Interactive Christian Extension Studies
(ICES) provides demanding but approachable
study of essential Christian topics. The study method is founded on two
very important pillars: You study on your own using specially prepared interactive
study texts and you interact with a tutor plus a group
(the best way) or you have a tutor appointed by ICES
who will be in touch by phone and/or letter and/or email.
Click here for Latest News
The advantages of the two pillars are:
Home
study with specially prepared study texts provides:
> A way into serious, first-hand
study
> Focused, relevant feedback
to give confidence
> A check whether material
has been properly understood or not
> The chance to note points
of disagreement or of further interest
> An effective way to learn
the discipline of regular study
> The opportunity to be
able to join an ordination course souped-up and ready to go
The
tutorial provides a place for students to:
> Discover
that others are similar to them in feeling vulnerable, anxious about their
ability to study
> Express their ideas in
their own words – try them out on others – safely
> Share personal experience
and learn from it
> Form strong relationships
with other Christians
> Grow in confidence and
trust their own judgments
> Plan and work together
on the basis of their theological thinking
For details of the courses available, click on "Available Modules"
Mike Butterworth's Understanding Old Testament History (published by Bible Society; out of print in the shops) is available from us at the cost of postage and packing only. It has eight sessions and deals with the contents of Joshua to Kings and outlines a method for studying the historical books further.
Latest News
ICES and Trinity Partnership: It’s official:
Trinity and ICES have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. It took place at Trinity’s AGM along with the official launch of Trinity College Open Learning on Thursday 25th June 2009, after Lord Carey of Clifton, former Archbishop George Carey of Canterbury, had given a commendation and prayed for the partnership.
Gay Carpenter spoke of how she had been transformed from clueless church attender to OHEC student to OHEC/ICES tutor. She has tutored two or three groups at a time for the past 17 years.
We have already had many enquiries about studying with ICES or starting a new group. Trinity’s Open Learning expects to offer a whole range of courses from house group level (committed house group!) to Master’s degree. From September we will be experimenting with online delivery.
Trinity College is planning significant expansion over the next few years in both ordination and lay training. As well as revising our existing courses, ICES will be working with Trinity to produce new courses. Trinity College will be offering ICES courses from September 2009. Trinity College will also be offering the resources of its faculty in revision of ICES courses.
We do not see any conflict arising since the vision of both ICES and Trinity is completely compatible. Two New Testament phrases express our central concern quite neatly:
‘Go and make disciples of all nations’
Click on Trinity's Logo below for more information about Open Learning at Trinity College
‘… everyone mature in Christ’
David Ball is now a full time staff member of Trinity College, Bristol with responsibility for developing their Open Learning. This includes developing ICES modules which are already and will be part of Trinity’s open learning programme.
Mike Butterworth continues (despite his great age) to be Principal of ICES and has also been designated Associate Faculty Member and Adviser for Open Learning for Trinity College, Bristol.
Coming Events
Other News
Pelagos will be offering an ICES Course
The newly formed retreat centre "Pelagos" will be offering the course on the Pentateuch in February next year.
PELAGOS
Taster Day and Tutor Training
Our Taster Day at Bristol attracted 20 people interested in studying or tutoring.
We plan to start 2 or 3 groups in Bristol in January as a result of this.
We are also in the process of recruiting and training tutors for our groups in Bristol and the South West.
The Taster Evening at Malmesbury attracted more than 40 people and Malmesbury Abbey plans to start study groups in the new year. These will be open to people from the surrounding areas as well.
Another group will be starting in the New Year in Weston Super Mare, following the Taster Evening at Christ Church Weston.
If you are interested in joining any of these groups or in organising a Taster Session in your area, please contact David Ball:
openlearning@trinity-bris.ac.uk
Revised Courses: HOT and WOJ
We have updated the courses on Historical Books of the Old Testament and Writings of John. The Aylesbury students will be 'pilot-testing' the revised Historical Books of the Old Testament this term which will then be corrected before offering to everyone next year. We are also looking at revising the format of the courses. Any suggestions from students or tutors would be greatly appreciated.
Graduation Service
This Year's Graduation/Award Service was held in Bedfordshire for the first time at All Saints Church, Cople on July 16th 2009 at 7.30 p.m. Each graduating student shared how they had benefitted from being ICES students (in not more than 100 words!!). Mike Butterworth preached on the need to become mature in Christ and the Rt Rev Richard Inwood, Bishop of Bedford, led a communion service. The students of the Cople group bade farewell to Lynda Klimas as their tutor and welcomed Richard Janes, one of the graduates as the new tutor for Bedford. The evening was rounded off with an ICES 'bring and share' party.
Berkhamstead and Barnet Deanery Synod
We received a warm welcome at the Berkhamstead Deanery Synod at St Mary's Northchurch on Monday June 15th 2009 and at St Margaret's Church, Ridge on Wednesday July 8th 2009
where Mike Butterworth introduced the work of ICES. The presentation included a sample lesson on Old Testament parables from Historical Books of the Old Testament.
BELIEF (Bedford Ecumenical Lay Institute for Education and Faith) is a Christian education agency based in Bedford. It runs courses on a variety of topics and also offers consultancy services. For more details please follow this LINK.
