We will be launching our new Thursday evening training programme at Central Hall from January 2008. This is part of our ongoing commitment to create Central Hall as a centre of learning that will equip the church as well as serving the wider church community. I know that there have been a number of comments made about the fact that we have decided to charge for these training programmes. This is a new initiative and we have taken a big step of faith in releasing Norma from CCTS to develop New Community Training. We deliberated long and hard about charging for these courses but in the end decided that we would make a charge of £25 per 5 week module (£5 per night) and offer a reduced cost of £10 (£2 per night) for those on benefits, over 65, under 18 and students. This would make a contribution towards the costs of materials, use of the building, costs towards those teaching as well as making an investment into the development of New Community Training as we seek to develop courses that will serve the wider community. In light of the feedback we have received we have decided that, for this first year, we will ask members of New Community Church to contribute the £10 per 5 week module (£2 per night). For others outside of New Community Church the charge of £25 per 5 week module will still apply.
Billy Kennedy
5th November 2007, 05/11/2007