Podcast 1 March 2005
Podcasting is a revolution in internet
communication. As broadband connections become less expensive, many people are
moving from reading text to listening to Audio. So, I thought I would give it a
bit of a try. Here is my very first attempt at an audio broadcast on the
internet! This podcast introduces a book called "Courageous Leadership" by Bill
Hybels (2002, Grand Rapids, Michigan).
I tried my best to get the file size
as small as possible without removing too much of the audio quality. If you
have any comments, please drop me a line and offer some feedback! I hope to be
able to post a few interviews, sermons, and some general theological discussion
and news in this format in weeks to come. In particular, I will be taking my
Apple Powerbook, Sony Microphone and Garageband Software with me on my trip to
Cambridge in the UK and Duke and Garret seminaries in the
US!
If you would like to listen to the
Podcast please click on the 'Read more' link below.
Posted at 05:32 PM
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And are we yet alive?
Over the last couple of weeks I have received a few
messages asking whether this blog was still being updated, or whether it had
been abandoned. Well, here's proof that it is still being updated.
It is good to be back. I have had
quite a busy time since October last year when Charmaine and Sidwell finished up
on the Education for Ministry and Mission Unit. Victor was also not well for
some months, going in and out of hospital. Thanks be to God that he is now
almost recovered and that our two new staff members, Phidian Matsepe and Madika
Sibeko, have joined the Unit. Their arrival is truly a gift from God and they
are already making a significant and worthwhile impact upon ministerial
training.
I have included below an
informal report that I sent out to Methodist clergy at the end of 2004. There
is so much to celebrate!
John Wesley College
Report
The year that has passed has presented the staff
and students of the College with a great deal to
celebrate.
Firstly, we celebrated our
10th Anniversary at Kilnerton this year. The event was marked by a
Gala Dinner and Academic conference at the College, held on 9 September 2004.
The keynote speaker was Prof B Pityana. A number of electives were presented
for delegates and students to attend in the afternoon. In the evening the
celebrations were capped off with a gala dinner at which some of the staff were
honoured with long time service
awards.
At the end of my first year at
John Wesley College I thought it might be fitting to share some good news about
our Church's seminary, John Wesley College, and the Education Unit. Here are a
few things to
celebrate!
1)
During this year John Wesley College was accredited by the Council for Higher
Education (one of only 16 Colleges across South Africa that has managed to
complete the arduous accreditation process). We now have legal standing
under Educational law to offer the Diploma in Theology and Ministry on
level 6 (Degree level) and on level 5 (Post
Matric).
2)
The sad news is that Rev Charmaine Morgan and Rev Sidwell Mokgothu have
moved on from the Unit (Charmaine has moved into a Circuit appointment in Port
Elizabeth. Sidwell has taken up a post in Government). We are
immensely grateful to them both for their sacrifices, hard work, and dedication
in educating laity and clergy in the Church for the last 5 years. Also,
many of you may be aware that our Unit Director, Victor Tshangela, has not been
at all well for the last few months. Please do keep him in your prayers,
he is getting better by the day. The good news is that we were joined by
two new staff members in January 2005! Rev Madika Sibeko will be taking
over from Sidwell in co-ordinating lay training. Rev Phidian Matsepe will
be taking over from Charmaine in looking after probationers in circuit. I
will remain as the Dean of Students at John Wesley
College.
3)
John Wesley College had a pass rate of 84% in 2004! 344 courses were
registered for by 70 students. This is a rise of almost 10% over last
year. Since John Wesley College opened at Kilnerton we have had 168
graduates with the Diploma in Theology (which gives direct access to an Honours
Degree), 55 of these graduates have completed Honours Degrees in Theology, 9
have completed Masters Degrees, 4 have either completed, or are busy completing,
Doctorates in Theology! The Council for Higher Education congratulated the
Methodist Church for it's high standards in education, excellent external
quality control, and our above average pass rate. Phidian Matsepe,
who studied at John Wesley College and is completing a Doctorate in Old
Testament, will be the first College Graduate to be appointed to the full time
staff.
4)
For the first time in 10 years we offered Greek to students at John Wesley
College. Of the 9 students who registered 6 passed (which is not bad at
all, as those who have studied and taught Greek will testify!!) A
number of these students are going on to do Honours degrees in New
Testament next
year.
5)
We worked hard in 2004 to build capacity in academic staff. I am pleased
to say that every one of our lecturers now has AT LEAST a Masters Degree.
Also, we have at least one person with a Doctorate teaching a course, or parts
thereof, in each of the 5 theological disciplines (Old Testament, New Testament,
Church History, Systematic Theology, and Pastoral Theology). Furthermore 6
of the staff members were trained as
Assessors.
6)
Sister denominations are sending more and more of their students to study at
John Wesley College (over the past few years we have had Presbyterian,
Congregational, Anglican, Episcopalian, United Methodist, and Independent Church
students graduating form John Wesley College). We are also developing
strong ecumenical relationships with other seminaries and students from other
Churches in our area. We were pleased to host an ecumenical seminary
gathering at John Wesley College in September this
year.
7)
The demand to study at John Wesley College now outweighs our capacity! We
are only able to accommodate 30 or so 'private students' (e.g. persons who are
not Methodist probationer ministers, or who are sent from other
denominations). We have a waiting list of almost 20 persons for entry into
the Diploma
program.
8)
The MCSA has never had more persons in training for ministry. Next year
the Education for Ministry and Mission Unit will look after close to 260
probationer ministers (that is almost a 100% increase in 15
years!).
So,
all in all, with some ups and downs, John Wesley College has had a fantastic
year!
As
our mission statement says, our desire truly is to "Equip all Methodist to
proclaim the Gospel for healing and
transformation".
Some
of our needs
are:
1)
Circuits, societies, and individuals who are willing to sponsor (or tithe
towards) families of students who are at College in 2005. A married person
at College receives only about R300 - R500 per month feed, clothe, and educate,
his or her family whilst at College. Please make any such arrangements for
financial support with us through the EMMU
office.
2)
Donations of books, or monies to buy books, for the John Wesley College
library. Due to budgetary cuts the Education Unit is not able to offer
book allowances to ANY probationers in 2005 (so please do consider helping to
fund some books for probationers in your area, or the probationers who are at
College next
year).
3)
Sporting and recreational equipment for students and their families at
College. We have 12 families and 36 single students living in residence at
John Wesley College. We would love to offer some recreational comforts for
our students and their families (in particular the College pool table needs to
be replaced, including snooker sticks and balls. We also have a soccer
team that would love to wear a kit with some Methodist person's company logo or
slogan when we play in the Church
league!)
4)
Encouragement and support for students at College. Some individuals and
Churches in the connexion have taken it upon themselves to pray for the students
at College, and write to them from time to time, in order to encourage them as
they prepare for Ministry and
Mission.
5)
Prayer for our staff as we engage in the task of shaping others for
ministry. Please do pray for the staff and volunteers who work in the Unit
as we undertake the awesome responsibility of facilitating training of persons
for Ministry and
Mission.
If
you would like any information about the College or the Unit please feel free to
call or drop me a line.
Yours
truly,
Dion
Forster
Dean of
Students
Posted at 09:01 AM
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Is it only their problem?
Some thoughts, and a sermon, on the war in Iraq,
Michael Moore's movie Fahrenheit 911.
Posted at 10:51 PM
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A discussion document on the essential elements of good training for the
Ministry
As the title says, this is a document that discusses
what I believe to be essential and necessary elements for training ministers for
service and significance.
Posted at 04:22 PM
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Challenge and opportunity in Theological Education...
I guess that I could be considered something of an
optimist. In most situations I try to find any positive elements that may be
present.
Currently we are in a rather
difficult place, both personally as a family, and with regards to my ministry at
John Wesley College. I do however believe that in the midst of the uncertainty
and challenge that lies ahead there is a great deal of possibility and hope.
This is the certainty of the faith. God works for the good of those who love
God (Romans 8:28). My experience tells me that in life things don't often get
worse, they just change. Sometimes our personal perception of a change is
negative. However, change almost always benefits someone. I hope and trust
that any changes that will take place with be for the greater good, and I hope
to contribute towards that in whatever way I
can.
I include in the read more link
below an open letter that will shed more light on the challenges that lie ahead,
and some of the disappointments that have gone
before.
__________
Posted at 04:15 PM
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A blessed Easter, and welcome back
A blessed Easter to all our friends family and
colleagues.... Some comment on The Passion of the Christ.
Posted at 07:01 PM
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