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CWR launch UK's first Christian led degree in counselling CWR is launching the UK's first single-honours BA degree in Counselling taught from a Christian worldview. Leading to an award by Roehampton University, the pioneering programme is part-time and delivered over four years. Much celebration followed the news from Roehampton University that the rigorous and lengthy approval process had reached a successful conclusion. CE, Mick Brooks is delighted that after 30 years of providing groundbreaking life changing/transforming training, initiated by CWR founder Selwyn Hughes, and refined and delivered by a host of dedicated professionals, we are now able to add a degree level counsellor training to our courses of substance and quality for the whole spectrum of people helpers and those involved in pastoral care. Although demanding commitment and application from students, the course is built flexibly and can be accommodated around the calls of work and home. The taught elements of the programme are delivered primarily at weekends. Students will benefit from a high level of tutorial support. CWR is delighted to have retained the integrity of its historic approach to counselling training. The new degree offers training to the highest professional standards within a strong Christian framework. Partnership Diane Bray, Head of the Psychology Department at Roehampton University, is pleased to be sponsoring the degree. We have already established an excellent working relationship with CWR and expect this to be a very successful partnership. The University’s approval panel particularly commended the quality of the degree proposal and the level of care exhibited to students at Waverley. Years One and Two of the programme are similar to CWR's very popular and long-running Waverley Certificate of Christian Counselling and subsequent Diploma. The new degree is already generating much interest from past students of these courses, as they line up to access Year Three directly. Keen to promote an incremental and flexible approach, CWR is welcoming students who would rather apply for a year at a time, enabling them to see how they get on. It is also possible to take a year out or conclude the programme earlier than initially intended. The new degree programme will be led by Heather Churchill, BA Hons (Brunel) MTh (Middx) MBACP (Senior Accred) ACC (Accred Counsellor and Supervisor). The teaching team will comprise recognised university lecturers and highly experienced counselling practitioners. Together they will ensure that graduates find themselves at the leading edge of the counselling profession and well placed as regards future Government regulation. With a Year One cohort due to begin in November and a Year Three cohort in January, CWR's Director of Training, Elizabeth Hodkinson, is eager for the programme to be underway. First in the UK As far as we know, this is the first single-honours counselling degree in the UK taught from a Christian worldview. There is much excitement as we take this big step forward. Our hope and prayer is that in the next few years many hundreds will gain university validated counselling awards and then use their learning, gifts and skills to help thousands. Interest in the programme is being received from a wide range of people, including those involved in pastoral care, Christian ministry, caring professions and those sensing a call to professional counsleling. CWR is hosting a counselling training open day at Waverley Abbey House on Saturday, 11 September, at which the new degree will be profiled and discussed. Further information about the modular structure, course content, application process, cost and course dates can be found by visiting www.cwr.org.uk/ba  LEFT TO RIGHT: Irene Davies (Tutor), Owen Ashley (Tutor), Elizabeth Hodkinson (CWR Director of Training), Mary Higginson (Tutor), Heather Churchill (BA Programme Leader), Andre Radmall (Tutor), Kathy Overton (Academic Registrar). Two CWR publications receive awards at CRE  The Christian Resources Exhibition awards ceremony this year named One Step Beyond by Gram Seed as the 'Ultimate Christian Library Book'.The award is sponsored by Speaking Volumes, whose purpose is to promote what is best in Christian writing and to encourage the writing of Christian books. The voting was open to the public and based on the book's suitability or likely popularity in a public library. This requires that nominated books be attractive, readable and written about a subject that would capture the interest of the wider public and encourage them to look further into the Christian faith. The award for the Children's Book of the Year (under 12s), sponsored by John Ritchie, went to Andy Robb for his book 50 Weirdest Bible Stories. Andy has a heart for ministering to children, and his first two books (which include his award-winning one) have already been reprinted, having sold out of the first print-run in just over 6 months. This award will give an even higher profile to his work. Prayer evening for persecuted Christians held at Waverley  This first in a series of regular intercessory prayer events at Waverley Abbey House was held on 25 March and focused on praying for persecuted Christians as well as on local and national issues. The Waverley Room was packed for the varied and informative evening led by Mervyn Thomas, CEO of the suffering church agency Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and CWR's CEO, Mick Brooks. Mervyn Thomas kicked things off with some uplifting testimonies and a few harrowing reports of severe persecution from Nigeria, and he also informed us about the situation for Christians in China. Stuart Windsor, National Director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, briefed us on the situation in Eritrea and inspired further heartfelt prayer. Guest speaker Roger Forster delivered sobering reports about the severity of persecution endured by believers in Turkey, Afghanistan and Burma, and by secret believers amongst the Uyghurs of China. Prayer was offered on behalf of both persecuted Christians and their oppressors, and the evening was interspersed with times of worship. CWR's Lynette Brooks launched a powerful new devotional book called Forbidden Faith compiled by Christian Solidarity Worldwide and published by CWR. Forbidden Faith is full of first-hand stories from the front lines of persecution around the world. Mervyn Thomas closed the memorable and moving evening with a passionate plea that we continue to pray and provide for our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ, and to protest and petition various governments on their behalf. The second prayer evening at Waverley Abbey House takes place on 8 September. Guest speaker Joel Edwards, Director of Micah Challenge, will encourage us to consider our response, as Christians, to the world's severely deprived, disadvantaged, oppressed and exploited. The event is FREE but places are limited so please book now... More Christian Counsellors Trained On 30 January this year, over ninety students, guests and tutors attended the graduation ceremony for the 2009 Certificate of Christian Counselling course. In her address, CWR Director of Training Elizabeth Hodkinson used Philip as an example to encourage the students to focus on their relationship with Jesus so that He could lead them in their ministry. Have Your Say Want to tell the world what you think of CWR's resources? Well, your opportunity has arrived! CWR's books, DVDs and CDs are now listed on the site of online retailer Amazon, enabling you to rate and review our products, and help others make more informed purchases. This new development is the result of CWR supplying bibliographical data via a system called Booksonix. Data can also be accessed by many high street bookshops, meaning you can now order CWR resources at more places local to you. Making Your Donations Go 28% Further If you are a supporter of CWR, you will know how hard we work to ensure that every penny donated goes as far as it can to reach people with the Word of God through our publications and training courses. So long as you are a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid enables you to boost the value of your donations by 28p for every £1 you give (25p in Gift Aid and 3p in Transitional Relief). Last year CWR received £87,548 as a result of supporters adding Gift Aid to their donations. |
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