To pioneer is to look outward towards the missional horizons that surround us and to be serious about following Jesus Christ into those places. Pioneering involves curiosity to ask questions about how and why things are currently done, and to wonder whether things could be done differently for the sake of God’s missional purposes; it involves creative ideas and willingness to take risks in response to the missional imperative for us to connect with those beyond the existing reach of the Church; and it involves courage to turn these ideas into actions, contextualising church in order to meet people where they’re at.
At Emmanuel, the pioneering zeal is woven
deep into our curriculum.
Pioneering shapes what we teach and how we teach, and is core to our ethos as a mission orientated community. We want and expect all our students to be reflective pioneers within their placement contexts to develop forms of Church/ecclesial community that are appropriate to the breadth of cultures and contexts within UK today.
All our students study modules in ‘Missional Ecclesiology’ and ‘Pioneering and Planting’ within the theological studies programme to help develop firm theological wisdom around which to orientate their contextual practise. Several members of teaching staff from across the breadth of traditions have led fresh expressions or church plants so that we bring together practical experience with deep theological learning to ensure our students are well resourced for pioneering in all its forms.
Some of our students have been recognised by their dioceses as having the entrepreneurial gifts best suited to pioneering and church planting ministry. Those pioneers training for ordained ministry have additional workshops with a range of speakers from current pioneer, fresh expression, and church planting situations in a range of church traditions and social-economic contexts.
Our Tutor for Pioneering and Planting, Chris Lane, convenes regular pioneer lunches throughout the year to give opportunities for distinctive ordained pioneers to meet, share stories, offer support and wisdom, and to pray for each other. Our goal Is to cultivate a community of learning that journeys together throughout this period of formation and beyond.
In 2023 Emmanuel Theological College in partnership with the Church of England National Estates Ministry Network hosted the ‘Not Forgotten’ conference for church planters and pioneers. Over 120 people from across the country gathered to learn together from a variety of speakers, including Emmanuel staff, to share wisdom and experience, and to worship together. The conference was hosted by Emmanuel colleagues Chris Lane and Claire Cooke. Recordings from the conference can be found on YouTube. The Not Forgotten podcast, which includes a range of guests from pioneer contexts, is available free to download on Spotify and Apple podcasts.
