Class and ministry today

Oak Hill College has hosted its annual School of Theology, focusing on “Class and Ministry in the UK today”.

The day opened with a plenary from Matthew Sleeman, who introduced key questions. Delegates also heard from Jason Roach, Kevin Croft and Maegen Webb of London City Mission, who reflected on the realities of class in local church life.

The final plenary address, from Kirsten Birkett, considered how changing social and cultural trends may shape conversations about class in the years ahead.

John Funnell, pastor of Noddfa Church, Abersychan, said: “It was a pleasure to run two sessions at the conference, looking at mission in post-industrial communities. In many cases, the benefit class are more affluent through government handouts, but they have a new set of relational challenges around loneliness, meaning and purpose that the gospel speaks into.”