We value life-flourishing education
“Rising to life and breaking out from Babylon” are two biblical concepts that have been informing CWM’s approach to understanding God’s mission for us. The two ideas are woven throughout Christian doctrines and shape behaviours in mission and ministry.
Resurrection [rising to life]
In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we find a different approach to living. Because of the resurrection promise, we are not to be afraid of death. Rather, we remember that a grain of seed must die in order for new life to rise. Resurrection is core in Christian faith. When mortal death comes, we welcome this eternal new life in Christ. Even the very act of Baptism is a dying to self and a rising to Godly life. We actually begin our eternal relationship in this earthly life.
The resurrected Body of Christ, the Church, has the mission to continue God’s work on earth. We learn. We teach. We are healed. We heal. We forgive. We are forgiven. Our education needs to form us in these skills and practices, helping us to become fit as a body to do this work.
Empowerment through Programmes
AAP/SAAP [Academic Accompaniment Programme]
The Academic Accompaniment Programme (AAP) provides for further education for scholars up to 55 years at time of application.
Such opportunities are used by member churches to:
- Build up or upgrade a theological faculty
- Develop new leaders
- Acquire specific skills for emerging challenges in mission
AAP is an integral part of CWM’s commitment to accompany member churches in capacity-building for mission. It offers Masters and Doctoral Research in theological education and associated studies to be undertaken for missional outcomes.
Churches nominating applicants for the Academic Accompaniment Programme are reminded that CWM has a firm goal to support 50% women candidates. Churches should submit no less than 1/3 of women among their nominees. Special consideration is given to applicants from the ‘margin’ of stratified societal order including women, sexual minorities, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities.
APPLICATIONS – There are two application intakes each year: Send to “empowerment@cwmission.org”
January 21 – Closing Date March 15 (for decision by end-June) and
June 21 – Closing Date August 15 (for decision by end-November)
Please note the Closing Dates. Any incomplete Applications OR Applications received after the Closing Date will not be considered until the following intake.
Downloads:
Special Academic Accompaniment Programme (SAAP)
The Special Academic Accompaniment Programme (SAAP) also helps to promote pathbreaking studies and research (short and long term) relevant to emerging challenges to the mission of the church. This programme explicitly accommodates applicants and issues that are normally not addressed through AAP in partnership with selected renowned academic institutions.
Please contact us to discuss whether this is an appropriate programme for your circumstances before starting the application process.
Downloads:
MCI [Member Church Initiatives]
This Programme facilitates capacity development of the member churches through offering opportunities for people engaged in mission to undertake short-term, skills-oriented training, or learning from experiences.
Applications close SEPTEMBER 30 each year.
Download MCI Proposal Info and Application Form
TIM [Training in Mission]
TIM is open to young adults with Christian maturity and a sense of adventure and discovery. TIMs are emerging leaders, recognised by their denominational churches, or by our ecumenical partners (CEVAA and WCRC) as having particular potential for serving in mission settings in or on behalf of their home church or in the area of global ecumenism.
TIM is designed to nurture and form missional leaders who will live a mission-oriented life, serving in a variety of capacities in the decades ahead of them. Many TIMs go on to have varied careers in church and mission work or in global development settings.
Downloads:
Face2Face
Face2Face aims to facilitate immersion, bible studies and seminars for participants to reflect on mission in a post-colonial context, and engage in a global dialogue on theology, spirituality and mission. Through the six-week programme, current and recently graduated theological students will encounter the lived realities of local multi-faith communities, reflect on the motivation and method of mission in different parts of the world, and bring this reflection back to their own contexts.
In 2025, Face2Face is likely to take place in two locations, exploring different missional themes.
One will explore Life flourishing Interfaith Dialogue ad Action in the South Asia region.
One will explore issues related to Ecology-Economy and the impacts of mining land and sea.
A New Face [ANF]
ANF is a continuing education Faith and Culture Engagement Programme. The programme varies from year to year to address particular emerging missinal needs. It is designed for Ordained Ministers with both theological credentials and practical experience to deepen their engagement in a core missional area. It also serves to build global networks of thinking practitioners.
ANF 2025 will take place over 8-10 weeks, incorporating 4-6 weeks of part-time online learning, followed by gathered community engagement for a 3-4 week period. The specialization in 2025 will be on the theme of child and youth formation: education for forming missional disciples. As part of the application process, potential participants are asked to write a 500-word review-reflection on one of the following resources:
1. Understanding Faith Formation: Theological, Congregational, and Global Dimensions by Mark A. Maddix, Jonathan H. Kim, et al. | 27 October 2020 (Please review Part 3)
2. Bridging Theory and Practice in Children’s Spirituality: New Directions for Education, Ministry, and Discipleship
by Robert J. Keeley (Author), Mimi L. Larson (Editor). (2020)
3. Applied Missiology of Education for Sunday School Children by Simanjuntak, M. B., Lumingkewas, M. S., & Sutrisno. (2022). International Journal of Education and Literature, 1(2), pp. 16–18.
4. Stage Development Theory and The Use of Elementary Exegesis in Bible Teaching to Children: A Child-focused and Bible-Orientation Pedagogical Approach by Brodie, R (2020) (article)
5. Sunday School: Past and Present by Oliver, E. (2006)
6. The Efficacy of Pan Africa Christian University Transformative Sunday School Teacher Training Program on the Teacher’s Moral and Social Life by Too, SJ. (2024)
7. To, For, With: A Brief History of Children’s Sunday School Curriculum by Kennedy, J. (2024)
Revisioning Educational Ministry
To embrace a broader global understanding of formation for mission, CWM is thinking GLocally (both globally and locally). Most of our programmes have two core elements: 1) being based in a particular place for a particular time, and 2) facilitating the interactions of people from around the world in a short-term intentional community. We think about the particular context in which we are temporarily placed and how this speaks to our varied contexts, together helping us to gain insights about worldwide issues and concerns.
In addition to programmes, we are involved with global communities:
Theologians without Borders is a community of socially engaged theologians committed to accompanying the theological institutions and churches in the Global South to facilitate life-flourishing education.
Service, Witness and Worship – Ministry of Service (DIAKONIA) the Word and Sacrament (LOGOS) are central to the vocation of the Church. However, it is important to decolonize the altar and pulpit and transform them as spaces that inspire the church to “rising to life and breaking out from Babylon.”
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