Intermediate Certificate in Conversational Ministry
Relationships in Life and Church
with Steve Midgley
Relationships in Life and Church course explores how relating to God first is the core which enables all other relationships to find their proper place.
Next course:
RLC Spring 2027
Registration for RLC opens on 5th October until 16th November.
Registration for RLC Spring 2027, will open on 5th October until 16th November 2026.
What to expect
COURSE WORK
For all eternity our Trinitarian God has existed in relationship. And as those created in his image, God intends relationships to be central to our lives. Nothing is more important that learning how to relate well.
But how do we do that? We are finite creatures, living this side of the Fall – what does that mean for our relationships? We are also redeemed sinners passionately loved by God – what difference does that make? Right relating to God as Lord and Saviour must always come first. This course explores how that relationship is the core which enables all other relationships to find their proper place.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
- To provide students with a theological foundation for understanding relationships
- To help students articulate the relational implications of worshipping a trinitarian God
- To help students develop a range of skills in intentional relationships including the setting of agenda, giving encouragement and deepening intimacy
- To help students embrace their limitations as a means of developing a God-given interdependence with others
- To enable students to understand the central place of emotion in relationships
- To equip students to explore the connections between our ‘vertical’ relationship with God and our ‘horizontal’ relationships with others
- To help students develop a biblical perspective on the key relational contexts of friendship, marriage, family and church
- To provide students with a practical perspective on managing conflict and forgiveness in relationships
COURSE SCHEDULE
RLC course starts on 4th January 2027 for 10 weeks and includes five seminars in the following venues.
RLC Belfast (Thurs 7-9pm)
RLC Exeter (Mon 7-9pm)
RLC Liverpool (Weds 7-9pm)
RLC London (Tues 7-9pm)
RLC Derby (Thurs 10am -12pm)
RLC Online Evening (Tues 7-9pm)
RLC Online Morning (Thurs 9.30-11.30am)
Cohorts are subject to change and will only run if sufficient numbers register for each venue.
Key facts
Dates of the next course:
RLC Spring 2027 will start on 4th January for a 10 week course.
Registration for RLC opens on 5th October until 16th November 2026
Course length:
10 weeks of study with one week mid term break.
Workload:
10-12 hours study each week
Intermediate Certificate
The Intermediate Certificate in Conversational Ministry has three courses, Helping Everyday Problems, Relationships in Life and Church, and Scripture for Life and Ministry. The prerequisites for all Intermediate Courses are Dynamics of Biblical Change and Helping Relationships
Meet your teacher
Steve Midgley has been involved in teaching courses in biblical counselling at Oak Hill College for over 10 years, and leads the Biblical Counselling UK team. He is on the boards of both CCEF and the Biblical Counseling Coalition. Formerly the vicar of Christ Church Cambridge, Steve continues to serve the church family there. Before ordination he trained as a psychiatrist.
