This program provides graduate theological study for persons engaged in or contemplating a variety of leadership roles in community, congregational, or other professional settings. It is particularly well-suited for the preparation of persons who wish to offer leadership founded in theological and Christian spiritual foundations in any of a variety of professional settings: United Methodist deacon orders, participation in a congregational leadership team, work in a community or social service agency, social change organizing or mission outreach locally or cross-culturally. The student will receive basic training within integrative core courses and then will identify further coursework allowing them to focus a specialized ministry area with a supervised ministry experience in the area of focus.
Early in their time of study, students will work with an advisor to identify vocational growth goals and to select courses that will prepare them for the specialized role they envision for their ministry. This specialization, while having a clear focus, will be made up of courses that students and advisors jointly discern will best serve their further ministry preparation. Possible areas of specialization given the training opportunities the seminary can provide are these: Chaplaincy/Pastoral Care; Christian Spiritual Formation; Congregational Ministries: Preaching, worship. etc.; Conflict Management & Peacebuilding; Leadership; Missions; Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Students may chose other interest area in consultation with their advisor.Degree requirements require final completion of a local and global mission of the the church; Christian spiritual formation and direction; chaplaincy and pastoral care; congregational ministries (e.g. youth, teaching). Students may also pursue one of several graduate certificates in other EMU graduate programs, for example the Certificate in Restorative Justice, or the Certificate in Transformational Leadership.
Degree requirements require a supervised ministry experience and completion of a final 3 semester-hour Ministry Specialization Project (SMCL 698). This project will be a summative reflection on the area of specialization chosen by each student, and a proposal for ways the ministry specialization will contribute to the students’ ongoing vocation.
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A unique strength of Eastern Mennonite Seminary is our formation program. We believe that focusing on one’s own formation during the seminary journey is the way for ministering persons to be healthy and whole in their vocations. For this degree, two formation courses are required. Two courses in Formation in God’s Story help students understand their connection to God’s story as found in Scripture in conversation with their own life stories being written in the present through growing spiritual practices. Additional Formation studies can be done as part of the students’ specializations focus. Persons considering advanced academic master or doctoral studies should pursue the Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Religion degree rather than the Master of Arts in Christian Leadership.
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Choose one Worship Course: (2-3)
SMCL 642 Congregational Worship (3)
FS 563 Spiritual Formative SMCL 682 Public Worship (23)
FS 683 Intergenerational Worship (2)
FS 723 693 Prayer Practices in Worship (2)
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Students will complete the following or the UM studies
Choose two Advanced Theological studies courses (6)
CTT course
CTE course
CTH course
OR
United Methodist Studies (6)
(Student needs to check with his/her conference to confirm all requirements are met)
CM 671 U.M. History (2)
CM 681 U.M. Doctrine (2)
CM 691 U.M. Polity (2)
Ministry Specialization and Electives (12-16)
SMCL 698 Ministry Specialization Project (required)
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At least 3 sh of supervised ministry experience; options below:
- FS 601-602 Formation in Ministry I
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- -II (4 sh)
- SMFE 601-602 CPE (6 sh)
- SMFE 781 Mentored Mnistry Internship (2-6 sh) --May include directed study with faculty from other grad certificate program.
- FS 613 Home-based Spiritual Direction Practicum
SMCL 698 Ministry Specialization Project (3 sh required)
Possible Ministry Specializations:
Chaplaincy/Pastoral Care
Christian Spiritual Formation
Congregational Ministries: Preaching, worship etc.
Conflict Management & Peacebuilding
Leadership
Missions
Youth and Young Adult MinistryStudents may choose other interest area in consultation with their adviser.Christian spiritual formation and direction
Chaplaincy and pastoral care
Congregational ministries (e.g. youth, teaching)
Total of 49 SH
Core courses: 33-37
Elective – guided by specialized specialization focus: 12-16
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