RICHMOND, Va. — Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond will welcome the first students in the summer of 2011 to its newly-focused doctor of ministry degree in contextual leadership, the school has announced.
“The doctor of ministry is an advanced professional degree program designed to equip graduates to be effective contextual leaders in their ministry settings,” said Israel Galindo, dean and professor of Christian education at the school. “Through the lens of Bowen Family Systems theory, students will integrate leadership principles from theological, sociological, and practical disciplines and apply their learning to the practice of ministry in their contexts.”
After completing four core seminars, students may use elective course work to integrate and apply their leadership studies to a particular context of ministry such as pastoral care/counseling, preaching and worship, music, Christian education/spiritual formation, missions or church administration, Galindo said.
“We chose to focus the D.Min. on contextual leadership to meet the expressed needs of leaders in a wide variety of faith based settings,” said Tracy Hartman, director of BTSR’s D.Min. program. “When we ask our [master of divinity] graduates what components of their seminary education help them most in ministry, knowledge of family systems theory always ranks high on the list. When asked what would help them most now, they often respond, ‘More training in practical leadership!’ ”
“On learning about the new focus of the degree, one BTSR alum remarked, ‘You’ll have so many applicants for the new degree, you’ll be turning people away!’ ” Galindo said.
This fall, BTSR launched a new master of arts in theology studies (MATS). The two-year degree is designed for lay persons interested in theological study, individuals and church staff in non-ordained ministries, or those interested in pursuing doctoral studies or teaching.
Within the master of divinity degree curriculum, BTSR has also added a concentration in biblical interpretation for students who want to use their electives to immerse themselves in Scripture.