Old, new and unexpected treasure: graduation 2024
Old, new and unexpected treasure: graduation 2024
“It seems their studies really were treasure.” Dr Cathy Ross, leader of CMS Pioneer Mission Training Oxford, listens to students reflecting at our 2024 graduation.
by Cathy Ross,
“Old, new and unexpected treasure.” This was how one of our graduating students, Laura Evans, framed her reflection on her studies here at the Graduation on 4 December. It was a joyful occasion, especially seeing the first cohort of students graduate from the African Christianity pathway.
The theme was “Revealing what is hidden” from Colossians 1:26: “the mystery that has been kept hidden for generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people”.
It was moving to hear the student reflections of how they had experienced their studies. It seemed their studies really were treasure.
Laura said that what she had learned during her pioneer studies had added to her treasure chest and shaped her to go and do her pioneering.
She also reflected on now having a treasure map of friends across country, a network of pioneers who can help, provide comfort in difficulties, encourage in doubts and celebrate the highs. She said that this was her “greatest unexpected treasure.”
Alan Griggs reflected on all the treasures he had discovered during his three years on the course – listening, learning from difference and diversity, letting go of power, collaborating, taking time to reflect, creating space for others, living with complexity, leading with vulnerability, celebrating the small. He has also found a language to express his pioneering calling.
Perhaps most moving was hearing him express how he had found treasure in himself. He said, “I have found treasure in me! I am amazed that I have finished an MA as someone who left school without any qualifications!” So there is room for everyone on our courses!
Angelina Quamina, who graduated from the first African Christianity cohort, wrote a beautiful poem reflecting on some of her experience of unlearning, listening and new friendships,
Knowing no one; we began to reflect together,
in each class, friendships blossomed and grew as we
began to unlearn what couldn’t serve us as we
Actively listened to the thoughts and opinions of others….
WhatsApp Groups offering comfort and support as
the emotions of everyday integrated into our lives –
Along with their certificate each graduand is presented with a hand-crafted tile which represents the theme of the graduation for that year. These have a carved path which has always represented the journey of the pioneer.
Iain Cotton, the artist, explains this year’s design: “This year the path appears more like an archaeologist’s trench on the site of the tile. This is pioneering as a work of excavation, searching for wisdom. The treasure is represented by a splash of gold leaf – perhaps spilling over the edge of the excavation into the landscape of the tile.”
We love this piece of art and think it is a brilliant memento for the students to remember their learning and the community of friends they have discovered.
The focal point of the graduation was a light box decorated with pieces of coloured glass which had been excavated from sand and water by the attendees.
As we dug around for this treasure we were encouraged to ask one another what treasure have you found in your lives so far, in your pioneering ministries and work, in those wider and unexpected places and spaces.
Perhaps those are good questions to ponder for the rest of this Advent season.
