School of Leadership and Mission
The School of Leadership and Mission (SLaM) is a Foundation Degree combined with a practical internship either in a church or business environment. The course is designed to prepare you either for church-based ministry, outreach to the world of business or church planting. You can either arrange your own internship or choose from a number of options we have arranged with churches and businesses. The course is currently offered only at our Gloucestershire Hub, based at Trinity Cheltenham.
The course is accredited by the University of Chester.
Biblical Theology (Old and New Testament)
Forming the largest part of the course, the Biblical Theology component covers key areas including Genesis 1-3, focusing on creation and the nature of human identity, Mark’s Gospel and the book of Acts, examining the origins of Christianity. This part of the course also introduces students to the disciplines of Biblical studies.
Internship
The School of Leadership and Mission includes an internship in an area of the student's choosing, either based in a church or in a business. Your performance in your internship is taken into account in course assessment and forms an integral part of the learning experience. Students can either arrange their own internship or apply for an internship arranged by WTC. Click here to view a list of available internships.
Mission studies
This section of the course includes the theology and history of mission, as well as an exploration of the significance of mission within the Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions. Particular attention is also paid to the nature of mission within today’s postmodernist, pluralistic context.
Leadership and Personal Development
This part of the course aims to prepare students to be effective disciples either in the workplace or in the church and ministry. There is a focus on leadership skills such as conflict management, communication skills, pastoral studies and leading teams. The course also contains a significant personal formation component in which a combination of psychometric testing, prophecy and personal development plans help students to discover the person they were created to be.
Communication and Public Speaking
Taught by a leading communications consultant, this part of the course aims to prepare students to be effective public speakers who can communicate clearly. The course will also prepare you to preach the Gospel effectively and to hold the attention of an audience.
Christian doctrine
This section of the course provides an introduction to some of the central teachings of Christianity including God, the Trinity, the identity of Christ, theological anthropology and the church. There is also an introduction to systematic theology method as well as debates in modern theology.
Spirituality in the Christian Tradition
Through a rediscovery of some of the classics in Christian writings from the early Church Fathers to Thomas à Kempis, there is a focus in this course on how God has worked in and through the Church through the ages, and most importantly, on the lessons we can learn from these classics on how to approach modern-day challenges such as life in the Spirit, pastoral care, leadership and becoming more Christ-like.
Entry Requirements
If you are under 25, 180 UCAS points will give you automatic qualification, though we may also interview you. If you have fewer than 180, we will interview you to determine whether the course is right for you.
If you are over 25, no previous qualifications are required, though we may interview you to ensure the course is right for you.
Application Process
- Explore your options for internships - you may want to discuss possibilities with your church.
- Complete the online application form
- We will contact your referees
- Upon the receipt of satisfactory references, and everything else being in order, we will make you an offer.
- Upon being made an offer, you may secure your place by paying a £100 acceptance fee (which is deducted from your first fee payment). We suggest you do this promptly as the course has a maximum intake. It is required that an internship has been arranged prior to the start of the course.
Residential Teaching
Each year you will attend two residential teaching sessions which are in-depth periods where students come together for a few days to focus on the core course teaching. The cost of Residentials, including food and accommodation, is included in the course fees.
Hub Teaching in Cheltenham
Most of the core course teaching will be on Tuesdays in Cheltenham. The remainder of your week will include your internship, a study day, and may include additional paid work to support your living costs.
A typical Hub day in Cheltenham looks like this:
9.00am - arrive, chat and enjoy breakfast with other students
9.30am - worship and ministry time: students also take it in turns to share a word of encouragement for the day
10.00am - start with a recorded lecture and free time of discussion to cover core content
11.30am - seminar with a faculty member to discuss the week’s teaching
1.00pm - lunch
2.30pm - leadership seminar with a local church or business leader
4.00pm - close
Online resources
A rich variety of resources are available to students on the WTC webiste. These includes articles, lecture notes, recorded lectures, access to the University of Chester Library collections and other resources as needed.
Fees
The course fees are £3,000 per year, payable either in full at the start of each year or in three installments. An annual administration charge of £45
applies for paying by installment.
The fees include:
Residential teaching sessions
Weekday teaching in Cheltenham
Access to the library in Cheltenham and other university libraries across the UK
Access to study resources and the Hub and online
University registration
Other costs you may need to consider which are not included in the fees are as follows:
Your personal living expenses throughout the year
Travel to and from Residential sessions
Travel to and from Cheltenham for weekday teaching
Travel to and from the Hub location for 24 weeks of the year
Any books you may wish to purchase to supplement the books provided in the library
Supporting yourself
We recognise that the course represents a significant expense for many people. As such, we recommend that those who have difficulty funding themselves explore a number of available options for raising finance:
Part-time work alongside studying: as the core course teaching only requires one day per week, students have the opportunity to take on work alongside studying.
Your internship: some internships may provide a salary or a contribution towards course fees, living costs or accommodation.
Your church: it may be that your church are willing to make a contribution to help with some or all of your fees. It is always worth asking. It may also be worth approaching individuals or couples within your church.
Sponsorship: if you have links with local charities it may be worth approaching them regarding sponsorship. There are also some grant trusts who offer support for theology students. This website: www.trustfunding.org.uk provides details of bodies who may be able to support you.
Grants and Awards for UK Students: some local education authorities in the UK offer financial assistance. See this website for details: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/index.htm
Where can I study?
WTC courses are based in local churches who host the teaching and contribute content to the Leadership and Ministry part of the course. This course is available at the Hubs indicated on the map below:
I love the way the course fits around my working and personal life