Tutor Training Workshop Proves a Success

6 July 2021

The Shepherd’s Academy (TSA) of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life (OCRPL) organized a “Tutorial Workshop” on 30th June, 2021.

It was part of the fulfilment of an online “Tutor Training Course” where tutors are equipped to train church leaders or Christian workers in the Global South. Over 20 church leaders and theological educators from South Sudan, Guyana, Nepal, Kenya, Zambia, India and the UK participated in the webinar-tutorial session.

The first part of the workshop was invigorated by the question of what it means to be a good shepherd. Dr Prasad Phillips, the director of TSA, facilitated the discussion and the participants shared their understanding of a good shepherd, especially his/her character. This discussion was further re-enforced with a short time of sharing from Dr Taimaya Ragui, one of our academic research coordinators, who emphasized the significance of presence, preparedness and patience as an online tutor for blended learning.

During the second part of the workshop we held a tutorial session. Tutors were to use the information and learning from the “Tutor Training Course” and facilitate one of the chapters from the “Unveiled” course. In five groups (comprising four to five individuals), participants facilitated a discussion of fifteen minutes and gave five minutes of review where other participants gave one positive comment and one ‘thing to improve.’ By engaging in such a constructive exercise, our participants were able to learn from one another and gain new cross-cultural insights.

Upon the completion of these sessions, participants were invited to give comments and share their learning experience with the whole group. Considering the positive feedback and enthusiasm from the participants, we are hopeful of what the future holds as they engage in training some of the two million pastors and Christian workers who have had no formal theological training.

ND Lama, a tutor from Institute for Theological Education by Extension (ITEEN) in Nepal, closed in prayer and Bishop Dr Joshua Banda, our partner from Global Frontiers International (GFI) and the President of the Southern African Region of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Africa (PAOA), closed the tutorial session with a benediction and blessing for our journey of engaging in learning and influencing lives.