believing: Hope-Filled, Open-Armed, Alive-and-Well Faith for
the Left out Left Behind, and Let Down in Us All (San Francisco, CA: John Wiley, 2008)
Ward, Pete, Liquid Church (Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2002)
Whitesel, Bob, Inside the Organic Church : Learning from 12 Emerging Congregations (Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 2006)
Wuthnow, Robert, After the Baby Boomers: How Twenty- and Thirty-Somethings are Shaping the
Future of American Religion (Princeton, NJ, Woodstock: Princeton University Press, 2007)
Lees, Janet Word of Mouth: Using the remembered Bible for building community (Wild Goose
Publications 2007)
Expressions DVD 1. Stories of Church for a Changing Culture, (1 and 2) (Church Publishing House,
2006, 2007)
Websites
www.freshexpressions.org.uk
www.emergingchurch.info