Pastoral Ministry, M.A.

Jeffery Stark, D.Min., Coordinator

This program has been specially designed for men and women called by God into pastoral ministry. It assumes that the student enters with an undergraduate education in religion/ministry, such as that offered by Olivet’s School of Theology and Christian Ministry. It aims to provide a comprehensive study of Bible, theology, and ministry, sufficient for the practice of ministry as understood by the Church of the Nazarene. By combining focused undergraduate prerequisites with graduate coursework, the M.A. in Pastoral Ministry is able to provide a dynamic education for ministry in the local church. By including a mentored ministry component in the second year, this program both shortens the residential study requirement and strengthens the transition to ministry for the student. This lessens the personal and financial cost of more extended residential study while providing the student with an optimal ministry “launch.” District Superintendents in the Church of the Nazarene are open to and interested in placing these students in pastoral assignments as a part of this program.

36 hours

Required:

Note:

A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required for graduation from the program, no course counting toward graduation may carry a grade of less than a C.

Program Format

More than most master’s degree programs, the M.A. in Pastoral Ministry uses a wide assortment of course formats and teaching methods: intensive modules, half-semester courses, full-semester courses, lecturing, mentoring, internships, seminars, papers, and projects. For a more detailed explanation of the various course formats, please refer to “Academic Policies: Program Formats ”.

Time Limits

A student is allowed four years from beginning the first graduate course to complete the entire MA.PMIN program. Coursework beyond four years is evaluated by the Program Coordinator, the Director of Graduate Studies, or the Dean of the School of Theology & Christian Ministry. Students granted permission for more than four years may be expected to meet current program requirements, and that may mean retaking one or more courses.