There was an elephant in the room at the Award Ceremony for graduates of the CMS Certificate in Pioneer Mission. The elephant was a symbol for God inviting pioneers on a journey of discovery with him to new places in their imaginations, hearts and local communities to find out what God was already doing there and to join in. Each student was given a handmade wooden elephant as a memento of the course and a reminder of the call of God on their lives.
Four people from Bath and Wells received their award of the Certificate from Bishop Ruth at a ceremony in Flourish House on Saturday 25th March. In the hybrid ceremony three more participated online and one was unable to attend. There was a party atmosphere as people celebrated all they had learned and experienced.
One student said of the course ‘It's been an exciting journey with God and his people... into his world... it's just almost too much to put into a sentence. It's been very high quality in terms of teaching the methods of learning have been innovative - challenging in a good way - and have helped me learn.’Another of the students wrote after the ceremony: ‘What a lovely day on Saturday and I’m very grateful to the team for making my kids so welcome. My daughter made this pipe cleaner sculpture which I felt was very apt about where we are all called and headed… like a lightbulb, or a city on a hill which cannot be hidden, giving light to everyone in the house/culture…’ (Matt 5:14.)
The Certificate is run in partnership with the Dioceses of Truro and Salisbury and in total 20 people completed the learning over a period of a year with 16 being recognised by their home diocese as a local lay pioneer, authorised to lead the local church in pioneer mission in their area. Each expressed their sense of the importance of the role that pioneering plays in this period of the life of the church and celebrated the partnership they shared as each diocese participated in the CMS Southwest Hub. CMS representatives were also present in the three diocesan celebrations with Jonny Baker Director of the CMS Britain Hub speaking of the key elements of imagination and going to the margins that are part of the DNA of the Church Mission Society.
Recruitment is just starting for the Certificate 2023-24. There are taster days online and onsite on 10 and 13 May. More information is available together with an application form on the diocesan website or for an informal chat call Tina Hodgett on 01865 787684 or mobile 07759 909106 or email Tina