WESTMINSTER THEOLOGICAL CENTREPioneering a unique form and model of theological training

lifework

mission

Who we are

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYWestminster Theological Centre (WTC) is a not-for-profit theological college offering part-time accredited degrees in theology. Our vision is to bring high quality, rigorous, and accessible theological education into the heart of the local church, and through this, to effect personal and community transformation. We partner with visionary local churches to build a network of local learning centres called Hubs. Our pioneering blend of in-person teaching, web learning, and video-conferencing enables us to bring high quality education to over 200 students per annum in eleven different regions across the UK. WTC is an interdenominational college, drawing students primarily from charismatic streams and Pentecostal traditions, although all are welcome. These churches are continuing to experience significant growth across all denominations, which bodes well for the future growth of WTC.1

WTC addresses five primary needs, and measures success in each area:1. Validated part-time education delivered in a way which forms community and suits those with busy

lives: We offer certificates and degrees validated by the University of Chester delivered at twice-yearly residentials, and also in local communities enabling strong pastoral support and the building of genuine learning communities. Through this we avoid the isolation of distance learning and the unpracticalities of residential training.

2. Church and community transformation: We believe that thoughtful and spiritually engaged Christians are richly beneficial to the church and world.

3. Theological education within the charismatic tradition: Although among the fastest growing constit-uencies in the church, most independent charismatic churches do not have their own training colleges.2 We serve these churches through partnership with local churches and national networks that share our ethos and vision.

4. A supportive environment for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds: We provide a growing number of part- and full-tuition bursaries for individuals from addictions and offending backgrounds, and give personalised learning support.

5. Empowerment of women in leadership: This is an emphasis within our curriculum and is modelled throughout our organisation.

1 See ‘Faith Survey: Christianity in the UK.’ https://faithsurvey.co.uk/uk-christianity.html2 E.g. Pioneer Network, 24-7 Prayer Movement, Ivy Church Network (Manchester)

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1. Validated part-time education delivered in local learning communities: We offer solely part-time theology degrees, diplomas, and certificates, all validated by the University of Chester. Because of our innovative model of delivery, where lecturers only need to be on site 10 days per year, our faculty includes some of the best in the field from around the world.

2. Church and community transformation: WTC is committed to integrated theological educa-tion that shapes individuals to impact the church and world. This derives from our conviction that God creates each person in his image, lending them extraordinary worth and potential. As people discover their identity through deeper theological understanding, and as they learn to engage with God personally through his Spirit, they have the courage and confidence to lead and transform communities.

3. Theological education within the charismatic tradition: Our particular emphasis on charis-matic spirituality and traditions makes us attractive to those within these streams, as well as to independent ‘non-denominational’ churches. Since this represents a large under-served constituency across many churches, we are well placed to provide leadership development, training, and education to churches that are experiencing significant growth.

4. Creating opportunities for disadvantaged individuals: In 2015 WTC developed the Princi-pal’s Bursary Fund, and has since provided full-tuition bursaries for 10 students from ad-diction or offending backgrounds. We wanted to signal a strong commitment that WTC is open to create educational opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. We also provide extensive one-to-one study skills support for these students.

5. Empowering Women in Leadership: While certain sectors of the church have given more attention to the need to empower women in church and society, only 20-30% of church leaders in the UK are women, and women continue to lag behind men in like-for-like pay and opportunities.3 Our student body of 50/50 women and men, and our current executive team with a 3:2 women to men ratio, both reflect our desire to see women leaders raised up in church and society. Each student receives specific teaching around their dignity, identity in Christ, the equality of women, and their empowerment for leadership.

Areas of strategic focus

SECTIONTWOWTC OVERVIEW

WTC is a registered charity (No. 1123573) and company limited by guarantee (Reg. No. 6506007)

3 ‘Statistics on Women in Ministry,’ http://www.eauk.org/church/research-and-statistics/women-in-ministry.cfm.2

A closer look at our delivery:WTC delivers its validated courses through a combination of residential teaching weeks, and video- conference and web-based delivery in 12 local Hubs. For all courses, there are two, four to five day residen-tial teaching blocks per year where all WTC students from across the UK gather together, usually in early September and early January. In addition, students study in local church-based communities called Hubs. Hubs meet weekly, and provide environments in which students can form meaningful relationships, discuss the issues arising in the teaching, and worship together. In our Hubs we also facilitate extra-curricular pro-grammes that allow local experts to deliver special teaching sessions which enables students to develop skills, network with experts in various spheres of influence, and to provide another bridge between the academic, the spiritual, and the practical.

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Track Record

Over 700 students have graduated from WTC since our inception in 2009. This year we have 12 Hubs (one in Sweden), employ two full-time faculty members, draw on 21 visiting lecturers from around the world, and have 205 students. We employ just 13 staff (nine full time equivalent) in our central office, and each Hub retains a part time Hub Director, who is employed by the Hub church to build local engagement.In 2012 and in the wake of a structural upheaval, budgetary constraints led to WTC’s two primary funders withdrawing their long-term support. This required us to completely revisit our funding model but also acted as a positive impetus for change, and was advantageous for the college. Under new leadership, we (a) formed new partnerships across church denominations and networks, and (b) built a broad donor base. Since this time we have made significant progress in making this transition to a sustainable, self-funding charitable op-eration. We have:

1. Grown our donor base. Moving from two major donors in 2012, we now have in the region of 40 donors who support us regularly and in 2016 contributed just under 60% of our total donated income. In addi-tion a number of these donors and approximately 20 others have given 24% of our donated income for specific projects and bursaries. We currently have eight major donors, each of whom have contributed between £5k and £15k over the past three years.

2. Grown our student body. WTC has grown by 50% since 2013, from 134 to 205 students. 3. Developed other revenue streams. These include our Discipleship Course and OpenWTC (an online

and non-accredited course made available for individuals and churches).4. Developed and launched a crowd-funding platform for OpenWTC and other initiatives. This has

only just launched, but has already generated around £210 per month.5. Secured a grant from Jerusalem Trust for £45,000 to be disbursed over the next three years.

Teaching Blocks in Telford, UK

Local speakers providing

extra- curricular

input

Academicdelivery:

Video- Conference Teaching &

Pre-recorded lectures

Prayer & worship

All Hubscome

togetherbi-annuallyfor 5-day

residentials

Local Learning Communities1. Residentials 2. Hubs

In-person teaching in a classroom setting

Impact and OutcomesWTC measures success in terms of impact on students, the Church, and under-served communities:

Students: WTC exists for its students, and through them the Church and society. At the end of their studies, students assess how they have changed and developed through WTC’s courses. We also use student surveys to assess the academic, personal, and spiritual impact of teaching on students. 93% of our students believe that their course provided them with strong foundational knowledge for their lives and ministry, and 95% found their courses spiritually relevant. Importantly, we also look for stories of impact on student lives.4

4 For several inspiring testimonies, see http://wtctheology.org.uk/about-us/student-stories/.

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WTC students consistently report that studying with WTC is transformative and confidence building. Stu-dents are transformed as they discover an exciting world of theological learning that relates to their lives and communities, and touches their deepest passions and sense of identity. Student confidence builds as students discover their gifts and abilities, and as they discover their identity in Christ. There are a number of ways that we achieve this:

1. We have a dedicated and experienced Study Skills Tutor, who is particularly focused on providing support for students who come to us with little or no qualifications. This year our student support hours have increased by 250%.

2. Each undergraduate student has the opportunity to complete a psychometric profile called the Trimetrix which helps each student to understand their behavioural preferences, what motivates them, and gives an objective breakdown of their core capacities and skill sets. As part of this process every student has a one-on-one session with an accredited coach who helps them to explore how they can become more effective in their workplaces, communities, and homes.

Churches: WTC partners directly with 11 churches and one Christian retreat and training centre, each of whom share a vision for theological education. This enables them to become resourcing centres in their region. WTC frees those churches from the burden of creating their own educational programme from scratch. Several churches use WTC to train their leaders and release them into ministry. Each church also has its own natural reach that WTC impacts and extends. Our partner churches have drawn students from a network of over 260 churches since 2012. Our geographical reach facilitates this wide area of impact. Moreover, since 2014 WTC has expanded its partnerships with the following interdenominational organiza-tions, giving us greater recognition in various like-minded networks: Pioneer, Tearfund, The Message Trust, The Filling Station, Fusion, and 24-7 Prayer. These organisations are attracted to WTC because they have a similar ethos and share WTC’s vision for spiritual and societal renewal.

Under-Served Communities: WTC aims to equip students to serve the underserved, and to pro-duce resources for underserved areas. We receive consistent feedback that WTC classes inspired students to work with the disadvantaged, and to think creatively about solving some of the most difficult issues of our time.

‘I started my journey with WTC with only three GCSEs and a carpentry qualification, having struggled with bad dyslexia through education and had spent the last eight years on construc-tion sites. I was very nervous about starting education again, but I felt a call from God to study theology with WTC and I could not be more glad that I took this step of faith. WTC and my local hub have been so welcoming and supportive and I can look back on this year very proud

and astonished that I have written six 2,000-word essays.’

WTC is committed to theological education for students without prior qualifications. Robin, a CertHE student from Exeter, writes,

Robin recently started an internship with Exeter Network Church alongside his carpentry work.

SECTIONTHREECASE STUDIES

‘I have been on a journey over the past few years following what I believe to be God calling me into Church leadership and felt I needed to study to give me a solid theological foundation from which to minister. WTC has equipped me well to serve the church and to minister ef-fectively. Through my studies, I have gained a much greater theological understanding, per-sonal spiritual growth and received tremendous support along the way. Through my study at

WTC, a number of people in my church have changed their views about women in leadership as God has ministered through me to them personally, and as I have been given an increased

number of ministry opportunities. In the autumn, I am going to be officially added to the leadership team. Hopefully, I am trailblazing the way for other women, not just moving into leadership myself.’

WTC is committed to empowering women for effective leadership in and beyond the church. Hayley comments:

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‘While I was doing an assignment on redemption in a module on mission and social justice, it was as if things were working together. I looked on the internet, and came across this site, and it was about restorative justice. So I made contact with the person who was doing something new with restorative justice. He said, “Come on down, do the training, and be-

come one of our facilitators.” So I went down, did the training, and then got into restorative justice through the Restorative Justice Council. I’m now a facilitator! This training has also led

to paid employment. I really feel that this is God’s calling. The different parts of the study I did at WTC have enabled me to put all the pieces together. It’s not the end of the story, it’s just the start.’

WTC is committed to community transformation. Nia, a CertHE student from London was a Corrections Officer. Through her studies with WTC, she was able to pursue work and leadership in restorative justice:

‘I began studying at WTC in 2012. In the years before this I had lost everything due to drug addic-tion, declaring myself bankrupt twelve months previous, and narrowly escaping being sectioned under the mental health act back in 2010. My pastor funded my first year on the course, believing it would be a good step for me. Since becoming a student at WTC so many areas of my life have improved. The first year TriMetrix Personal Development Plan helped me to pin-point key areas

of my personality, and has changed the way I think about myself. I am gaining more confidence in the role and my skills are improving, which in turn has increased my self-worth and esteem. This

year I also managed to complete my NVQ level two in domestic plumbing and heating! I really don’t know how I have managed to complete an NVQ plumbing diploma AND sustain academic studies at degree level for four years - but I LOVE IT!! If I had not been given the opportunity to go deeper into the Bible and to be around professional theological peo-ple, who teach others what they have learnt, teaching straight from their own hearts, I don’t think my mind would be as it is today. Studying the Bible helps me to see the world differently and to recognise my correct position in it. Little by little, day by day I have gained the ability accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the “wisdom” to know the difference. WTC should be called “Wisdom Theological College”.’

WTC is also committed to providing a supportive environment for students from offending or addiction backgrounds. Darren (5th year part-time BA) is one of our ‘Principal’s Bursary Fund’ students. He tells his story this way:

SECTIONFOURLEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

The current executive team came together in 2012/13 in response to the need for the restructuring and the restart of the college. Dr Lucy Peppiatt was invited to lead the organisation through a time of major transition and challenge. She was promoted to Dean in 2012 and to Principal in 2013. She recruited a highly competent and experienced senior executive team that has focussed on expanding WTC’s network, growing the student numbers and revenue streams, and securing the funding necessary to ensure the long term success of the college. The team is made up of Catherine Delve, Chief Operating Officer, Dr Matt Lynch, Academic Dean, Dr Katherine Gantlett, Hub Operations & Marketing Director, and Christopher Tawney, Financial Director. Cath-erine has more than thirty years experience leading teams and businesses in the commercial, church and charity sectors. She has been involved with WTC since 2009. Matt Lynch has pioneered a number of initia-tives alongside his academic work. He developed WTC’s own MOOC (massive open online course) which has attracted more than 3000 people in over 30 countries, many of whom have subsequently become students. He has also introduced a number of fundraising initiatives, including the recent launch of WTC’s own crowd-funding platform (openwtcgive). Katherine and Christopher have just joined the Executive team. Katherine has a background in scientific research with a PhD from the University of Oxford, and also completed the GradDip in 2013. Her roles involve assisting the COO with managing existing Hubs, setting up new Hubs, and developing marketing strategies. Christopher is a chartered accountant and a highly experienced Finance Director. Most recently he has been involved with a number of start-ups, one of which is about to list. We are delighted to now have access to Christopher’s expertise, but also to his networks.

In line with the restructured executive team, a number of key people have joined the Board of Trustees since 2013 in order to contribute to the new vision for WTC. We were delighted to welcome Laurence Singlehurst as the Chair in January 2017. Laurence brings a wealth of experience to WTC. He served Youth With A Mis-sion for more than a decade as their National Director, has held various board positions in organisations such as Fusion UK, Beyond the Streets, Cell UK, and Hope, and has authored in excess of 20 books. Before this, Chris Gillies was appointed Deputy Chair of Trustees in 2014, and has played a leading role in the move towards sustainability. After 33 years in business, Chris recently retired from his full time role as a member of Zurich Insurance Group’s leadership team to spend more time working in the not for profit sector. He continues to serve Zurich as Chairman of one of their UK businesses and as an independent Board Member of the Zurich Foundation, making a valuable contribution to sustainable social and economic development.

Details of our other Trustees, staff and faculty can be found on our website: www.wtctheology.org.uk/people

WTC Trustees

SECTIONFIVEREGIONAL CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS

Working in partnership is central to our ethos at WTC and we actively seek partnerships with those church-es which share a vision for transformation at personal, national and international levels. Each of our part-ners contributes financially to the ongoing operation of their Hub through the investment of facilities such as a library and videoconferencing equipment. In addition, each Hub church employs a Hub Director who is responsible for the pastoral care of the students. In return, each Hub Church partner receives a rebate of 12% per annum of the student fees for the students in their Hub, enabling local costs to be covered typically by year four. This ‘community franchise’ model is well received. Partner churches are keen to find new, mission-minded ways to use their facilities and become resourcing influencers in their regions. These partnerships also enable us to expand without bearing additional costs because no capital expenditure is required to open a new Hub.

For further details of all our partnerships please visit https://wtctheology.org.uk/about-us/partners/7

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SECTIONSIXSTUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS

Denominations

Employment

Age Range

Anglican 22%

Baptist 10%

Free Evangelical 44%

Pentecostal 13%

Other 11%

Business & Technology 17%

Education 15%

Church 12%

Other 12%

Healthcare 11%

Ministry 8%

Finance 8%

Social Work 7%

Engineering 3%

Manual Labour 3%

Home 2%

Retired 2%

18-25 13%

26-35 26%

36-50 29%

51-65 30%

Over 65 2%

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

3

12

5

231

31

205

767

2017-18

2

112,700

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HUBS

FACULTYMEMBERS

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STUDENTS

COHORTS

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In 2009 WTC adopted a more decentralised model for our teaching, which has enabled us to serve local churches better. The first three Hubs were located in Hamp-shire, Central London, and Gloucestershire.

FIRST HUBS OPEN

OpenWTC Living the Christian Story

NEW HUB OPENING

+IN

NUM

BERS

OUR LATEST INITIATIVES

2009

HUBSWith the completion of our BA and MA programmes WTC has since DOUBLED the size of its curriculum from 2013-2017.

Number of WTC students in total through the years (2006-2017)

In our CertHE,BA,GradDip,and MA courses

Number of signups

In justyears

Over

countries

From over

CambridgeSept 2018

OVER THE PREVIOUS4 YEARS

52% growth

designed to give new Christians an understanding of their faith.

A new 6-session course to help Christians discern new and old pathways to spiritual formation.

Our free 10-week flexible online theology course

SESSION COURSE

TOTAL NUMBER OF VIEWS

New OpenWTC Course SPIRITUALLY FORMED6 41,108

by Lucy Peppiatt & Matthew Lynch

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equipping the whole people of God for life, work, and mission

in the real world

blog

@wtctheology

wtctheology.org.uk

“WTC’s rigorous theology takes people from every background to

discover there’s a lot more that they can find out about God and relating

their Christian faith to the rest of life.” Bishop David Williams, Church Leader

“Over the years Ivy’s involvement with WTC has helped catalyse and sus-tain a leadership culture to train our church leaders, church planters and world changers for the Kingdom.”Anthony Delaney, Church Leader

2017