A Day in the Life with Tom Clewer
Lead Mentor Tom Clewer gives us a window in on a “day in the life” of our Porthcawl Learning Community.
A typical day in the Porthcawl Learning Community begins with some good coffee and a student-led devotion. That really sets the tone for the day, because the Learning Community is not merely about theological education, it is more: mind-stretching theology fuels worship, grows ministry and builds disciples.
As the day continues, we watch some world-class lectures on a broad variety of theological subjects, but the ethos is always quite practical: how does this theology impact everyday faith and ministry?
Discussions form an important part of the day, no questions are off-limits and these are strengthened by the availability of lecturers to answer queries and debates. They usually end up spilling over into lunch. Each week we take a walk to the local Greggs and enjoy some food together and by the end of the first year we’ve always built up a sense of strong community and openness. Theology explored in the community of the local church can be a glorious thing!
The ethos is always quite practical: how does this theology impact everyday faith and ministry?
We began the Learning Community in partnership with another local church. Initially we had a couple of people who were thinking of future ministry and church planting; the Learning Community model seemed like a golden opportunity to train and equip Christians without sending them away whilst still maintaining a high standard of education. We have found it to be ideal for those who are already in part-time ministry, those who are bi-vocational, or those who have some spare time on their hands!
One of the highlights of the last few years has been the sheer variety of people we have had come through the Porthcawl Learning Community. Men and women, elders and youth workers, academics and those who haven’t written anything more than a shopping list for 40 years, old and young, retired and recent graduates, people from multiple theological backgrounds.
In fact, we’re currently running a year that is entirely made up of post-graduate scientists, it is a sure-fire recipe for interesting and productive discussion. I can honestly say that I have learnt as much as the students whilst I have been mentoring this community; there is something incredibly rich and fruitful about Christians coming together from different churches to grapple with God’s Word together.
I can honestly say that I have learnt as much as the students whilst I have been mentoring this community; there is something incredibly rich and fruitful about Christians coming together from different churches to grapple with God’s Word together.
If you’re thinking: ‘this might be for me,’ then book a taster day in your local Learning Community. I wholeheartedly recommend it - in fact, even as someone who thoroughly enjoyed a traditional campus-based theological education, I cannot imagine a better means of training and equipping than this partnership between Union and the local church.
I cannot imagine a better means of training and equipping than this partnership between Union and the local church.
If you’d like to attend a Learning Community Taster Day, contact our Admissions Team:
