This course offers a focused one-year programme, validated by Wycliffe Hall, for those looking for specific training in the area of evangelism and apologetics. The aim of the course is to help equip students to be spiritually and theologically prepared to engage in the tasks of evangelism and apologetics in contemporary society.

The CCA is run by the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA), which is a partnership between Wycliffe Hall and Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM).

Course Structure

Modules

• Introduction to Apologetics
• Comparative Religion
• Logic
• Great Thinkers
• Schools of Apologetics
• Christian Moral Reasoning
• Science & Religion
• Advanced Apologetics
• Preaching Workshops
• Expository Evangelism
• Missiology
• Postmodernism
• Islamic Apologetics
• The Bible
• History
• Source Material Analysis
• Biblical Archaeology
• Atheism
• Contemporary non-Christian thinkers
• Major objections to the Christian faith
• The Cross and Atonement
• Church History
• Biblical Theology
• Doctrine
• Old and New Testament Studies
• Introduction to Spiritual Disciplines

Assessment is conducted over the year, by a series of twelve pieces of work, followed by a longer dissertation in the final term.

Teaching and Study

Teaching takes various forms. Students on the CCA will attend lectures and seminars at Wycliffe Hall on the core modules, evangelism and basic apologetics. They will also attend a series of more concentrated weekends of teaching given by the staff of the RZIM Zacharias Trust on apologetics. Weekly seminars will explore areas of interest in contemporary evangelism.

CCA students are able to attend lectures that form part of the wider Wycliffe Hall programme. In addition they may attend lectures at Oxford University. In order to ensure a ‘best fit’ for students’ needs, each student has a personal interview at the start of the academic year to agree an individualised timetable to make the most of these opportunities.

Ministerial Programme

CCA students take part in the life of the Wycliffe Hall community as part of the overall ministerial dimension of their training:

• All students are part of the college community and participate in daily worship.
• Everyone at Wycliffe Hall is a member of a fellowship group, which meets frequently with a tutor for worship, prayer, bible study and relaxation.Each student meets their fellowship group tutor regularly to discuss personal and spiritual development.
• Certain Integrated Study Weeks cover important aspects of evangelism and apologetics and candidates on this course will attend these.
• Preaching classes will help students gain skills in preaching, especially in evangelistic contexts.
• Students will engage in at least one evangelistic mission during the year. They will be able to take part in the Zacharias Trust’s annual programme of teaching, missions and ministry.