From the Church Times in England-
FALLOUT continues from the changes of “four testing years” at Wycliffe Hall, the theological college in Oxford (News, 18 May 2007) where there are “some deeply wounded spirits”, says an inspection report prepared for the House of Bishops.
The five-yearly reports on theological colleges used to be confidential. The Wycliffe report was published on the Church of England website this week, along with one on St Stephen’s House, Oxford. The colleges were graded in 13 areas with “Confidence”, “Confidence with qualifications”, or “No confidence”.
The Revd Dr Robin Ward, Principal of St Stephen’s House, said on Wednesday: “We were of course surprised that the reports came to be published in full, with unexpected assessment criteria, which we didn’t know until after the inspection process had finished.”
Both colleges are declared “fit for purpose”.
WYCLIFFE HALL gets a grading of “Confidence” in eight of the outcomes, and “Confidence with qualifications” in four. But the inspectors expressed “No confidence” in Practical and Pastoral Theology. Students lack tutorial direction in choosing placements, and are not sufficiently challenged “to move beyond their comfort zones”.
The four inspectors were led by Canon Ian Bunting, a former Bishop’s Research Officer for the diocese of Southwell. The others were Professor Elaine Graham from the University of Manchester; the Ven. Dr William Jacob, Archdeacon of Charing Cross; and Canon Stephen Taylor, Provost of Sunderland Minster.
They call for a more rigorous approach to the integration of theology and practice, and make five substantive recommendations.
More here-
http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=72158
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