bath & wells: school of formation

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Read the section below to find out what the School of Formation is all about or click on one of the tabs on the left to enter the School's work and resources.

The School of Formation is a new project in the diocese to support Changing Lives. It's not a physical building, located in any one place. At its heart, it's a service across the diocese to bring together the Church's educational resources.

Historically, the church has always needed some kind of new learning when it has changed. From Bishop Cuthbert of Lindisfarne to the reforms of the 20th century, each reformation has needed education.

Now in the 21st century we again face change, and the School of Formation team is seeking to enable joined up learning and thinking as we seek to follow God.

It's called a school because it is primarily involved with education. It includes formation because it is seeking to enable people to be formed into the likeness of Christ, as St Paul encourages.

In brief, its purpose is:

• to enable people to discover life with, and in Jesus
• to help build confidence in Christian communities
• to learn from and about God in a changing world.

To make this happen, Preb Graham Dodds was seconded from his job in the Department of Ministry Development to establish the School. Throughout 2005 and 2006 it was a pilot project, and Graham put together a small team to create it. Click here to see the report written in October 2006 about the school. This was considered by Diocesan Synod on November 4th 2006 and the notes from the meeting can be seen here. In 2007 we were up and running and over the first 15 months we have developed four leadership courses and are now working on courses useful during Vacancies.

To see more of what we are do week by week, visit our blog page

The team at the moment is from left to right: Graham  Anne Ward, Dawn Hickman, Steve Annandale, and Jennifer Cole.

So far the members of the team have listened to many people of varying backgrounds about the needs of the diocese. Through this we have developed over 80 short courses for church communities, and are running 4 major leadership courses for clergy, readers and lay leaders. We have toured the diocese with learning fairs and forged links with ecumenical colleagues. We have some learning partnerships with educational establishments, other colleagues in the South West and work closely with fellow researchers in both academic and practical theology. Reader training has been revised and some of the team have been closely and extensively involved with Bishop Peter's DVD, 'Changing Lives.....for good'.

These projects all contribute to the work of the School in the following areas:

• Cultivating new thinking for the reshaping of the church
• Identifying and responding to local learning needs
• Facilitating the coordination of resources for learning at all levels

Forum centre

We have a forum centre which contains various conversations. Click here to see it. If you are part of any of the groups of people who take part in the forum, but you are not yet a member, then email Jennifer to enquire about membership.

More Information

More information about the School of Formation is available here.

Contact Details:

If you would like to contact the school, here are the staff members:

Learning Difficulties

The School of Formation is seeking to be genuinely inclusive and is committed to helping all students access its courses.

If you have a specific learning difficulty please get in touch with us and we can refer you to someone for an initial consultation.

Enquiries

For all enquiries about the School contact:

Dawn Hickman

The Old Deanery, Wells. BA5 2UG
Tel: 01749 685 106 (direct line and voicemail)
Tel: 01749 670 777 (switchboard)