Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

57. The Fruitful Field Project
Queen’s Foundation, the Foundation’s
long-term association with Tamil Nadu
Theological Seminary in South India,
and the Foundation’s recent work with
the Ecumenical Theological Education
programme of the World Council of
Churches.
240.4 The Committee was confident that
centres at Cliff College and the
Queen’s Foundation would be able
(through their structures, resources
and partnerships) to allow deep
sharing with ecumenical partners. In
terms of their particular contribution
to the Network, the Committee
highlights the following: (a) Cliff
College’s diverse student body,
including within it students from
the Methodist, Anglican, Baptist,
Congregationalist, Lutheran, Nazarene
Pentecostal and Roman Catholic
traditions, and from the Assemblies
of God, the Salvation Army, and a
number of community churches and
independent free churches; (b) The
Queen’s Foundation’s sustained
ecumenical vision, leading to a depth
and consistency of ecumenical life
within the Foundation. The Committee
noted the strong contribution which
the location of a centre at Wesley
House, Cambridge would have made
in this context. This would have
included a continuing association
with the Cambridge Theological
Federation, and consequently with
colleagues within other Cambridgebased
institutions which represent
the Anglican, Orthodox, Reformed and
Roman Catholic traditions. The loss
of this contribution is a consequence
of the Committee’s recommendation
which must be acknowledged.
However, the Committee was
content that the contribution which
will be made by the retention and
development of rich ecumenical
links at Cliff College and the Queen’s
Foundation will be able to meet the
Network’s needs in this context.
240.5 The Committee was confident that
centres at Cliff College and the
Queen’s Foundation would be able
(through their structures, resources
and partnerships) to nurture apt
and excellent scholarship and
research, in partnership with the
Higher Education sector. In terms of
their particular contribution to the
Network, the Committee highlights
the following: (a) Cliff College’s
successful validation partnership with
the University of Manchester. The
College’s most recent revalidation
process resulted in unconditional
validation by the University. The
University’s academic standing is
a positive factor in the College’s
recruitment of postgraduate students,
especially internationally; (b) the
Queen’s Foundation’s Graduate and
Research Centre, which supports
30 doctoral research students and
50 MA students; (c) the Queen’s
Foundation’s participation in
discussions to establish a new
ecumenical Higher Education
partnership (see paragraphs 148-
156 above). The Committee noted
the strong contribution which the
location of a centre at the Wesley
Study Centre, Durham would have
744 Conference Agenda 2012