Description

The Diploma in Pastoral Studies and Leadership is a 20 course program and is designed for mature students (i.e. over 35 years of age) lacking an undergraduate degree, but with an extensive church background who wish to train for professional pastoral ministry. This program is designed particularly to service the part-time student who needs – because of finances or family obligations – to remain employed.  This is a terminal program and therefore courses do not transfer into any other program.

Graduation Requirements

Successful completion of 20 courses with a GPA of no less than 2.0.

Goals

• To equip Christian servant leaders who should:
• Be capable of correctly interpreting the biblical text and communicating its message to their audience.
• Embrace the appropriate leadership philosophy and skills development that will allow them to serve the church effectively.
• Have learned about and developed appropriate skills in preaching and church administration.
• Have a solid overview of theology from a biblical, historical, and systematic perspective.
• Be able to present the gospel message in a manner culturally relevant to contemporary society.
• Understand the church as a spiritual organism and organization, along with a good overview of the church historically, theologically, and methodologically.

Courses:

• Biblical Introduction
• Hermeneutics
• Old Testament Elective
• New Testament Elective
• Bible Elective
• Spirituality Elective

* Prerequisite to all Biblical Studies courses  

Theological and Historical Studies

• Theological Foundations 1
• Theological Foundations 2
• Moral Theology
• Church History 1
• Church History 2
• North American Church History

Spiritual Formation

      Spirituality Elective

Ministry Practicums

• Supervised Ministry Experience 1
• Supervised Ministry Experience 2

• Ministry Foundations
• Ministry Formation (2 credit hours)
• Ministry Preparation (1 credit hr)

Preaching and Leadership Studies

• Pastoral Care and Counselling
• Pastoral Leadership Foundations
• Introduction to Preaching
• Essentials of Expository Preaching