Introducing the ‘Newbigin Pioneering Hub’

We are a collaboration between United Reformed Church, Congregational Federation, Church Mission Society and Seedbeds and named in honour of the inspirational URC Minister and mission theologian, Lesslie Newbigin. This venture is open to all and part of celebrating the past 50 years of the United Reformed Church and Congregational Federation by investing our future in local communities.

 Our mission is:

‘To discover, nurture, empower and release a new Community of Pioneers, able to see God’s love and shalom flourish in their local communities.’

Rev Dr Ash Barker, who leads the Newbigin Pioneering Hub from Winson Green, inner city Birmingham, says,

“We long for every local community to flourish in God’s love and shalom, but know so many neighbourhoods are missing out right now. I believe this new venture can unearth a new generation of Pioneers, ready to be planted personally in local places and able to grow people into new communities of hope, faith and compassion wherever Jesus has called them to serve. We have hard-won insights from experienced Pioneers that can help form, guide and inspire a new generation of Pioneers from here.”

Could God be calling you to step out in faith with us to see your God-given dreams in your local community flourish in faith, hope and love?

Join us for:

• The CMS awarded Certificate in Pioneer Mission
• Forming a new “Community of Pioneers”
• Option to apply for URC Assembly Accreditation for Lay Pioneers
• The Newbigin Annual Public Lecture
• Taster Events in Winson Green 

The CMS awarded Certificate in Pioneer Mission

This is our foundational course designed and led by experienced pioneering practitioners, for practitioners. Church Mission Society offers this course around the UK and now it’s available to all, rooted in the United Reformed Church in partnership with the Congregational Federation and planted in a live pioneering context in inner city Birmingham.

The course starts in September and includes 6 units run over 3 weekend residentials, hybrid seminars (Lodge Road Community Church, Birmingham) on 3 full Saturdays in-person and 3 Wednesday evenings online, as well as online learning circles and personal coaching. There is also a final pitch of your pioneering project to a resource panel and graduation. Certificates are awarded following submission of 6 assignments giving the option to apply for URC Assembly Accreditation for Lay Pioneers.

Here’s what some of the pioneers from the first cohort in 2022-23 said about the programme:

“This journey has enabled me to ‘find myself’, who I am and my calling. The Newbigin Pioneering Hub has enabled me to find clarity and embedding of my Pioneer call.” Wendy Hall 

“I have been re-ignited and inspired to get up and get going again.” Ruth Green 

“I have been inspired and awakened.” Lorraine Pailing

“This course has been the most freeing experience of my life, enabling me to truly understand who God has called me to be.” Donna Hope-Barry

“A life affirming opportunity to journey and learn with other misfits.” Soobie Whitfield

“Empowered to just do it.” Trevor Pailing

“Learning to be together stronger.” Matt Birt

“Empowered, inspired and opened up to be and do more that I thought possible.” Julie Ann Read

“What an amazing journey of self growth.” Bev Lyne

2023-24 Programme

Orientation/Induction – Facilitator: Ash Barker 

Date: 10am Saturday 9 September 2023 at Lodge Road Community Church and on zoom. Details will be confirmed following application and interview.

These are our six units and when they’re offered:

Module 1 : Pioneering Mission – Facilitators: Jonny Baker and Ash Barker 

Residential: 6pm on Friday 15 – 1:30pm on Sunday 17 September 2023 at The Greenhouse at Barnes Close
Learning Circle: 6:30pm-9pm on Wednesday 11 October 2023 on zoom
Coaching: Week commencing 16 October 2023

Module 2 : Missional Spirituality – Facilitators: Natalie Burfitt and Ian Adams 

Seminars: 10am-4pm on Saturday 11 November and 6:30pm-9pm on Wednesday 15 November 2023 at Lodge Road Community Church and on zoom.
Learning Circle: 6:30pm-9pm on Wednesday 6 December 2023 on zoom
Coaching: Week commencing 11 December 2023

Module 3 : Church and Mission – Facilitator : Dave Mann

Seminars: 10am-4pm on Saturday 27 January and 6:30pm-9pm on Wednesday 31 January 2024 at Seedbeds Centre, London and on zoom.      Learning Circle: 6:30pm-9pm on Wednesday 7 February 2024 on zoom.
Coaching: Week commencing 19 February 2024

Module 4 : Mission and the Bible – Facilitators : John and Olive Drane

Residential: 6pm on Friday 8 March – 1:30pm on Sunday 10 March 2024, at The Greenhouse at Barnes Close                                                                Learning Circle: 6:30pm-9pm on Wednesday 10 April 2024 on zoom
Coaching: Week commencing 15 April 2024

Module 5 : Community Development – Facilitators : Tim Evans, Anji Barker and Noel Irwin

Seminars: 10am-4pm on Saturday 4 May and 6:30pm-9pm on Wednesday 8 May 2024 at Lodge Road Community Church and on zoom.            Learning Circle: 6:30pm-9pm on Wednesday 12 June 2024 on zoom
Coaching: Week commencing 17 June 2024

Module 6 : Missional Entrepreneurship – Facilitators : Mike Royal, Ash Barker and Karen Ferguson

Residential: 6pm on Friday 5 July – 1:30pm on Sunday 7 July 2024 at the Greenhouse at Barnes Close
Learning Circle and Coaching: 6:30pm-9pm on Wednesday 10 July 2024
Pitch to Panel and Graduation: 10am-3pm on Saturday 20 July 2024

2024-25 Programme

• Orientation/Induction: 10am Saturday 14 September 2024 at Lodge Road Community Church and on zoom
• Module 1, Pioneering Mission: Friday 20 – Sunday 22 September 2024 residential                                                                                   Online Learning Circle: 6:30-9pm Wednesday 9 October 2024
• Module 2, Mission Spirituality: 10am-4pm Saturday 16 at Lodge Road Community Church & 6:30-9pm Wednesday 20 November 2024 Online Learning Circle: 6:30-9pm Wednesday 4 December 2024
• Module 3, Church and Mission:10am-4pm Saturday 25 at Lodge Road Community Church & 6:30-9pm Wednesday 29 January 2025              Online Learning Circle: 6:30-9pm Wednesday 12 February 2025
• Module 4, Mission and the Bible: Friday 7 – Sunday 9 March 2025 residential                                                                                            Online Learning Circle: 6:30-9pm Wednesday 14 April 2025
• Module 5, Community Development: 10am-4pm Saturday 3 at Lodge Road Community Church & 6:30-9pm Wednesday 7 May 2025            Online Learning Circle: 6:30-9pm Wednesday 11 June 2025
• Module 6, Missional Enterprise: Friday 4 – Sunday 6 July 2025 residential                                                                                                   Online Learning Circle: 6:30-9pm Wednesday 9 July 2025
• Pitch to Panel and Graduation: Saturday 19 July 2025 at Lodge Road Community Church

Forming a new “Community of Pioneering”

We aim to discover, nurture, empower and release a new generation of Pioneers. This will include helping Pioneers connect with new mission contexts, pathways, retreats and coaching. We believe we can go further and deeper in our calling as Pioneers if we connect together well. We will form this ‘Community of Pioneers’ out of those who currently identify as Pioneers as well as those coming through the ‘Certificate in Pioneer Mission.’

Online Taster Events

These are opportunities to connect, find out more and ask questions about the ‘Community of Pioneers’ and the ‘Certificate in Pioneer Mission’ programme that is run by the ‘Newbigin Pioneering Hub’.

The next Taster Event, led by Rev Dr Ash Barker, will be a half-day session in person at Lodge Road Community Church in April 2024, date to be confirmed shortly – watch this space.

There will be a second opportunity to ask questions in an online zoom with Rev Dr Ash Barker one evening at the end of June 2024, date to be confirmed shortly – watch this space. 

“The Church in each place is to be the sign, instrument and foretaste of the reign of God present in Christ for that place; a sign, planted in the midst of the present realities of the place but pointing beyond them to the future which God has promised; an instrument available for God’s use in the doing of his will for that place; a foretaste – manifesting and enjoying already in the midst of the messianic tribulations a genuine foretaste of the peace and joy of God’s reign.” – Lesslie Newbigin

The Newbigin Annual Public Lecture

To stimulate Christians into more thoughtful and deeper engagement in the places they live and serve, we offer a public lecture with a high profile Christian leader who embodies a contemporary spirit of Lesslie Newbigin. In previous years this has included: Dr Steve Bevans (2018), Dr Krish Kandiah (2019), John Newbigin and Dr Ash Barker (2021), Dr Cathy Ross (2022) and Shane Claiborne (2023).

This year’s Newbigin Annual Public Lecture will take place at 7pm on Wednesday 5 June 2024 at Lodge Road Community Church, Birmingham.

We welcome Revd Dr Deirdre Brower Latz, Pincipal and Senior Lecturer in Pastoral and Social Theology at Nazarene Theological College. 

Born in Canada, Deirdre’s the daughter of passionate Christian parents who joined a love for God with a love of learning. She moved between the UK and Canada several times before finally settling in Manchester. Ordained in the 90s, she led churches in urban Bristol and Manchester and became increasingly interested in issues of justice, transformation, urban realities and practices – all joined with a love of learning and theology. Her PhD is from the University of Manchester in the area of Practical Theology. In 2012 she became the Principal of NTC, a theological college validated by the University of Manchester, both the youngest person and only female to take that role on. Most recently she was a researcher for Church Action on Poverty, around ‘Church on the Margins’ – exploring how people with lived experience of marginality engage, connect and experience ‘church’.

She enjoys youth work, dry stone walling, the outdoors, is married to a High school teacher and has a large chocolate labrador who makes her get outside every day!

Owen O’Brien talks about his experience on the Newbigin Pioneering Hub as part of Cohort 1 in 2022-23:

Would you join us in this new venture?

Fill in the application form to apply for 2024-25 programme.

Application Closing Date : Friday 6 September 2024.

Course fees paid by : Saturday 14 September 2024.

Costs:

CMS Certificate of Pioneering programme:
£600 includes six modules or
£300 for an approved URC or Congregational Federation Participant.

Community of Pioneers community membership:
£24 annually (free for programme contributors).

For help with funding and other support please talk to your local church, synod or apply for a Discipleship Development Fund grant

Newbigin Pioneering Hub
Lodge Road Community Church
143-4 Lodge Road, Winson Green
Birmingham B18 5BU