South West Hub: final module for 2025 cohort
South West Hub: final module for 2025 cohort
Worship on Talland Beach was a great way to start the last day of the final module of the CMS Certificate in Pioneer Mission for the students of the South West Pioneering Hub.
by Tina Hodgett,
Worship was brilliantly led by CMS graduate Liz Dudley of Exeter diocese who leads creation walks for spiritual seekers in Exeter city.
The final module, Mission Entrepreneurship, was led by Trevor James, a pioneer and mission entrepreneur from Paignton, Devon, who models resourcefulness and resilience in creating ways of funding mission through an online antique business and furniture restoration. He is a passionate advocate for the idea of church as Seven Sacred Spaces, a monastic concept explored in a recent book by George Lings of the same title.
Former students take the lead
It was encouraging for all of us when our three guest speakers on the module weekend all turned out to be former students on the course with learning to share.
The course takes place over a year and in that time lots happens. One couple had a baby – our first Southwest Hub baby born between modules! He was a welcome visitor to Sclerder Abbey, the venue for the module near Looe in East Cornwall. With his parents, of course.
A small number of people left the course during the year for different reasons, but most found it worthwhile or even life-transforming. Apart from the insight and ideas they gain into contextual mission and starting new Christian communities, they usually say how much it has helped them find and express more of their true self. One student, Denise Robinson, said of the course:
“I discovered just how much I loved exploration by creative means. I never knew what was going to come out when I started the demonstrations of learning for each module. I’d like to continue this exploration.
“My experience of the final weekend together on this wonderful pioneer course was absolutely brilliant.”
Looking to the future
The students are looking forward now to the award ceremony in March when they’ll be awarded their certificates and some will be commissioned or recognised as Local Lay Pioneers who can live out their calling in the local parish, benefice or deanery.
The Hub leaders are turning their attention to the next cohort of the Certificate in May 2026. We are always adapting to the external environment as the times demand and the next intake of students will mainly be drawn from the dioceses of Truro, Exeter and Bristol. We’re delighted to welcome Bristol on board!
We’re now recruiting and praying for people who have the potential to flourish and want to become more fully who they are made to be as they head out to join in with what God will reveal to them in their local communities.
If you know of anyone in Devon, Cornwall, Bristol, South Gloucestershire or north Wiltshire who you think would benefit from the course please direct them here for more information: churchmissionsociety.org/south-west
Alternatively (or as well) please do get in touch with tina.hodgett@churchmissionsociety.org for a conversation with no pressure to commit to anything!
