Urban Ministry

The growth in the urban population of the world, and the increasing dominance of urban values everywhere else, has created a situation in which the need for theological reflection on the significance of the city within the purposes of God, and the form that ministry and mission needs to take in this context, is urgently needed.

Cities present huge challenges, whether in the form of the vast slums that characterise the megacities of the Global South, or the contexts of urban decay and hopelessness that are encountered in post-industrial urban centres in the developed world. Opinions concerning the impact of cities have always been deeply divided, with some people welcoming urban life as the agent of freedom and democracy, while others have highlighted various evils that seem to have accompanied urban development.

Too often Christians have ignored these issues and have failed to ask critical questions concerning the nature of urban witness to Christ, and the shape of the church in an urbanising world. Concern to respond to this situation led to the development of ICC’s urban ministry training, both at postgraduate level and in this specialism.

Students who are preparing to work in urban settings may well wish to take this specialism. It enables students to give a solid Biblical, theological and historical foundation to their practical studies, and at the same time to develop the awareness of how to bring their Biblical and theological study to bear on the particular challenges of urban mission and ministry.

Students who do the specialism take all the “core courses” within the BA Theology course.  As well as this, they also take three courses which are “core to the specialism” during level II and level III.

Students in level II take a placement which runs throughout the year in an urban setting in Scotland. In level III students take an Extended Placement which runs throughout the year. This Extended placement is undertaken in an urban setting. This gives students the opportunity to develop practical skills in urban ministry as well as theoretical ones.

Students who complete the programme will receive the award of BA Theology with Urban Ministry.