Tuesday, March 4, 2008
- NTS
At NTS, we take seriously our role as a theologically
grounded voice in Christian education. We recognize the need for a
comprehensive vision in Wesleyan discipleship, as well as the need to create opportunities
for ongoing specialization in specific age level ministries (children, youth
and adults), and in engaging families within the Family of God. When we talk
with students, we sense their passion to guide others through seeking and doing
God’s will in a changing cultural landscape; a landscape which is creating new opportunities
for ministry.
In this light, many Associate Ministers in local ministry are
finding themselves faced with a need to broaden and deepen their ministry
skills. In particular:
- Youth Pastors seem to be seeking
a new level of ministry that requires a level of learning beyond workshops
and short-term seminars. They need
an educational experience that will allow them to extend their skills and develop
leadership strategies in order to mentor and help youth workers in and
beyond their congregations.
- Likewise, many Children’s
Pastors desire to be a part of a setting that will bring their ministry
experience into direct conversation with new research horizons.
Beginning this year, Associate Ministers in local ministry
settings will be able to pursue their professional development in specialized
age-level and family based ministry—without leaving their current ministry
assignment. Utilizing online education
and (one and two-week) intensive module courses (including summer classes),
ministers will be able to complete the MACE degree in as little as four years.
Students who prefer to move to Kansas City can complete the
same degree in as little as two years, while incorporating more comprehensive
specialized studies based on student interest and built on the full range of
course options offered at NTS.
This
curriculum shift combines the best of contextual ministry and community-based
theological reflection with students from around the world. Students will be
able to engage in a learning community with people from diverse backgrounds who
share similar passions within a Wesleyan heritage. Module classes include
opportunities to “break away” from the pressures of ministry for times of
reflection and growth at a nationally based center for theological education.
Online coursework augments student ministry while providing a national
“virtual” educational forum. The diversity of course delivery insures that
students benefit from the full range of educational models available today. In
addition to online education and two-week module intensives, students may take
advantage of specialized classes anchored around professional conferences,
nationally known ministry settings, and unique explorations in missional/emergent
church efforts.