Master of Divinity with Church Planting Concentration

Description

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) Degree with a Concentration in Church Planting is a three-year program preparing students who intend to start a church after graduation or become a career church planter or church planter strategist. Participants are required to take a Church Planting Apprenticeship (I2361/I2362) as their Theological Field Education as well as ten hours of course work from the list of church planting electives listed below. The degree also enables students to develop general ministerial leadership identity and skills. The MDIV with a Church Planting Concentration provides an excellent foundation for students considering working for the North American Mission Board or comparable agency.

To provide guidance for all MDIV students, the Faculty has identified six broad objectives for individuals pursuing the degree and has refined these objectives in specific required courses and the stated course objectives for each. Achieving these degree and course objectives is also designed to set students on a trajectory of life-long personal, spiritual, and professional growth in the arenas detailed in the Essential Leadership Characteristics identified by the Faculty.

Concentration available at the Northern California and Rocky Mountain Campuses.

Degree Objectives

By the completion of the MDiv the student will:

1. Exhibit an introductory graduate-level understanding of the Bible's content, contexts, structure, and message; and demonstrate the ability to conduct solid research with a goal of properly applying the Bible to modern life. (S1112, S1113, S1312, S1313, S1213, S1214, S1413, S1414, S2521)

2. Demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Christian historical, theological, and ethical frameworks commonly held in the believers' church tradition to sustain ministerial leadership to God's glory. (L1111, L1112, L1211, L1212, L1411)

3. Affirm God’s calling and explore areas of spiritual formation and self-awareness appropriate for ministry leadership. (P1111, P1115, P1116, I2361 and I2362)

4. Demonstrate basic comprehension of the theology and theory and develop competence in the practice of pastoral care, counseling, proclamation, and worship leadership. (P1411, P1511, P1512, P1916)

5. Understand theory and develop practical skills to be effective in communicating and living the Gospel in ecclesiological, missional, and intercultural contexts. (I1113, I1211, I1311)

6. Demonstrate comprehension of effective leadership principles and Bible teaching skills in Christian education ministries. (E1113, E1312) 

Vocational Roles

The Curriculum is designed to provide preparation for the following occupational roles: Pastor, Associate Pastor, Missional Strategist, Church Planter, Chaplain, Student or Collegiate Minister, Director of Missions, Denominational Worker, Evangelist, Social Work Minister, Parachurch Ministry Leader, Minister of Counseling or Outreach and Visitation, or Minister of Education.

Prerequisites

An appropriate accredited bachelor’s degree or its equivalent is required.

Course Requirements

This section is designed to help you keep a record of courses taken and courses needed to complete your 90-hour MDIV degree.

Course Title			Course #	Hours
School of Theology
Old Testament Introduction I			S1112	3
Old Testament Introduction II			S1113	3
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew I			S1213	2
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew II			S1214	2
New Testament Introduction I			S1312	3
New Testament Introduction II			S1313	3
Introduction to Biblical Greek I			S1413	2
Introduction to Biblical Greek II			S1414	2
Hermeneutics			S2521	2
Church History I			L1111	3
Church History II			L1112	3
Babptist Heritage and Practice			L1113	2
Christian Theology I			L1211	3
Christian Theology II			L1212	3
Christian Ethics			L1411	2
School of Christian Leadership
Foundations for Ministry			P1111	2
Integration into Ministry			P1116	2
Principles & Approaches to Bible Teaching			E1113	3
Ministry Leadership			E1312	2
Administration and Church Growth			E1314	2
Worship & Music in the Faith Community			P1916	3
Spiritual Formation			P1115	2
Introduction to Preaching or Introduction to Public Speaking			P1411 or E1211	3
Pastoral Ministry			P1511	2
Christian Counseling			P1512	3
School of Global Missions
Intercultural Communication			I1113	3
Introduction to Missions			I1211	3
Basic Evangelism			I1311	2
Introduction to Church Planting			I2351	2
Methodological Models of Church Planting			I2359	2
Church Planting Apprenticeship I			I2361	2
Church Planting Apprenticeship II			I2362	2
Church Planting Electives from the following list:				6
	Ministry and Marketing	I2353	2 or 3
	Polity for Church Planters	I2355	2 or 3
	Church Planting Internship I	I2356	2
	Church Planting Internship II	I2357	2
	Church Extension Summer Seminar	I2358	6
	Special Studies in Evangelism	I3300	1 to 3
	Cultural Models of Chuch Planting	I2360	2 or 3
	Church Planting Elective	I____	2
Free Electives				6
Minimum hours to graduate				90

I2361 & I2362 must be taken in two consecutive terms. A total of 4 semester-hours credit for the courses will be given at the end of the second term. No credit is earned if both courses are not completed. Students must remain in the same Peer Reflection Group for the two terms.

For full-time student verification, students must be registered for 9 semester hours in any given semester and 24 hours for the year. VA students, please see Registrar for full-time student verification and additional information.