Trinity and mission
'As the Father sent me, so I send you' (John 20:21). Jesus gave his followers the amazing task of continuing his Kingdom mission of bringing God's love to the world. In Trinity we are passionately committed to learning how to share Jesus and the good news of his gospel with others in holistic, integral ways that are fresh and relevant.
Teaching
All our teaching has mission as its purpose and focus, because mission is at the heart of the identity and ministry of the church. Mission and Evangelism is one of our three cross-curricular themes and we have an increasing range of teaching units on the history, theology and practice of mission. We reflect on mission in a variety of contexts, seeking to develop biblical, coherent and culturally sensitive approaches.
Practical mission opportunities
One of the best ways of learning about mission and evangelism is to be involved in it. Although different people have different gifts, everyone has a part to play in the mission of Christ. We aim to help you to identify and develop your gifts, to gain skill and confidence in sharing your faith, and to know how to lead others in mission. There are plenty of mission opportunities to learn with others.
Outreach to Bristol and beyond
Jesus told his disciples to take the gospel out into the whole world, starting in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). In Trinity we have a concern for the city and area in which we live. We have excellent relations with church leaders who are at the forefront of mission in the area. We encourage our students to be involved in existing local ministries, as well as to take initiatives of their own. We experience a wide variety of mission projects in Bristol which reach out to the homeless, prostitutes, prisoners. and ethnic communities. Recent involvement includes ministry to young people who hang around near the cathedral in the daytime (main photo), and to those out late at night.
Pioneer mission and fresh expressions of church
Today's world calls for a vision for pioneer mission, for new ways of reaching out, for church planting, and for fresh ways of organising church life; we are not interested in managing the decline of the church! Our principal has a vision for 'a new evangelisation of Britain and Europe'. In coming to Trinity, you will be able to be part of experimental mission and ministry. and to take advantage of courses on 'new ways of being church'.
The Church of England has recognised the need to train and ordain people specifically for this kind of ministry . We are delighted to have students who are training for pioneer ministry and alumni who are already involved in it. Revd Sue Gent is developing this side of our training.
Learning from others: the worldwide church
Overseas mission is part of Trinity's heritage: the college was formed from three existing colleges (Tyndale Hall, Clifton Theological College and Dalton House with St Michael's), two of which were founded to provide training for overseas mission. Today we are strongly committed to the worldwide church, seeking to learn from others and to contribute to its mission. Many of our students come from overseas, and many of our teaching staff have worked outside Britain. Some students are able to take part in mission visits overseas as part of their training.
We regularly welcome church leaders from different parts of the world, and are developing Henry Martyn House as a Centre for World Christianity to which we invite church leaders as visitors or World Church Fellows, and draw on their experience in round-table discussions on aspects of world mission. Our Gospel in Action sessions are led by those involved in mission in a variety of contexts.
The Principal and other faculty members regularly take part in consultations on mission at the Overseas Ministries Centre, New Haven, Connecticut. In 2011 George Kovoor and John Nolland contributed to 'Fresh Expressions of Church for Mission, Missions and Missionaries'. See John Nolland's Bible readings on Matthew 28.
The photos on the right show a few of our many recent visitors who have come to speak or just to call on us. Top to bottom: Farid and America Lozada from Colombia (Farid is a Trinity graduate); Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the House of Commons; Simon Guillebaud, working in Burundi; Right Revd Thomas Mar Timotheus of the Mar Thoma Church, India; Revd Christopher Hingley from Petra Schools, Zimbabwe; Revd Patrick Sookhdeo of the Barnabas Fund; Grace Kyeune from Uganda, Vice-Chair of RURCON (Rural Development Counsellors for Christian Churches in Africa); Revd Dr Howard Snyder from USA.
