The need to value the work of women and support them in their biblical ministries has been taken seriously by the London Seminary, as two new Flourish training sites will be added to its oversubscribed London-based course from September 2018.
Applicants soon exceeded places when the course was launched last September, so the addition of programmes based out of London was warmly welcomed.
Almost two years ago, the then Principal of London Seminary, Robert Strivens, started thinking about the possibility of running a course to better equip women serving in biblically appropriate roles in churches. A group of women experienced in different types of ministry were gathered for a consultation as to what such a course should include, and if indeed one was needed.
South-West and North
The enthusiastic response was that there was a need. A programme was put together and Flourish was born. Plans are now coming together for Flourish South-West in Bradford on Avon run by Sarah Strivens, and Flourish North in Manchester, run by Sarah Allen.
The course is spread over a year in nine one-day sessions. The mornings start with biblical and doctrinal studies. Set reading needs completing before each day, but there are no assignments or exams to write. Guided reading questions have been based on Herman Bavinck’s Our Reasonable Faith.
Lunch together has been found to be a useful time to discuss what has been taught, to hear about the work that others are involved in, to build friendships and support one another.
Afternoons have focussed on practical topics relevant to women’s ministry. Taught by various women experienced in this area, the sessions have explored how to respond to contemporary culture and support people through the variety of ministries with which women are involved. Opportunities are given to discuss together, to work on tasks and to share experience and expertise.
Mentoring
An important element of the course is that each participant has a mentor, a mature Christian woman with whom they meet up between Flourish days. Using the questions set, they reflect on what they have learnt and seek to apply it both to their personal situations and to the work in which they are involved.
The course is designed to stretch and develop individuals and as such it is not recommended for complete newcomers to ministry. Some women on the course have noted how time or finances had stopped them attending Bible college. Some said that having the opportunity to look in more detail at various doctrines such as the Trinity, God’s sovereignty, penal substitutionary atonement and justification has helped Bible study preparation and discussions, because ‘these doctrines underpin everything else’. Testimonies showed how the reading between sessions was ‘heart-warming and stretching’.
