The Theologos Programme
Theologos is a unique program centered around an exclusive learning community in the historic city of Oxford. A cohort of up to 24 students commit to a year of daily prayer, worship and study, focused upon engaging historic Christian theology with the most pressing questions of contemporary life, guided by some of the world’s foremost Christian thinkers.
The program is for anyone who wants to grow in their understanding of the Bible, theology, apologetics, and ministry, and who wants to unpack the big questions of our generation. People may join the program as part of their training for pastoral ministry, others to be better equipped for ministry and witness in the workplace, whilst some might treat it as a sabbatical from their regular work.
For more information, contact Ms. Jo Wakefield.
Study
All Theologos students study towards a Certificate in Theological Studies, awarded by the University of Oxford, which carries the option of being upgraded to a full Bachelors degree with further study. The course centres around core classes in Old and New Testament, Christian Doctrine and Church History, with additional options including Christian Faith and Philosophy, Christianity in the Contemporary World, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Christian Ministry and Christian Worship. Enrollment on the CTS gives you access to attend any lectures within the whole of the University of Oxford, as well as the use of all of the libraries and resources in the University.
Community
From the earliest days of the church, theological study has been done in the context of communities devoted to life, prayer and worship together. Today it is all too often possible to study theology in a way that is isolated, anonymous and abstracted from its roots in the disciplines of prayer and fellowship. The Theologos programme attempts to recover the older tradition by providing a space for rigorous theological study to happen in the midst of deep, formative Christian community. As well as sharing daily prayer, this involves being part of a residential community at Wycliffe Hall, regular shared meal times and structured sessions of independent study with shared coffee breaks.
Formation
As well as studying for the CTS and participating in daily prayer, students on the Theologos programme take part in a number of additional activities together. These include a weekly reading group that focuses on the intersection of theology and contemporary culture, regular ‘fireside chats’ with leading Christian thinkers (such as Professors N.T. Wright and Nigel Biggar) and termly trips for guided engagement with the arts and culture in London and Oxford. You will also have opportunities to meet a coach to pray and discern the future. The purpose of these formative activities is to enable students to make clear connections between theology learned in the classroom and the wider world we live in.