Global Partnerships timeline

April 2022

Andrew Stobart, Matt Hartley and Kathryn Young visited the Methodist Church in Sierra Leone (MCSL) and the College of Theology and Management and Church Training Centre. Read more.

February 2022

Visit to UTC, Zimbabwe

Ashley Cooper, Andrew Stobart and Kathryn Young visited Cliff College's partners, United Theological College in Harare, Zimbabwe, to renew face to face relationships after the Covid travel restrictions had lifted. Cliff's team were warmly welcomed by our partners at UTC, as well as by the Presiding Bishop and General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. Read more.

Preparatory visit to Romania

Ashley visited Cluj in Romania to meet with Rares Calugar in advance of the planned immersion trip later in 2022. Since this visit Cliff has also been providing support for the church in Romania as they have been receiving refugees from Ukraine.

October 2021

Switzerland

Principal Ashley Cooper and Kathryn Young met Bishop Patrick Streiff of the United Methodist Church (Central and Southern Europe) and David Field of the Methodist e-Academy in Europe to discuss ongoing relationships and training within the Methodist Church in Europe.

April 2020

Perkins and Cliff sign MOU

Cliff College and Perkins School of Theology (Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), representing the formalisation of the ongoing work between our two institutions. Even more than this, however, it represents our shared values- to bring greater access to quality theological education for all. We are especially excited for the shared resources this agreement brings to our Global South partners. The future is bright for this partnership and we look forward to the fruits it produces and the impact it has on our global theological community.

March 2020

Johannesburg Conference

We were pleased to convene a four day e-learning seminar conference for our partners including United Theological College and Africa University. It was a great opportunity to develop the partnerships, share learning and create resources together.

Church Planting Conference

Cliff’s Principal Ashley Cooper and some of our students travelled to the beautiful city of Tallinn, Estonia, for a church planting conference. Ashley says, ‘It was good to engage with the MTSE (Methodist-related Theological Schools of Europe) on church planting. Methodist students from all over Europe explored and shared their differing contexts and experiences. Cliff College was well represented by students Anna, Ben, Dan and Leah.’

February 2020

Online learning at MTSE

The Global Partnerships office spent a successful week in Varna, Bulgaria. There, we led sessions on e-learning and took part in discussions with our European colleagues in Methodist theological education. One particular highlight was our Head of Global Partnerships, Rev. Andrew Harper, unveiling ‘Theo’, a device that allows those without internet access the ability to engage in quality theological education.

January 2020

Immersion Trip

The Cliff Year students undertook an immersion trip to Uganda with Ashley Cooper (Principal), Andrew Harper (Head of Global Partnerships) and Tom Donoghue (Evangelist & Cliff Year Leader).

While Ashley, Andrew and Tom provided training for ministers, pastors and churches, the Cliff Year student had the opportunity to interact and learn the stories of the people they met, and share experiences with them. They attended a Circuit Youth Day, which included Bible Study, worship, games and very energetic dancing. Their busy week also involved visits to churches, projects like First African Bicycle Information Organisation (FABIO) – an All We Can project, and a Children’s Centre which helps provide education and practical support for families.

Tom says ‘Uganda is a beautiful country we were always struck by the kind welcome and appreciation received by everyone we met. It was exciting to see a growing and multi-generational church, and have the opportunity to learn about faith in a different culture and context.’

November 2019

Teaching week

Rev Andrew Harper spent time in Nairobi, Kenya working with pastors for the purpose of resource creation and teaching seminars.

October 2019

Immersion Trip

Staff, students and other Methodist Church representatives had a fantastic time in India! From the warm welcome by local churches to the moving testimonies shared with us, each participant was left touched and forever changed. We thank the Karimnager Diocese and Bishop Reuben for their hospitality, and look forward to the future of this new partnership.

Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary

It was great to meet with the leadership and faculty of the Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary (EMKTS) to discuss how Cliff can partner in the region. We look forward to working together, beginning with a conference in church planting in Tallinn in March 2020!

Pictured: Kulli Toniste, Rector EMKTS; Andrew Harper Head of Global Partnerships at Cliff College; Tarmi Lilleoja of EMKTS.

August 2019

Fiji

It was a great privilege to sign a collaborative partnership with the Methodist church in Fiji. Ashley Cooper and Andrew Harper were in Fiji for the annual Methodist Church conference, and also visited theological colleges.

July 2019

Zimbabwe

We were joined this week by Dean Clement Matarirano of United Theological College, and former Cliff student Bishop Richman Ncube. Both are ministers in the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and have a passion for bringing greater access to quality theological education across Zimbabwe and beyond.

We look forward to returning to Zimbabwe, where Cliff College plays a small part in the amazing work being done by United Theological College and the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe in the are of theological education.