People from across the Diocese have received a certificate from Bishop John, marking the completion of a course designed to help them relate their Christian faith to their own life and locality.
The groups took the Bishop’s Certificate course over 12 months with the support of local tutors in Worcester, Malvern, Dudley and Bromsgrove/ Redditch. It covered subjects such as Christian faith and the Creeds, the Old and New Testaments, Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, discipleship and living as Christians with people of other faiths.
Bishop John offered his congratulations to all those who were receiving their certificate as well as thanking the tutors and those who had supported the groups. He said: “The first word in the rule of St Benedict, is ‘listen’ – listening to God was the most important thing he had to say, and God speaks to us all. I hope you enjoyed listening and learning as part of the Bishop’s Certificate course and will go on listening to what God is saying to you. But most of all, I pray that you will know the love of Christ throughout your journey of faith, so that you may be filled with the fullness of God.”
Elaine Heathcock is from Old Hill and was part of the Dudley group. She said: “I originally started the course before the pandemic, but then my husband died of Covid. I asked if I could start again this year and found the course to be a helpful release. It was uplifting and I learnt more about myself, my faith and where God might be leading me. Our group felt like a family. We were all like-minded people and our fellowship together made all the difference when learning. I would recommend the course to anyone who wants to progress more in their faith.”
Philip Tricklebank from Feckenham was part of the Redditch and Bromsgrove group. He said: “It was enlightening, thoroughly enjoyable and inspirational to spend time exploring the bible. Our group gelled together well and the tutors were brilliant – friendly, helpfully and knowledgeable. It has inspired me to look further into the bible and opened my eyes to Christianity as a whole, helping me to understand that God is with us all the time and all around us.”
Judith Gerrard and Kevin Maltby are from St Stephen’s Church in Barbourne and were part of the Worcester group. They said: “It was a really interesting course – we learned a huge amount and it prompted more questions that we still want to ask. We had a wonderful, supportive group and it was interesting to hear everyone’s views and learning from their knowledge and experience. It was also a safe space in which to ask questions. Most people know some parts of the Christian faith, but the course was like putting a jigsaw together and our faith has definitely deepened as a result of understanding things better.”
Congratulations to all those who received their Bishop’s Certificate.
