Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics... effective evangelism - academic excellence

Training: The Oxford Centre for christian Apologetics

The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA) is an exciting partnership between Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) and Wycliffe Hall, a Permanent Private Hall of Oxford University. The Centre for Christian Apologetics seeks to change the profile of evangelism around the world.

For those with a passion to make Christ known, studying at the OCCA is a life transforming experience combining effective evangelism with academic rigour. The OCCA brings together cutting edge theologians and world class evangelists in a centre of excellence, both in academic study and evangelistic practice.

VISION of the Centre:

  • To shape the key global centres of culture and influence for the gospel of Jesus Christ
  • To equip a new generation of evangelists and apologists throughout the world
  • To see many people turn to Christ through their ministry

The Centre will:

  • Foster serious intellectual enquiry into the nature and task of evangelism and apologetics today, and establish an academic groundwork for its practice
  • Support the work of other evangelistic agencies, by providing theological and intellectual resources to strengthen their existing outreach work
  • Help train a new generation of evangelists and apologists in a mature, spiritually rich and apologetically effective style of evangelism

The Centre is based at Wycliffe Hall, and draws on scholars and practitioners to develop thoughtful and rigorous approaches to evangelism. The President of the Centre, Professor Alister McGrath, is one of the world’s leading theologians and apologists.

1-Year Full-Time Certificate training programme

The OCCA currently offers an intensive 1-Year, Full-Time Certificate course in Christian Apologetics for evangelists who want to go far deeper into the subject than part-time courses allow. For more information about the course, click here.

2-Year Part-Time Diploma programme

Undergraduate Diploma in Biblical and Theological Studies (DBTS). This is a two-year part-time modular course which introduces students to the main areas of biblical and theological study, with the opportunity to specialise in either Ministry or Apologetics. It is taught on behalf of the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education (OUDCE) by academic staff of Wycliffe Hall, click here.

8-Week Full-Time training programme

The 8-Week Programme is designed for those who cannot take a full year out but are able to invest two months in apologetics training. It is the perfect choice for those seeking to sharpen evangelistic and apologetic skills for the workplace, click here.

Teaching Staff

Drawing on teaching staff from Wycliffe Hall and RZIM, the Centre hosts a unique body of teachers and thinkers in this area. They include:

  • Professor Alister McGrath, Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University and President of the OCCA.
    Read more.
  • Dr Ravi Zacharias, President of RZIM and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. Read more.
  • Dr Michael Green, Revd Canon Dr Michael Green is Chaplain to the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics.
  • Dr John Lennox, Dr John Lennox is Reader in Mathematics at Oxford University and Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Green College, Oxford. Read more.
  • Amy Orr-Ewing, European Training Director of RZIM and Lecturer in Apologetics of the OCCA. Read more.
  • Michael Ramsden, European Director of RZIM and Lecturer of Christian Apologetics at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. Read more.
  • Reverend Dr Richard Turnbull, Revd Dr Richard Turnbull is Principal of Wycliffe Hall and lecture for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Read more.
  • Other leading guest lecturers from around the world will also be invited to participate on an annual basis.

Please visit the OCCA website for much more information on the courses and contact details.

Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics