Thursday, January 2, 2014

What Programs Could a Unique WV Seminary Offer?

Would this be practical for a unique West Virgina Seminary? 

Cumulative Certificate Programs 
1.       Biblical Foundations Certificate (4 Brief Modular Courses with pre- and post-residence coursework), 12 Total hours
a.       Introduction to Hermeneutics
b.       Introduction to Theology
c.        Survey of Church History
d.       Introduction to Ministry (with Clinicals)
2.       General Certificate/Deacons Certificate (6 additional Courses), 30 Total Hours
a.       Exegesis Course  
b.       Exegesis Course (One of these can be directed/mentored study; the other can be residential)
c.        Theology Course
d.       Theology Course (One of these can be directed/mentored study; the other can be residential)
e.        Church History Course (e.g. Reformation History?)
f.        Ministry Course (e.g. Practical ministry; Combination modular/mentoring components)
3.       Advanced Certificate/Elders Certificate (6 additional Courses), 48 Total Hours
a.       Exegesis Course
b.       Exegesis Course (One of these can be directed/mentored study; the other can be residential)
c.        Theology Course
d.       Theology Course (One of these can be directed/mentored study; the other can be residential)
e.        Church History Course (Modern Church and Denominational/Appalachian Distinctives)
f.        Ministry Course (e.g.,  Counseling)
4.       Career Ministry Certificate (Can be completed anytime along the way), 66 Total Hours
a.       Greek
b.       Hebrew
c.        Ministry Course (i.e. Pulpit Speech; Combination modular/mentoring components)
d.       Mentored Internship at Local Church (comprises all previous ministry courses plus additional requirements).
e.        Anything else required in the Uniform Curriculum Guide of each denomination.


Discussion
  • The program should be focused upon providing students with the tools for learning on their own rather than trying to provide them exhaustive content. 
  • Certificates are cumulative rather than advancing in depth or increasing in level. 
    • Allows institution to offer a variety of offerings without being overly concerned with sequence. 
    • Could offer a variety of different theology or exegesis courses each term which could fit into a certificate at any level. 
    • Requirements can be standardized over time to include courses deemed most foundational.
    • The only sequentially important course would be the first four Biblical Foundations courses. Others can rotate or vary.
    • Certificates makes interim goals achievable and increases success and retention overall in the program.
  • Double names for the certificates reflect that women could also be enrolled in those same programs.
  • Biblical language are probably beyond our ability to offer, unless West Virginia has some ancient languages guru, so we could help ministry track people find ways to get those requirements met elsewhere, ie, How does LAMP Seminary get its language requirements met? 
  • Career Ministry Certificates requirements should be encouraged to be completed along the way rather than forcing them into a specific semester. Making the ministry courses a part of this would help with spacing this out. The Internships should be both task based and time based: Minimum stated period of time per week and overall, combined with certain requirements—Teach a Sunday School course; Preach so many times; Make certain types of visits. Get exposed to certain types of evangelism; Take a mission trip; counseling; etc. 
  • If we measured the entire program by hours, it would total about a 66 hour program, which is still substantial, but more achievable than a Master of Divinity.  It could be sufficient to meet the Uniform Curriculum Guidelines of the Presbyterian Church in America. 

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