Our beginnings, values and who we are

The beginnings

UTU began over 50 years ago as a place where Christian people looking to work in tough urban communities could learn through a Study Year of contextual theology and practical action, based in the Pitsmoor area of east Sheffield, UK.

It was the brainchild of the radical and pioneering Methodist Minister, Rev’d John J Vincent. He was influenced by his time with the New York Seminary and the work of Paulo Friere, to advocate and teach – using Holy Spirit inspired Lectio Divina-type Biblical reflection and deep Biblical scholarship to unlock a liberationist understanding of Jesus’ teaching for each particular context and situation.

Our values

UTU has grown into an international network of people, still centred on Sheffield.

We are actively engaged in working, teaching and preaching, and passionate about making a difference in our contexts. We see this Biblical method and its outworkings as key to engaging effectively with people in our local communities and the powers and wider authorities that influence and impact them. We work with all people of goodwill, of other faiths or none – several of whom have studied with us in the past. We aim to see more followers of Jesus’ teaching, and increase the impact of the kindom of God in all its fullness, in our settings.

Who we are

The key people who shape and oversee this work are the Board of Trustee-Directors:

Officers

David Dale – Secretary

David did the UTU Study Year early on, synthesising his theology with his work practice as a town and country planner. He was the first warden (1974-1987) of Pitsmoor Study House on Abbeyfield Road, established as the initial base for UTU, offering overnight accommodation to visitors. He is one of our links to our sister organisation the Ashram Community, also founded by John Vincent.

Erica Dunmow – Chair of Board

Erica has lived in and served complex urban communities in Bow, E End of London and Darnall, east Sheffield since 1981. She is passionate about the Gospel of Jesus as deeply concerned with the realities of people’s lives, and ever since taken part in her first interactive Bible study in Bow, has been committed to UTU’s style of bottom-up, liberationist theology. She also brings a deep understanding of different sorts of church/community engagement from her six years as UK Urban Mission Development Advisor working across all strands of Christianity and delegate to the Edinburgh 2010 World Mission Conference, and member of Study Group VII – Christian Communities in the 21^st Century.

Neil Manthorpe – Honorary Treasurer

Neil was part of the Alliance of Radical Methodists in the 1980s and a volunteer with the Terrence Higgins Trust. Mostly absorbed by suburban church in the nineties and noughties, he studied for the Certificate in the early 2020s with the hope he could find ways to share radical theology in his daily life. A Methodist local preacher and volunteer with a refugee support group, he now uses his financial background to keep UTU finances in order.

Operations Group Members

Ruth Weston – PR and Social Media

Ruth was also an early member of the Study Year, following which she became an activitist advocating for better choices for women giving birth, and developed a business hiring out birthing pools (which also double up as baptistries !)

Maurice Stafford – Library and archives

Maurice is a semi-retired Methodist Presbyter and liberation theologian, who has served as a UTU Tutor for the BA and Methodist Minister Training Courses. He is currently overseeing the creation of an on-line academic archive of Theses and Dissertations, and the John J Vincent Archive.

Board Members

Vicky Atkins – Methodist Presbyter and Chair of the Sheffield District

Vicky is an ex-officio member of the Board, but also committed to the style of theology and mission that UTU promotes, having trained initially at UTU.

Andrew Crowley – Permanent Deacon (Catholic) in NE Sheffield

Andrew served for many years as Honorary Treasurer until Nov 25. He oversees the online monthly “Urban Gospel Coffee Time”. Involved in interfaith and ecumenical activities, and seeks to deepen understanding of the relationship between context and theology in the personal as well as church life.

Tim Scott

Tim is an Anglican priest who pioneered a ministry based, without parish responsibilities, on two Walthamstow, E London estates during a period of regeneration. He then served in parishes in Leytonstone and Southwark , and after a period in a rural parish, is back in outer E London. He is our link with the National Estate Churches Network.

Chris Sissons

Chris was a Member of the Study Year 1981-82 and then of the Christian Praxis Group, still going strong after all these years. Methodist Local Preacher for over 40 years. Now he helps people in later life move from paid to self-employment through storytelling and marketing coaching.

Greg Smith

Greg is a long-term urban mission activist in East London and latterly Preston. He has written about and researched the field extensively. He is a non-conformist currently worshipping in an Anglican parish church. He is our link to the William Temple Foundation.

Jackie Wright

Jackie is a Methodist Deacon serving Sheffield City Centre. She worked for many years in special needs teaching. Her first Diaconal post was in a small seaside town.

XXX XXX – might this be you ??

Two people have recently retired from the Board due to changing work circumstances. If you like what you see of us on this site, or know our work and approach, and especially if you have some experience or expertise in either theological education and training, discipleship, or strategic visioning – why not message us and have a chat.

Other key people includeour Administrator Mel King and our course and event leaders.