Partnership Spotlight: Seedbeds
NTC is proud to work with Seedbeds School for Urban Leadership and its founder Revd Dr Ash Barker in the delivery of several MA course units.
Seedbeds is an organisation with a passion for growing leaders and communities into the fullness of life. For over 30 years Ash has lived intentionally on the front line of urban poverty and seen the unique potential of urban people and places released around the world. Since 2014, the Barkers have been planted in Winson Green, inner-city Birmingham, UK and have been building a new team with a fresh vision to grow the capacities of urban leaders and their communities wherever they live. The next chapter of this dream began with a public launch of Seedbeds in July 2021.
Seedbeds School for Urban Leadership
Seedbeds School for Urban Leadership works with academic partners such as NTC to help design and deliver accredited leadership programmes.
It exists to grow individuals’ capacity to take up unique leadership opportunities and make a sustainable difference in the lives of the people and places they are called to love.
In partnership with NTC, Seedbeds delivers modules that are core and pathway options for our MA in Theology (Urban Mission); MA in Theology (Humanitarian Development and Social Justice); MA in Theology (Transforming Leadership); MA in Theology (Ecology). However, these units are open to all on NTC MA programmes and are also available as postgraduate short courses for credit and for audit.
Study with NTC and Seedbeds
The next MA units being offered by NTC with Seedbeds are:
Resilient Discipleship
Tutors: Dr Sally Mann (Red Letter Christians UK and Bonny Downs Community Church) and Dr Ash Barker (Seedbeds School for Urban Leadership)
When? 11th-12th March, 18th-19th March and 25th-26th March, based at The Greenhouse at Barnes Close, though online is available.
This unit explores the nature and call of Christian discipleship as a core motif to sustaining life and ministry in complex urban contexts. What are the biblical, theological and practical frameworks that can be discerned for faithful, resilient and relevant urban engagement as Christ-followers? How can Christian discipleship inform and inspire our spirituality, leadership practices and vision for God’s in-breaking, new urban world?
Ecology and Theology I: Creation and Crisis
Tutors: Dr Jeremy Kidwell (University of Birmingham and Rooted) and Dr Deidre Brower Latz (NTC Principal).
Guest Lecturers via Zoom: Brian McLaren (BrianMcLaren.net) and more to be announced.
When? 2nd-9th July, at The Greenhouse (accommodation, outdoor experiences and seminars).
What does Christian thought and practice have to do with the ecological crisis? In this module, we examine relevant biblical texts, Christian theology from across a variety of areas, and field experiments, in order to gain an awareness of the questions that Christian thought and practice brings to contemporary environmentalism and the ways that close examination of human impacts on God’s creation can illuminate Christian thought and practice.
Course Code: ST7800
Community Engagement: Building Communities of Shalom
Tutors: Dr Sally Mann (Red Letter Christians UK and Bonny Downs Community Church) and Dr Ash Barker (Seedbeds School for Urban Leadership).
When? 1st-2nd July, 8th-9th July, 15th-16th July, based at The Greenhouse at Barnes Close, though online is available.
We need healthy and flourishing communities like never before. Engage with the best thinking and practice in community building with leading community activists and thought leaders in a supportive and inspiring environment. See a fresh vision of what is possible and learn what it takes to see the potential of your community realised in ways you haven’t seen before.
Social Entrepreneurship I: The Innovative Leader
Tutors: Bishop Mike Royal and Dr Ash Barker (Seedbeds School for Urban Leadership)
When? 11th-12th November, 18th-19th November, 25th-26th November, based at The Greenhouse at Barnes Close, though online is available.
Understanding how enterprises function is essential knowledge for any person leading or managing a faith-based organisation. Whether the organisation is a start-up or an established enterprise, the Leading Enterprises course will explore established and innovative leadership principles. Drawing from empirical leadership commentary, organisational life cycles and personal reflective practice, the course will bring together a body of learning that will enable the Christian Leader to lead better where they are. “What do you know now that you wished you knew when you started?” is a question many enterprise leaders reflect on after they have begun their journey. The Leading Enterprises course aims to fill that knowledge gap.
Course Code: PT7633
NTC is proud to work with partners like Seedbeds to deliver MA programmes that are informative, innovative and inclusive. All of our MA programmes are accredited by the University of Manchester. Visit our Studies pages to learn more about how NTC can help you take your next steps,