Theological Education - The Bible in the Life of the Church
How you can be involved
The work of the project will happen in two main ways:
- In six Regional Groups across the Communion which will undertake each of the case studies across their region and report back to the Steering Group.
- In User Groups of others across the Communion who wish to become involved by using the material that is prepared for the Regional Groups and other Bible study materials that emerge from the project.
About the User Groups
As the project is aimed at looking at how we handle the Bible in the life of the Church we are looking for as many different church groups that we can find. These groups may already exists – home groups, Bible study groups, groups in theological colleges or seminaries, clergy groups, Mothers’ Union groups, diocesan committees – the list could go on. The exercises could be undertaken over just one session or expanded and the Bible studied over a number of meetings. What we ask of the groups is two things:
- First, that they use the core material – particular Bible passages and questions – in the study notes so that we can compare different groups. There is plenty of scope to go beyond this core material and we encourage any group to do that.
- Second, that they feedback to the Steering Group your reflections on the process of studying the Bible together.
About the study notes
The study notes are trying to encourage those involved in the project to explore two aspects of using the Bible – the first is what it says about the issue; the second is to reflect on how we actually handled the Bible in undertaking the study.
The notes try not to be too prescriptive and so are perhaps briefer than some would like them to be. As we are trying, as part of the project, to offer Bible exploration material to the church we would welcome comments on the notes themselves and how you feel – after using them – they may be improved.
Financing the project
The ACC, in its resolution, invited Provinces to contribute to the on going costs of the project. Already a number have responded to this invitation and the early work is possible because of these contributions. We have also received generous contributions from a diocese, a mission agency and a number of interested individuals. Further funding will be necessary if we are to complete the project in the way outlined in these pages.
Go to the Downloadssection for study notes
If you are interested in helping financially or in establishing a User Group register your interest with the project’s administrator Stephen Lyon