Review of 2007
How can we sum up a whole year in just a few lines?
We can’t, but here are a few tasters; we can read more on our website: www.lutherkinghouse.org.uk and see some good photos.
Key points from 2007
· The Southern North West Training Partnership (all the LKH partners plus three Anglican dioceses) is now up and running, welcoming its first students in September
· Its new course is a Foundation Degree where learning on the job is a crucial element. As we reported last year, this fits really well with our emphasis on contextual theology. Via LKH it will be accessible to students from all over the UK.
· This also led to our decision to transfer our undergraduate validation to Chester University so we adopt the same Foundation degree as the SNWTP but still enable our part time and full time students to continue studying to Bachelor level if they want to.
· We are therefore pleased to have our new style CRCW course endorsed by England Standards Board for Community Work Training.
· LKH has now started using its own Moodle, our new virtual learning environment. Students can look at course and learning material and take part in forums. It is the way of the future and will transform our teaching and learning possibilities.
· Our redeveloped library now has its own online catalogue, so you can renew your books, reserve an item that is on loan and check the availability of a book all from home!
· The Southern North West Training Partnership (all the LKH partners plus three Anglican dioceses) is now up and running, welcoming its first students in September· Its new course is a Foundation Degree where learning on the job is a crucial element. As we reported last year, this fits really well with our emphasis on contextual theology. Via LKH it will be accessible to students from all over the UK.· This also led to our decision to transfer our undergraduate validation to Chester University so we adopt the same Foundation degree as the SNWTP but still enable our part time and full time students to continue studying to Bachelor level if they want to.· We are therefore pleased to have our new style CRCW course endorsed by England Standards Board for Community Work Training.· LKH has now started using its own Moodle, our new virtual learning environment. Students can look at course and learning material and take part in forums. It is the way of the future and will transform our teaching and learning possibilities. · Our redeveloped library now has its own online catalogue, so you can renew your books, reserve an item that is on loan and check the availability of a book all from home!
Note from the Chair of LKHET Board, Shân Dobinson
We have had another challenging but successful year and we are pleased to share the highlights of it with you in this review.
Lengthy ecumenical discussions and negotiations have produced an exciting new partnership and pattern of part-time undergraduate theological education. Setting up the new course has meant an enormous amount of work for our staff, but it is good to see the results.
Some partners have faced major denominational reviews of theological education and ministerial training and, as in the description of the body in 1 Corinthians, what affects one, affects us all.
We aim to be at the cutting edge of theological education as we work with churches and denominations to fulfil our vision to equip God’s people for ministry and mission.
Note from the President, David Goodbourn
Aware of the changing denominational and educational scenes, we need to think strategically about the future. You may think there’s been enough change – new degrees, new partnerships, new IT and teaching strategies, major building project – but we know there’s more ahead. Work on a new strategic plan began in the autumn, and is still being negotiated with the colleges. It is likely to include a much stronger emphasis on learning for the whole people of God. More next year.
Note from the Chair of Finance, John Piper
It has been a testing year financially but in the end our finances remain remarkably ‘on track’. In 2006/07, the House business suffered from both the sudden death of our General Manager and in the second half of the year the disruption caused by the building project. If you ignore the cash flows relating to the project, the accounts show we more or less balanced the books. This is mainly due to the generosity of our partners and other supporters but it is also down to the careful control of budgets by all our staff. More details on the financial year are in the directors’ report at the front of the annual accounts.
Much of the last year was spent negotiating the financial basis of the new SNWTP course and considering the financial implications of proposed changes to Methodist and URC approaches to theological training. At this stage, it looks like the new part time course has left LKH financially neutral with the Colleges slightly better off.
Academic aspirations and achievements
The objectives of Luther King House Educational Trust are to advance education in Christian faith, practice and dialogue. We do this by providing learning opportunities for church members and attenders, sharing theological resources with local churches and communities, preparing people for accredited forms of ministry and giving opportunities for post-graduate research.
So how have we done? Here are a few statistics. The number of students remains fairly constant, with around 150 registered for a Manchester degree. Add to them about two dozen on short Courses and the new part-time students who register with the SNWTP rather than LKH. We have two undergraduates for every postgraduate and about ⅔ students study part-time. People today often choose for social and financial reasons to combine study with other work in their church, community or employment. We have a small but growing number of international students from four continents.
The objectives of Luther King House Educational Trust are to advance education in Christian faith, practice and dialogue. We do this by providing learning opportunities for church members and attenders, sharing theological resources with local churches and communities, preparing people for accredited forms of ministry and giving opportunities for post-graduate research. So how have we done? Here are a few statistics. The number of students remains fairly constant, with around 150 registered for a Manchester degree. Add to them about two dozen on short Courses and the new part-time students who register with the SNWTP rather than LKH. We have two undergraduates for every postgraduate and about ⅔ students study part-time. People today often choose for social and financial reasons to combine study with other work in their church, community or employment. We have a small but growing number of international students from four continents.
Congratulations to John Harrod on the publication of his book Weaving the Tapestry of Moral Judgment; Andrew Pratt on his, Net Gains: a guide for ministry; and Lesley Husselbee (with Prof Paul Ballard) on hers, Community and Ministry.
Key events
First Tuesdays: these open events, when a thinker engages with whoever comes, have flourished. Bishop Angelaos talked about Coptic Christianity. Bishop David Gillett spoke about Christian-Muslim relations. Join the email network to be kept in touch.
Considering study? An open day for people thinking of studying with us will be held on Saturday 19 April 2008
Contact registrar@lkh.co.uk or go to www.lutherkinghouse.org.uk
Luther King House
We are certainly more than bricks and mortar, but this year has seen our long-awaiting development work to build a new lounge and library as well as the much-needed separate access to the chapel. This will make an enormous difference to all students, staff and visitors.
A big thank you to everyone involved in this project, including all our supporters and donors, especially Bowland Charitable Trust, who made all this possible.
We had our official opening ceremony on 30 October when Tony Cann cut the ribbon; do look at the photos on our website.
A successful open afternoon, held in November, showed off the new facilities and enabled library, conference facilities and academic courses to be marketed together.
Conferences:
Conference business continues to be buoyant. Most users are churches, charities, city council, local PCTs or training organisations. Over 100 different organisations held conferences at LKH during 2007. We also held a wedding & a baptism celebration party.
Bed & breakfast:
We have 45 bedrooms, 17 double/twin, 25 single & 3 family rooms. When not used for our own courses or conferences, they are let out to bed-and-breakfast customers. Not only does this boost income & keep the House & its catering viable, it says something important about Christian welcome. The new lounge area is a great addition. It provides a space for all House users to meet and relax, both in the day and in the evening.
So why not get in touch and talk to us about the next meeting, away day, conference or special event you are planning and see if you can book it at Luther King House. You’ll get a warm welcome whatever time of the year.
Contact: Martin Cloves, Conference and Events Manager on 0161 224 6404 or booking@lkh.co.uk or go to www.lutherkinghouse.co.uk