A NEW centre of Christian learning will teach potential church leaders how to deal with controversial moral and ethical issues such as human cloning, homosexuality and cohabitation.

The Christian ethics course will be one of several taught at York's first dedicated school of theology.

Churches across the city of different denominations including, Anglican, Pentecostal, house church and Methodist, have united under the banner of the One Voice ecumenical body to establish the school.

Clergy involved in the project hope the courses will equip and encourage the next generation of Christian leaders.

Classes, which will be held in four city centre churches, will include detailed study of the New Testament, evangelism and ministry in the local church.

The Rev David Goodhew, vicar of St Oswald's Church, Fulford, and chair of the York School of Theology (YST) management committee, said the courses were designed to be of practical benefit to Christians rather than purely academic.

"Our aim is to provide practical Christian training for people who might be involved in church youth work and leading services," he said.

"This is a momentous opportunity for Christians and York. I see lots of people with tremendous talents but they need help to develop them.

"Students will learn spiritual skills, studying of the Bible and how to deal with difficult ethical issues."

On the ethical issues module, students will be required to a study range of books, including Cohabitation: A Biblical Perspective; Debating Homosexuality And The Ethics of Human Cloning.

Graham Hutchinson, co-chairman of One Voice and pastor of Elim Pentecostal Church, described the new school as being "Biblical, practical, valuable and available".

"This is about developing Christian leadership," he said.

"It represents more of the evangelical wing of the church."

Mr Goodhew said: "YST is valuable because the material is accredited and really useful for those who want to continue with their studies, available because the courses are flexible and without deadlines."

Qualified and experienced local tutors will run ten-week courses and give support to students. Different modules will run each term and learners can sign up for as many or as few as they feel able to manage.

Updated: 10:46 Saturday, March 18, 2006