Professional Doctoral Degrees

Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Educational Ministry

DMin/DEdMin Purpose

The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) and the Doctor of Educational Ministry (DEdMin) are professional degrees accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and designed to provide qualified students the opportunity to achieve a high level of excellence in the practice of ministry. The degrees are built on respective prerequisite master’s degrees and high intellectual achievement and professional capability.

The Doctor of Ministry degree requires an ATS-accredited Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree OR a master's degree in a ministry-related area from an accredited college, university, or seminary. The Doctor of Educational Ministry degree requires a theological ministerial or professional master's degree from an accredited institution. The Professional Doctoral Degrees normally require three to five years of study beyond the master's degree with a limit of six years.

Components of both programs include a combination of workshops and seminars, and a ministry project designed to meet a specific need in the student’s ministry context. A formal written Project Report is required. For complete and current information on the professional doctoral degrees, please see the Professional Doctoral Programs (hereafter ProDoc) website at http://www.nobts.edu/cme.

Program Outcomes

The outcomes for the DMin program are as follows:

• To stimulate the minister’s total growth toward personal maturity and assist in developing goals and methods to achieve maximum excellence

• To assist the minister in practical ministry through resources afforded by additional study in the classical areas

• To encourage and develop critical thinking and wise and intelligent decision-making capabilities

• To strengthen basic knowledge and professional skills essential to effective ministry

• To teach those skills and instill those attitudes which will develop greater competency in ministry: preaching, teaching, counseling, administration, and witnessing

• To inspire ministers to move beyond the routinely accepted methods of ministry toward innovative methods, procedures, and outreach

• To develop the student’s capacity to analyze the needs within a community and to lead a church in developing a program to meet those needs

• To motivate ministers to develop a unified ministry philosophy which involves the staff and laity in a world-wide ministry through churches.

The outcomes for the DEdMin program are as follows:

• To facilitate an advanced understanding of the nature and purposes of educational ministry

• To develop an enhanced capacity to reflect theologically on issues and practices related to educational ministry

• To aid in the acquisition and refinement of skills and competencies for more effective ministry

• To facilitate an understanding of emerging models in educational ministry and ability to critically evaluate those models

• To foster continued growth in spiritual maturity

Admissions

In addition to the following guidelines, students interested in a professional doctoral degree should review the general seminary guidelines of this catalog regarding international students, immunizations, and divorce and estrangement. Those guidelines can be found in the current edition of the graduate catalog. The Professional Doctoral Oversight Committee (hereafter ProDOC) will recommend admission, conditional admission, or denial of admission for the DMin and DEdMin programs. Applicants will be evaluated according to selected criteria required for admission into the professional doctoral program. A variety of documents are considered in ascertaining the applicant's potential success in the professional doctoral program. Applicant's must have a qualifying master's degree.

Doctor of Educational Ministry Prerequisites and Admission Standards

Admission to the DEdMin degree requires a ministry-related or professional master's degree from an accredited institution. Supplemental transcripts should include hours in biblical and theological studies, organizational leadership and administration, instructional theory and practice, and/or educational foundations.

• Applicants may be required to complete additional studies for admission or take proficiency seminars as part of the degree program.

• Applicants will be evaluated according to specific submitted documents (i.e. GPA, Writing Assessment, Entrance Interview, Ministry Experience, and Spiritual Maturity).

• Students will follow the outlined application steps for the Professional Doctoral Program.

Doctor of Ministry Prerequisites and Admission Standards

Admission to the DMin program requires an accredited master's degree in a ministry-related area and significant ministry experience.

• While the MDiv is the standard qualifying degree, applicants without an accredited MDiv degree may be admitted provided they demonstrate specific ministerial proficiencies:

  1. the ability to thoughtfully interpret scripture and the theological tradition of one's ministry context,

  2. the capacity to understand and adapt one's ministry to the cultural context,

  3. the basic self-understanding of one's ministerial identity and vocational calling,

  4. a readiness to engage in ongoing personal and spiritual formation for one's ministry,

  5. an accredited master's degree in an area related to one's ministry setting or vocational calling, and

  6. significant ministerial experience that enables the applicant to engage as a ministry peer with other students in this advanced professional doctorate.
     

• All DMin applicants are expected to exhibit preparation for advanced ministerial study as demonstrated through:

  1. Transcript Evaluation,

  2. Autobiographical Essay, and

  3. Entrance Interview.

• Applicants without an MDiv will be considered for admission based on the items above and an evaluation of the following additional items:

  1. Graduate Biblical Studies/Theology paper,

  2. Personal Inventory, and

  3. Professional Resume.

Post-Doctoral Certificate Prerequisites and Admission Standards

The purpose of the Post-Doctoral Certificate is to offer professional development for professional and research doctoral graduates. Each certificate consists of 11 credit hours utilizing existing professional doctoral seminars:

• While the MDiv is the standard qualifying degree, applicants without an accredited MDiv degree may be admitted provided they demonstrate specific ministerial proficiencies:

  1. Three seminars in a customized specialization (9 hours),

  2. Program Overview & Research Writing Workshop (2 hours), and

  3. NOBTS ProDoc graduates will be given advanced credit for the 2-hour workshop.

• Conditions: Students are not permitted to duplicate or transfer courses from their previous professional doctoral degrees. Post-Doctoral Certificate students will pay the current per-hour tuition rate for the Professional Doctoral Program as listed in the current Graduate Catalog.

Admissions Steps

Admission is granted based upon successful completion of the following steps and submission of related materials:

Step #1: Complete an application on the ProDoc or Institutional website.

Step #2: Submit the following supplemental items:

• Criminal Background Check

• Church Affirmation Statement

• Personal, Church Leader, and Academic references

• Immunization Record and TB Form

• Professional Resume

• Graduate Biblical Studies /Theology Paper

• Personal Inventory

• Autobiographical Essay

• All Undergraduate and Graduate Official Transcripts

• Application Fee

• Advanced Credit Request for Military or Clinical Pastoral Chaplains

• For those planning to use VA benefits, please notify the Financial Aid Office

• International students' additional admission requirements

  • Applicants who have completed an appropriate master's degree at NOBTS or an accredited U.S. institution can request exemption from the TOEFL test requirement

Step # 3: Once the application is completed, a professional program administrator will conduct a phone or video interview with the applicant. The Professional Doctoral Oversight Committee will review applications. The Admissions Office will communicate admission decisions. 

Conditional Admission

At the discretion of the ProDOC Office, applicants may be considered for conditional enrollment upon demonstrating professional achievement or academic potential. Conditional admission candidates must make a "B" or better in each of their first three seminars to remain in the program.

Admissions and Registration Schedule

Fall Semester
Admissions Steps completed by July 1 (New Students' Registration Begins)
Registration of Returning Students: March 22-April 14
Syllabi available by July 1

Spring Semester
Admissions Steps completed by December 1 (New Students' Registration Begins)
Registration of Returning Students: October 22-November 14
Syllabi available by December 1

Summer Semester
Admissions Steps completed by April 1 (New Students' Registration Begins)
Registration of Returning Students: March 22-April 14
Syllabi available by April 1

Program Requirements

Doctor of Educational Ministry (DEdMin)

Workshops (6 hours)

Seminars (24 hours)

Project in Ministry (6 hours)
Project Implementation, Project Report, and Exit Interview

Total: 36 hours

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Workshops (6 hours)

Seminars (24 hours)

Project in Ministry (6 hours)
Project Implementation, Project Report, and Exit Interview

Total: 36 hours

*Students with an MDiv from an accredited institution will be granted advanced standing and the two proficiency seminars waived (6 hours).

Post-Doctoral Certificate (PDC)

Workshops (6 hours)

Total: 11 hours

*NOBTS ProDoc graduates will be given advanced credit for the 2-hour workshop.

Specializations

Students may choose from specializations offered to design their doctoral program for a particular ministry context or goal. Customized specializations allow students to make requests for specializations not listed as regular offerings through the ProDoc office. Every effort will be made to provide the requested specialization. The generalist track enables students to take their seminars from any ProDoc course.

• Apologetics

• Church Health

• Church Revitalization

• Discipleship and Spiritual Formation

• Educational Ministry Leadership

• Evangelistic Church Growth

• Executive Administration

• Expository Preaching*

• Intercultural Studies

• Ministry to Women

• Next Generation Ministries

• Pastoral Counseling

• Pastoral Ministry

• Strategic Leadership

• Worship Leadership

• Customized

• Generalist

• Korean Ministry**

  *The Expository Preaching specialization requires a student to have a preaching class and biblical languages from one of three options: 1) six hours of Greek plus six hours of Hebrew, 2) nine hours of Greek, 3) nine hours of Hebrew

  **The seminars in this specialization are taught in Korean only at the NGA campus

Course Load and Duration

Professional Doctoral students are considered full-time. Students may take no more than 8 hours maximum per semester, comprising of one workshop and two seminars. Time extensions and/or accelerations as well as course load exceptions may be granted for students with extenuating circumstances.

Delivery System

The Professional Doctoral Programs are conducted according to two semesters (fall and spring) and one term (summer) per year.

Workshops are designed for main campus attendance . Students are highly encouraged to attend all workshops in person at the New Orleans campus. However, all workshops are available via NOLA2U (synchronous interactive video). The Program Overview and Mid-Career Assessment Workshops are two days in length. The Project in Ministry Design Workshop is four days. Seminars are three days, scheduled in a variety of delivery formats: Main campus, NOLA2U, and special events. Periodically, Special Event seminars are offered in conjunction with a selected main campus or off-campus event (length of Special Event seminars may vary due to the event schedule). Special Event seminars will not be available via NOLA2U.

Curriculum Description

Each workshop and seminar will have advance assignments. Assignments are practical and ministry oriented, reflecting the practice of ministry in the respective field. The meetings are designed to be practical, ministry oriented, and interactive. All research writing during the student’s program, including the Project Report, must be prepared according to the latest edition of the program handbook approved by the faculty: A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations by Kate Turabian; and A Manual of Style (University of Chicago Press).

Exceptions may be made for selected assignments in a particular seminar as directed by the professor(s).

Workshops, Seminars, and Project in Ministry Requirements

The workshops are designed to provide students with selected ministry assessment opportunities and personalized guidance in their programs. Workshops are led by the ProDoc faculty and involve students in independent study, group discussions, presentations, and one-on-one dialogue. All workshops must be completed in the order listed in the program requirements above.

Seminars are designed to lead students to wrestle with contemporary ministry issues in dialogue with the various theological disciplines. Most seminars are taken concurrent with the workshops and may be completed in any order. All seminars must be completed prior to or concurrent with the completion of the Project in Ministry Design Workshop. If enrollment in a seminar is below the minimum established by the ProDOC, those students who have enrolled will be notified regarding alternatives.

No more than one-half of the student’s seminars may be transferred credits from another institution or taken as Directed Study Seminars (independent of on-campus meetings under the direction of an elected faculty member), Specialized Directed Study Seminars (customized individual study under a faculty member that is distinctive from any currently offered seminar), or Special Event Seminars. Requirements for Directed Study Seminars are commensurate with those in Campus Seminars (including assignments which compensate proportionately for class time). Registration and assignment deadlines also correspond with those of Campus Seminars in the same semester or term.

Course descriptions for all workshops and seminars can be found at the end of this section. A list of specific offerings for upcoming semesters can be obtained from the ProDoc Office or the ProDoc website.

Guidance and Evaluation

Course Work
Workshops and seminars are conducted by faculty members and/or other qualified professionals. Students will receive either a “Pass” or “Fail” assessment for workshops. Students will be assigned letter grades “A” through “F” for seminar performance. No seminar grade below a “B” will count toward degree requirements. Students making a grade of “C” or below must consult with the Associate Dean of Professional Doctoral Programs. Two seminar grades of “C” or below will result in the student’s dismissal from the doctoral program.

Project Supervision
Prior to beginning the Project in Ministry Design Workshop, the student will enlist a Faculty Mentor who will assist him or her in the development of both the Preliminary and Final Project Proposals. The Faculty Mentor also will provide guidance and accountability during project implementation, assist the student in analyzing and articulating implications for theological and ministerial leadership in the Project Report, and guide the student in writing a high-quality Project Report, both in content and in form. The Faculty Mentor will be assisted at various points in the project by a Field Mentor and by selected Faculty Readers. Specific roles of each of these persons are delineated in the respective program handbook.

Program Costs

Tuition
See Student Fees page in the Graduate Catalog.

Housing/Food
Students are responsible for arranging housing and meals during workshops and seminars. Housing is available on the New Orleans campus through the Providence Guest House: 504.944.4455. Meals are available at the River City Cafe and Cafe New Orleans, located on the New Orleans campus for breakfast and lunch only.

Books/Materials
The cost of books and/or other materials for each workshop or seminar will vary. After receiving the syllabus for each workshop and seminar, students may acquire textbooks by ordering from the NOBTS Virtual Bookstore at nobts.ecampus.com or from other online bookstores.

Project in Ministry

Purpose
The purpose of the Project in Ministry is to develop the student’s ministry skills and to provide ministry benefits to the participating church, agency, or institution and the larger Christian community. The project experience aims to enhance both the student’s personal ministry skills and those germane to his or her specific ministry context. Consequently, the student must have been in his or her current ministry position at least one year prior to registering for the Project in Ministry Design Workshop, and the student must remain in that position throughout the duration of the project. Specific guidelines for each part of the Project in Ministry are provided in the respective program handbook.

Project Report
The Project Report is the final document describing the ministry project and its results, written upon completion of the ministry project in close consultation with the Faculty Mentor. The Project Report is more than a mere recapitulation of the Final Project Proposal but includes insights learned in the process of the ministry project.

Evaluation and Eligibility for Graduation
Students anticipating December graduation must turn in their Project Reports by August 15, and students anticipating May graduation must turn in their Project Reports by January 15. The Project Report is submitted to the ProDoc Office. The Project Report will receive a grade of Fail, Low, Satisfactory, or High. If the project receives a Low, Satisfactory, or High evaluation, the Faculty Mentor and Readers will conduct an Exit Interview with the student at least one month before graduation. The readers may recommend changes (stylistic or content) to be made in the Project Report before it is placed in the library. Students whose reports fail will be asked to meet with the Faculty Mentor and ProDoc Administrators to determine a plan for completion of the degree program. The Faculty Mentor will report the evaluation of the Project Report and the Exit Interview to the ProDoc Office. Students who do not fail the Project Report and/or Exit Interview are eligible for graduation.

Professional Doctoral Course Descriptions

In addition to the courses listed below, periodic seminars may be developed during the year by the respective divisions in conjunction with selected campus and off-campus special events. Current Special Event offerings may be obtained from the Office of Professional Doctoral Programs or the ProDoc website.

Delay Status Options

PDRS8001 Continual Enrollment Status
Professional doctoral students not registering for at least one workshop or seminar during the current semester register for this status. Students are allowed to register for this status no more than two consecutive semesters before they must register for some component of their program, register for Program Delay status, or request Inactive status from the ProDOC. No fee is charged during Continual Enrollment semesters.

PDRS8002 Program Delay Status
Students who plan not to register for at least one workshop or seminar per year must register for Program Delay status until they reactivate their program or request Inactive status from the ProDOC. Students must pay a fee for each semester of Program Delay. (See Student Fees page in this Graduate Catalog)

PDRS8003 Inactive Status
Students who have been granted Inactive status by the ProDOC are registered for this status each trimester until they reactivate their program. No fee is charged for Inactive Status.

Workshops

PDWS8201 Program Overview and Research Writing Workshop (2 hours)
This workshop is an overview of the Professional Doctoral Programs and an introduction to research writing. It is designed to guide students into intentionally planning their entire program and to orient them to research/writing skills in preparation for their remaining seminar work and the project in ministry. This workshop must be taken during a student’s first semester on campus.

PDWS8202 Mid-Career Assessment Workshop (2 hours)
This workshop provides an assessment of the minister’s leadership style, personality, interpersonal relationship skills, spiritual vitality, family relationships, and character utilizing psychometric tools and classroom activities for the purpose of affirming strengths and improving weaknesses.

PDWS8203 Project in Ministry Design Workshop (2 hours)
This workshop offers the student guidance in designing a defensible preliminary proposal for a worthy professional doctoral project. This workshop is offered each semester and is concerned principally with conceptualizing and designing the project, discovering resources, and determining methods and evaluative procedures. Because of the significant work involved in writing a project proposal, students cannot take more than one on-campus seminar in addition to this workshop in the same semester. Each student must take this workshop at the New Orleans campus and should remain on campus throughout the week the workshop meets in order to fulfill requirements, utilize the library, and receive personal guidance from the course professors and his or her Faculty Mentor.

DEdMin Component

PDOC8302 Teaching in Higher Education (3 hours)
Students in this course will develop an undergraduate or graduate course of their own choosing, from the submission of a course rationale and description through the development of the course syllabus and lesson plans. In addition, they will construct a teaching portfolio prepared to present to an institute of higher learning consisting of a personal philosophy of teaching, a curriculum vita, properly written lesson plans, a syllabus for higher theological education, and video documentation of teaching. Also can be taken as RDOC9302 Teaching in Higher Education.

Biblical Studies Seminars

BSDS8300 Specialized Directed Study in Biblical Studies (3 hours)
This is an independent study seminar in the area of biblical studies designed at the request of a student to address some specific area related to his or her specialization or project in ministry. Content and structure are designed in conjunction with an elected faculty member who agrees to supervise the seminar. In addition to assigned readings and research, the seminar may require participation in and reflection on a conference, training event, or ministry experience. e-mail, fax, and phone conversations may be utilized to enrich the experience. All directed study proposals must be approved by the respective professor and then the Associate Dean of Professional Doctoral Programs prior to registration.

BSNT8301 Expository Preaching from the New Testament (3 hours)
This seminar centers on preparing expository sermons and deriving homiletical values from selected portions of the New Testament. The work is aimed at providing a model upon which students can establish an effective life-discipline of study and sermon preparation. The exegetical part is normally taught by a New Testament professor and the expository section by a preaching professor. This course may be repeated as long as a different New Testament text is being studied.

BSNT8302 Exegetical Studies in the New Testament (3 hours)
This seminar offers a practical study of selected portions of the New Testament. The focus is development and use of a sound method of biblical interpretation as a source for responsible exegesis, with the results being applied to the demands of ministry in the contemporary setting. This course may be repeated as long as a different New Testament text is being studied.

BSNT8303 Advanced Use of Logos Technology for Biblical Exegesis and Sermon Preparation (3 hours)
This seminar engages students in advanced-level exegesis, focusing on the use of current Logos Software Technology for exegesis of a selected Bible book. The course will utilize basic to advanced functions of Logos Bible Software as a tool for biblical exegesis and sermon preparation.

BSOT8301 Expository Preaching from the Old Testament (3 hours)
This seminar centers on preparing expository sermons and deriving homiletical values from selected portions of the Old Testament. The work is aimed at providing a model upon which students can establish an effective life-discipline of study and sermon preparation. The exegetical part is normally taught by an Old Testament professor and the expository section by a preaching professor. This course may be repeated as long as a different Old Testament text is being studied.

BSOT8302 Exegetical Studies in the Old Testament (3 hours)
This seminar offers a practical study of selected portions of the Old Testament. The focus is development and use of a sound method of biblical interpretation as a source for responsible exegesis, with the results being applied to the demands of ministry in the contemporary setting. This course may be repeated as long as a different Old Testament text is being studied.

BSOT8303 Advanced Use of Logos Technology for Biblical Exegesis and Sermon Preparation (3 hours)
This seminar engages students in advanced-level exegesis, focusing on the use of current Logos Software Technology for exegesis of a selected Bible book. The course will utilize basic to advanced functions of Logos Bible Software as a tool for biblical exegesis and sermon preparation.

Church and Community Ministries Seminars

CCPS8301 Pastoral Counseling (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to lead students to develop an understanding of the skills essential for successful counseling relationship building and the principles of effective pastoral counseling techniques. Seminar participants will demonstrate understanding of the scope of pastoral counseling and skills necessary to an effective counseling ministry through assessment of case studies, role playing of counseling sessions, and study of verbatims of actual counseling sessions.

CCPS8302 Pastoral Counseling for Marriages and Families (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to enable students to develop broad knowledge of the marriage relationship, to develop knowledge of current family life demographics, to study healthy and dysfunctional families, to guide students in an understanding of the characteristics of a healthy marital relationship and in the application of principles to provide lasting change in marriages and families in the church, as well as understand and apply basic helping techniques to families in crisis. Students may study a variety of leading contemporary theories of marriage and pre-marriage therapy from a systematic approach. Emphasis is placed on mastery of the techniques used in marital and pre-marital pastoral counseling. Students will develop a personal model of marriage and pre-marriage pastoral counseling including assessment, treatment planning, interventions, and follow-up.

CCSW8301 Life Issues and Ministry Practice (3 hours)
This seminar will address critical age group, family, and life needs and issues. Ministry models will be developed to meet particular needs and issues of each age group and family lifestyle.

CCSW8303 Interpersonal Relationship Skills (3 hours)
This seminar is designed to survey major interpersonal relationship skills needed by the minister in the following areas: intrapersonal, marriage and family, staff, church, and community. Special attention is given to self-evaluation. Projects for improving interpersonal relationship skills will be developed and evaluated. Topics include listening skills, assertion skills, conflict resolution skills, collaborative problem-solving skills, and skill selection.

CCSW8304 Ministering to Persons in Crisis (3 hours)
The purpose of the seminar is to equip ministers to actively assist persons in crisis. Among the crises that will be addressed are divorce, death, child abuse, neglect, adoption, children with special needs, miscarriages, infertility, abortion, drug abuse, domestic violence, alcoholism, substance abuse, and addictions.

CCSW8305 Essential Grief Ministry Skills (3 hours)
The focus of this seminar is on death, loss, and grief throughout the life span. Attention will be given to basic therapeutic interventions that can be useful in assisting individuals and groups through a wide variety of loss experiences such as illness, divorce, unemployment, relocation, infertility, death, purpose and loss of dreams. The role of the counselor/minister in the helping relationship will be explored.

Church Music Seminars

CMDS8300 Specialized Directed Study in Church Music (3 hours)
This seminar is an independent study seminar in the area of church music designed at the request of a student to address some specific area related to his or her specialization or project in ministry. Content and structure are designed in conjunction with an elected faculty member who agrees to supervise the seminar. In addition to assigned readings and research, the seminar may require participation in and reflection on a conference, training event, or ministry experience. e-mail, fax, and phone conversations may be utilized to enrich the experience. All directed study proposals must be approved by the respective professor and the Associate Dean of Professional Doctoral Programs prior to registration.

CMSE8301 Church Music Special Event Seminar (3 hours)
This special event seminar is built around a specialized music conference and team-taught by professors in the Church Music division. The seminar will be held on-site at the conference location and will engage the student in a study of the various aspects of music as a ministry tool in the contexts of worship, education, and missions of the local church. Students will attend the various sessions of the conference and discuss relevant issues in a small group setting. Emphasis will be placed on identifying and evaluating Southern Baptist distinctives of music and worship ministry and on discussing current music and worship ministry issues reflected in denomination life. In addition to attending the conference sessions, students will complete designated course requirements.

CMWL8301 Revitalizing Corporate Worship (3 hours)
This seminar is designed to investigate the opportunities and challenges of encouraging Spirit-led worship revitalization in the context of the local church. Specific attention will be given to the processes by which leadership can encourage a deepening understanding and practice of vibrant corporate worship within a congregation. Seminar sessions will examine the role of worship in the life of a congregation and leadership principles in facilitating change. Students will also study the value of a congregation’s worship practice heritage and how that relates to the dual tasks of planning and leading worship experiences. Attention will be given to possible resources for engaging the congregation as a body of intentional worship participants.

CMWL8302 Building Bridges for Multi-Generational Worship (3 hours)
This seminar is designed to investigate the opportunities and challenges of planning for multigenerational corporate worship in the local church. Specific attention will be given to an understanding of the characteristics of five generational cohorts: Seniors, Boomers, Busters, Bridgers, and Children. Specific seminar sessions will examine generational attributes and influences, space for worship (facilities), styles for worship, service structures, songs for worship, and sermon delivery. Attention will also be given to possible resources for expanding the ability of church leaders to develop and implement strategies for multigenerational worship.

Discipleship and Ministry Leadership Seminars

CEAD8301 Leading and Discipling Adults (3 hours)
Students will investigate current trends and challenges in the education of and ministry to adults in local churches, specific ministry situations, and the denomination. Specific attention will be given to special populations of adults such as single adults and senior adults, as well as men’s and women’s ministries. Seminar sessions will examine current learning theory related to the education of adults and the impact of generational theory on adult ministry in the local church. Denominational leaders may be invited to lead selected seminar sessions. An evaluation tool will be developed by seminar participants for use in examining their adult education programs, processes, and ministries in local churches, ministry situations, and the denomination and for implementing new structures to strengthen the ministry.

CEAD8302 Strategies and Models for Family Ministry (3 hours)
Students will survey family ministry to investigate concerns involved in family living. The role of family life education and ministry development in the local church in addressing these needs are stressed. Special attention is given to current literature in the field. Family ministry projects will be developed and evaluated.

CEAD8304 College Ministry (3 hours)
Students will research and evaluate ministry to college students in various settings. The profile of the emerging adult, the particular context of ministry to collegians and emerging trends in young adult ministry are investigated. The qualifications, preparation, commitment, relationships, and responsibilities of church and campus leadership are considered. Basic principles underlying program development, leadership training, and administration of staff, student center and budget are explored.

CEAD8305 Ministry to Young Adults (3 hours)
Students will explore and evaluate generational characteristics, values and lifestyles and their influence on strategies and methods for reaching, leading, teaching, and ministering to young adults. Young adult responses to organizational design and leadership styles will be considered.

CEAM8301 Leadership Styles in Ministry (3 hours)
In this seminar students will examine leadership principles and organizational theory in the context of local church ministry. Application of theory to the local church setting will be made. Also can be taken as PMLS8305. CEAM8302

CEAM8302 Conflict Resolution and Crisis Management (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to address the issues and implications of conflict resolution and crisis management in congregations and ministry organizations. Utilizing biblical principles, textbook analyses, case studies, and role plays, students will examine conflict intensity levels, determine best practices, enhance leadership skills, and develop strategic actions related to conflict resolution and crisis management in churches and ministry contexts. Also can be taken as PMLS8304.

CEAM8303 Building and Managing an Effective Organization (3 hours)
Students will increase understanding of church structure, diagnosing ministry effectiveness, and managing organizational change. Students will exercise critical skills necessary to increase the effectiveness of churches and manage church organizational design as well as the values, beliefs, and attitudes of its participants.

CEAM8304 Creating a Winning Team (3 hours)
In this leadership seminar students will identify characteristics of successful teams in local churches and other ministry situations. Students will address critical components, necessary leadership styles, communication and other team building strategies, and barriers to effective teamwork in ministry situations. Students will utilize an assessment instrument to analyze the dynamics of their own ministry teams.

CEAM8305 Strategic Church Development through Christian Education (3 hours)
Students will explore and evaluate the delivery of Christian education in a local church context in order to foster strategic church development. Both traditional and contemporary Christian education methods for all age groups will be studied. Specific attention will be given to both Sunday School and small groups as agents of Christian education.

CEAM8306 Risk Management and Church Policy (3 hours)
Churches face an increasingly complex system of rules and regulations imposed by the courts, the government, and common sense. Church leaders will learn to navigate the waters of risk management and establish sound church practices. Risk management describes the process of protecting the persons in the church and the church itself from problems in areas such as insurance, property management, safety, paid and volunteer staff screening and training, contracts, policies, and vehicle liability. Church leaders will identify risk areas prior to a loss or tragedy and establish and implement processes for risk management.

CECH8301 Ministering to Children in Crisis (3 hours)
Students will develop appropriate skills for ministry to preschoolers and children in crisis. Among the crises to be explored are death, divorce, chronic or terminal illness, bullying, abuse, neglect, and violence.

CECH8302 Spiritual Formation in Childhood (3 hours)
Students will gain an understanding of the process of spiritual formation in children and the responsibilities of parents and the community of faith in spiritual formation.

CEEF8300 Instructional Theory and Curriculum Design (3 hours)
This course guides students to understand learning theory, comprehend curriculum design principles, and apply advanced teaching practices. Students will be expected to write lesson plans, evaluate curriculum and articulate a curriculum mapping strategy. Students will be expected to examine and apply advanced pedagogical and androgogical practices.

CEEF8301 Perspectives in Contemporary Educational Ministry (3 hours)
Students will explore historical, philosophical, and cultural perspectives relevant to contemporary educational ministry. Students will map the history of Christian education in order to forecast future directions. Students will be expected to articulate foundational philosophies and their impact on contemporary Christian education approaches. Students will identify and distinguish current cultural trends and their impact on educational ministry in the local church. Students will write a personal philosophy of educational ministry.

CEDI8301 Spiritual Formation of the Minister (3 hours) 
This seminar delineates the sources, character, and dynamics of the spiritual formation of the Christian minister. Formation is viewed as a foundational ministry and as a reciprocal responsibility of pastor and congregation. It is vitally related to the quality of the congregation’s worship and service and the integrity of the pastor’s prophetic awareness. Combining trenchant analyses of contemporary religion and culture with insights and directives from Scripture and the classics of Christian devotion, the study sets forth the classical spiritual disciplines as essential ingredients of authentic formation. The seminar constitutes an urgent call for spiritual maturity in Christian ministry and provides clear directives for achieving it.

CEDI8305 Developing a Disciple-Making Strategy for a Healthy, Growing Church (3 hours) 
The Professional Doctoral seminar is designed to address the issue of discipleship development in the contemporary Church. Emphasis will be placed on identifying biblical descriptions of a disciple and strategies for making disciples. Students will discover, analyze, and develop tools to evaluate the various stages of disciple development in their churches and produce a strategy for moving people to the next step. Students will engage in research, development, testing, administering and interpresting an assessment instrument; book reviews; strategy planning; and creative presentation. Also, can be taken as PMEV8305.

CEDS8300 Specialized Directed Study in Christian Education (3 hours)
This independent study seminar in the area of Christian Education is designed at the request of a student to address some specific area related to his or her specialization or project in ministry. Content and structure are designed in conjunction with an elected faculty member who agrees to supervise the seminar. In addition to assigned readings and research, the seminar may require participation in and reflection on a conference, training event, or ministry experience. All directed study proposals must be approved by the respective professor and then the Associate Dean of Professional Doctoral Programs prior to registration.

CESE8301 Transitioning to a Vision-Driven Church (3 hours)
Students will explore contemporary models for ministry with a view toward identifying and applying transferable principles. The clinical learning experience will seek to help the students learn to interpret the diversity of ministry models available in the contemporary culture in order to apply them rightly in their own local church ministry.

CESE8302 Leading Singles Ministry (3 hours)
This Special Event Seminar is held in conjunction with a selected conference featuring leadership training for Single Adults leaders. The seminar is scheduled and developed around the annual theme for the conference. The purpose of the seminar is to explore the challenges of ministry, service and worship for singles in the contemporary church. Students will choose from numerous professional development seminars to attend. In addition to attending these seminars, students will complete designated course assignments.

CESE8303 New Directions in Christian Education (3 hours)
This Special Event Seminar is built around selected conferences that explore the challenges and opportunities of contemporary Christian education. The seminar will be coordinated with a selected conference and course content developed around the annual theme. The conference and seminar will expose the student to contemporary issues in the field of Christian education and to professional organizations for Christian educators. This clinical learning experience will enhance responses to critical issues facing Christian educators and increase awareness of professional development opportunities.

CESE8304 Leadership in the Local Church (3 hours)
Students will increase their personal awareness and enhance professional skills for leading local church ministry through at this special event. The seminar is held in conjunction with a special church leadership conference. Students will choose from a comprehensive selection of workshops. Students can choose one specific course of study or sample a variety of training experiences. In addition to attending these conference sessions, students will complete designated course requirements.

CESE8305 Youth Ministry Institute (3 hours)
Students will comprehend and value the changing discipline of youth ministry. More than a replication of graduate classes offered during the regular academic semester, students are exposed to youth ministry in a different format altogether. Guest speakers, experts in the field of youth ministry, address topics within the discipline of youth ministry and students interact with the presenters through question and answer times, debriefings, discussion, and suggestions for implementation in the local church.

CESE8306 Disciple Making Special Event Seminar (3 hours)
This doctoral seminar is built around annual selected conferences, teaching church events, and/or meetings that emphasize the disciple-making mission of the church. The purpose of this seminar is to expose the students to selected contemporary models for or practices of disciple-making in the local church. Special attention will be given to disciple-making in home groups, marketplace groups, and mid-sized groups.

CESE8307 Networking for Transformational Ministry (3 hours)
The seminar will be held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. Seminar participants will begin networking relationships with key denominational leaders about emerging strategies of Christian Education that seek to produce transformation. In addition, seminar participants will utilize the convention sessions, ancillary meetings and displays to discover useful resources for transformational ministry.

CESE8309 Ministering to Today’s Older Adults (3 hours)
This Special Event Seminar is held in conjunction with a selected conference that addresses the developmental and spiritual needs of older adults. Specific conference, locations, and times vary by year. In this seminar students explore the challenges of contemporary ministry with, to, and through older adults. During the special event students will experience a variety of conference sessions, participate in selected meetings with the on-site professor, and interact with local church senior adult leaders as well as senior care professionals. In addition to attending all conference sessions, students will complete designated course assignments.

CESE8310 The Effective Utilization of Small Groups (3 hours)
Students will enhance skills necessary for creating and leading small groups in the local church. This Special Event Seminar is held in conjunction with a selected conference focusing on small group ministry. Specific conference, locations and times vary by year. Students are exposed to selected contemporary models for small group ministry. Small groups are the most authentic expression of what it is to be church. Some form of small group ministry is a common characteristic of the largest congregations in and outside the United States. The emerging focus of America’s most influential congregations is that of small groups. Students in this seminar will identify and apply transferable principles to their ministry setting. The clinical learning experience will also seek to improve a student’s proficiency at utilizing data gleaned from church-based conferences.

CESE8311 Disciple Making in a Cross-Cultural Context (3 hours)
Students will experience leading discipleship ministries in a cross-cultural setting. This seminar will be offered as a mission trip focusing on the practice of leading Christian education in an international partnership. Special attention will be given to principles and practice of communication and educational leadership in other cultures. As a part of the mission trip students will assist local and national leaders in implementing programs to mature believers and develop leaders for multiplication.

CESE8312 Special Event in Children’s Ministry (3 hours)
In this seminar students will examine various points of interest in and models for contemporary children’s ministry through attendance at a national children’s ministry conference.

CEWM8300 Foundations in Women's Leadership (3 hours)
In this seminar students will explore the foundations of women's leadership from a biblical, philosophical, theological, and historical perspective. Using the biblical examples as a guide, women's leadership in the church today will be researched and discussed, including challenges, callings, opportunities, and cultural perspectives.

CEWM8301 Women in Teaching and Writing Ministry (3 hours)
In this seminar students will explore the importance and essential giftings of female biblical teachers and writers, in order to increase knowledge and application of God's Word among women. Learning from biblical and historical examples, students will research and develop different strategies for studying, designing, teaching and writing in the church, community, and academy today.

CEYH8301 The Emerging Landscape of Youth Ministry (3 hours)
Students will explore the influence of postmodern and post-Christian culture upon the contemporary practice of youth ministry. Emphasis will be placed upon theological and practical evaluation of contemporary trends in youth ministry. Students will analyze various contemporary approaches to local church youth ministry with the goal of developing biblically sound and theologically sound ministry strategies to be implemented in current youth and adult culture.

CEYH8302 Issues in Youth Culture (3 hours)
Students will analyze various components of the youth culture with the goal of developing biblically sound and theological sound ministry strategies to be implemented in current youth and adult culture. Personal and social problems of youth in America are studied in their cultural context. The world of adolescents is studied in detail with attention given to schools, media, friendships, family, community and church, and other relevant social issues. Ministry implications and current trends will also be discussed.

CEYH8303 Discipling Youth in a Family Ministry Context (3 hours)
Youth and family ministry is a means of reaching the un-churched and providing avenues for growth and ministry for all age groups. Students will explore the biblical foundation for ministry to youth and families, and analysis of contemporary intergenerational characteristics and issues. Students will construct practical ministry strategies to provide effective, need-oriented ministries across the generations.

Pastoral Ministries Seminars

PATH8301 Exploring Issues in Effective Pastoral Ministry (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to examine current issues in pastoral ministry in order to determine effective means of ministry practice. The course will include challenging students to examine their pastoral theology in light of biblical principles and to engage various contrasting views of pastoral ministry. Students will explore the implications of emphasizing the various components of pastoral ministry from the vantage point of the senior pastor. Through a heuristic approach, students will confront the challenge of finding the most effective balance among the various components by assessing their own strengths and weaknesses and analyzing the congregational context.

PATH8304 Critical Issues in Church Revitalization (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to explore and examine critical issues of churches experiencing plateau and decline. The seminar will identify common factors, specific implications, and strategic solutions involving church revitalization, utilizing case studies, reading assignments, demographic evaluations, and research applications.

PATH8305 Contemporary Models for Church Revitalization (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to explore contemporary models for church revitalization. Seminar participants will identify distinct characteristics of various contemporary church revitalization models giving special attention to strengths and limitations of each selected model. Seminar components will include research, dialogue, evaluation, and applications. Implications will be drawn for strategic planning for church leaders seeking to employ contemporary models of church revitalization.

PMCP8301 Church Planting Leadership (3 hours)
This course is a study of church planting leadership, with a particular focus on mentoring emerging church planter leaders in the North American context. Three systems of contemporary church planting leadership development and six church planting models will be introduced and evaluated. Theological research applicable to leadership development theory is emphasized.

PMCP8302 Facilitating Church Planting Movements (3 hours)
This course is a study of church planting movements, with a particular focus on preparing students to facilitate church planting movements in North America. Attention is given to biblical, historical, and contemporary perspectives of church planting movements. Students will learn key missiological components necessary to facilitating church planting movements. Models of leadership development will be introduced and analyzed.

PMCP8303 Developing a Global Missions Strategy (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to examine and explore how to increase your church’s mission’s impact. Seminar participants will create a biblically based intentional missions plan for a church or other ministry which focuses on evangelism, and reproduction through church planting and mission engagement. The mission concepts in Acts 1:8 and other biblical passages will be explored including the importance of witness empowered by the Holy Spirit, the meaning of being Christ’s witnesses, and intentional sharing of the gospel in the local, regional, and international context.

PMDS8300 Specialized Directed Study in Pastoral Ministries (3 hours)
This independent study seminar in the area of pastoral ministries is designed at the request of a student to address some specific area related to his or her specialization or project in ministry. Content and structure are designed in conjunction with an elected faculty member who agrees to supervise the seminar. In addition to assigned readings and research, the seminar may require participation in and reflection on a conference, training event, or ministry experience. All SDS proposals must be approved by the respective professor and then the Associate Dean of Professional Doctoral Programs prior to registration for the semester in which the SDS will occur.

PMEV8302 Developing a Strategy for Healthy, Evangelistic Church Growth (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to lead students to develop an understanding of biblical, congregational, and contextual factors in evangelistic church growth and to develop strategic planning skills in order to implement evangelistic church growth.

PMEV8303 Case Studies in Healthy, Evangelistic Churches (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to teach students to analyze growing churches in contemporary, blended, and traditional settings and their utilization of church growth principles to discover strategies for achieving evangelistic church growth.

PMEV8304 Worship and Healthy, Evangelistic Church Growth (3 hours)
The work of this seminar involves the investigation of the biblical mandate, foundations, and principles of worship. Various elements of Christian worship as modeled by healthy, evangelistic churches will be examined. Special attention will be given to the styles of worship often referred to as traditional, blended, and contemporary.

PMEV8305 Developing a Disciple Making Strategy for a Healthy, Growing Church (3 hours)
This seminar is designed to address the issue of discipleship development in the contemporary church. Emphasis will be placed on identifying biblical descriptions of a disciple and strategies for making disciples. Students will discover, analyze, and develop tools to evaluate the various stages of disciple development in their churches and produce a strategy for moving people to the next step. Students will engage in research, development, testing, administering, and interpreting an assessment instrument; book reviews; strategy planning; and creative presentation. Also, can be taken as CEDI8305.

PMLS8300 Strategic Leadership (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to study strategic leadership theory and its applications and implications upon churches and ministry organizations. Strategic dimensions of leadership to be examined include strategic thinking, strategic foresight, strategic influence, strategic team-building, and strategic action.

PMLS8301 Leading Congregational Change (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to explore and examine the leadership disciplines required to successfully initiate and implement congregational change. Attention will be given to creating a climate for change, discerning and communicating vision, developing strategic planning skills, and analyzing change theory practice.

PMLS8302 Emerging Issues in Denominational Leadership (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to explore and examine critical issues confronting denominational leaders. Seminar components will include research, dialogue, evaluation, and strategy development. Seminar participants will evaluate the impact of selected emerging issues in various levels of Southern Baptist structure and will be challenged to develop personal action plans in their ministry context.

PMLS8303 Essential Skills for Denominational Leaders (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to enhance and improve basic leadership skills for denominational leaders. Seminar components will include administrative skills, networking and partnership interactions, vocational transitions, and business management as they relate to various levels of Southern Baptist denominational leadership. Seminar participants will be challenged through research, dialogue, and evaluation in their ministry context.

PMLS8304 Conflict Resolution and Crisis Management (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to address the issues and implications of conflict resolution and crisis management in congregations and ministry organizations. Utilizing biblical principles, textbook analyses, case studies, and role plays, students will examine conflict intensity levels, determine best practices, enhance leadership skills and develop strategic actions related to conflict resolution and crisis management in churches and ministry contexts. Also can be taken as CEAM8302.

PMLS8305 Leadership Styles in Ministry (3 hours)
In this seminar students will examine leadership principles and organizational theory in the context of local church ministry. Application of theory to the local church setting will be made. Also can be taken as CEAM8301.

PMMI8302 Contemporary Mission Methods and Movements (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to familiarize students with the most current mission methods being employed on mission fields throughout the world, and oftentimes, in missional churches in America. Students are also led to examine some of the great movements that are impacting the world of missions. Seminar participants become familiar with mission efforts being effectively used and with issues that impact modern missions.

PMMI8304 Cross Cultural Disciplemaking (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to equip participants to disciple effectively in a culturally diverse world. It includes study of the dynamics of communicating the gospel cross-culturally. Particular attention is given to understanding culture and worldview, the relationship of culture to the gospel, evangelism, and discipleship; and how your church can make disciples in a variety of contexts.

PMMI8305 Multiethnic Church Leadership (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to examine principles and practices of developing and sustaining a multiethnic church ministry in the North American context. Attention will be given to the scriptural and theological undergirdings of multiethnic and multicultural church life. Current models of effective multiethnic local churches will be explored.

PMMI8306 Developing a Strategy for Evangelistic Compassion Ministries (3 hours)
The purpose of this seminar is to explore multiple forms of compassion ministry which lead to evangelistic encounters. Scriptural foundations for compassion ministry will be examined. Students will investigate successful compassion ministries and learn how to develop these ministries for their own context.

PMPR8301 Contemporary Expository Preaching (3 hours)
The seminar involves students in research and reflection on various dimensions of expository preaching in the contemporary church. A two-pronged focus examines both the rationale and practice of expository preaching especially as it is applies to pastoral ministry. Students will be given the opportunity to dialogue with selected guest practitioners regarding their respective philosophies and practices of expository preaching. Students also will complete selected assignments designed to enhance their own preparation and delivery of expository messages.

PMPR8305 Preaching through the Genres (3 hours)
The seminar will lead students to examine the connection between the practice of expository preaching and the various genres of both testaments of the Bible. Attention will be given to methods of interpreting and proclaiming narrative, law, poetry, proverbs, prophecy, letters, and apocalyptic. Students will also apply their knowledge to their own preaching in a way that is relevant to the contemporary church and culture.

PMSE8301 Expository Preaching Lab (3 hours)
This seminar is built around a selected Preaching Conference on location (students will participate in the entire conference and are responsible for all conference registration fees in addition to the course tuition). Students will hear and evaluate the sermons of selected conference keynote speakers/preachers. Students also will complete selected assignments designed to enhance their own preparation and delivery of expository sermons.

PMSE8306 Senior Pastor Special Event (3 hours)
This course will incorporate a major conference designed for senior pastors. The seminar will initially be held in conjunction with the Timothy/Barnabas Pastor’s School sponsored by First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia. Students will attend conference sessions designed to encourage and inspire participants as well as equip them to perform pastoral leadership and ministry at the highest possible level. As deemed appropriate, other conferences of similar content may be utilized in the future. In addition to attending the conference sessions, students will complete other designated course requirements. Included in the required readings for the course will be various subjects related to the practice of pastoral ministry and specifically in the area of ministerial ethics.

PMSE8310 SBC Crossover (3 hours)
The purpose of this course is to provide opportunities for planning and participation in community evangelistic outreach and ministry as part of the Crossover Community Outreach prior to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Students will be exposed to the disciplines of strategic planning, denominational partnerships, ministry evangelism, special event evangelism and personal evangelism as well as disciple making skills.

PMTH8300 Apologetic Preaching (3 hours)
This seminar is designed to equip students to understand cultural, doctrinal, moral, and other contextual issues for the purpose of faithfully proclaiming God’s Word. Students will study various apologetic approaches and will be able to understand the nature of apologetics, specifically as it relates to the preaching ministry. The seminar will address the nature of worldviews and the uniqueness and reasonableness of the Christian worldview. Special attention will be given to communicating and defending the Christian worldview in the context of expository preaching. Also can be taken as THTH8300.

Theological and Historical Studies Seminars

THCH8301 Spiritual Formation of the Minister (3 hours)
This seminar delineates the sources, character, and dynamics of the spiritual formation of the Christian minister. Formation is viewed as a foundational ministry and as a reciprocal responsibility of pastor and congregation. It is vitally related to the quality of the congregation’s worship and service and the integrity of the pastor’s prophetic awareness. Combining trenchant analyses of contemporary religion and culture with insights and directives from Scripture and the classics of Christian devotion, the study sets forth the classical spiritual disciplines as essential ingredients of authentic formation. The seminar constitutes an urgent call for spiritual maturity in Christian ministry and provides clear directives for achieving it.

THCH8302 The Church, Law, and Religious Liberty (3 hours)
Students will evaluate case studies involving past and current United States Supreme Court cases that relate to the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Attention will be given to the tension between the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and how this affects ministry in the local church. This course will help church leaders identify and respond effectively to constitutional issues faced by the contemporary church and their ethical implications.

THDS8300 Specialized Directed Study in Theological/Historical Studies (3 hours)
This is an independent study seminar in the area of theological/historical studies designed at the request of a student to address some specific area or related to his or her specialization or project in ministry. Content and structure are designed in conjunction with an elected faculty member who agrees to supervise the seminar. In addition to assigned readings and research, the seminar may require participation in and reflection on a conference, training event, or ministry experience. e-mail, fax, and phone conversations may be utilized to enrich the experience. All directed study proposals must be approved by the respective professor and the Associate Dean of Professional Doctoral Programs prior to registration.

THSE8301 The Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Program at Work (3 hours)
This Special Event Seminar is built around the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention and team-taught by the Theological/Historical Studies division and the Discipleship and Ministry Leadership Division. The seminar is held on a yearly basis on-site at the conference location and engages the student in a study of the theology and polity of Southern Baptists as expressed at an annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Students will attend the various sessions of the convention and discuss numerous issues in a small group setting. Emphasis will be placed on persons, events, ideas, and movements in Southern Baptist life as well as on doctrines distinctive to Southern Baptists. In addition to attending the convention sessions, students will complete designated course requirements.

THSE8302 Issues in Baptist Life (3 hours)
This Special Event Seminar is designed to involve students in the analysis and investigation of relevant theological issues pertinent to Baptist life in general and the Southern Baptist Convention in particular. Students will encounter and engage significant theological and ministerial issues through attendance and participation in the conference sponsored by the Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry. The course is designed to promote the importance of theology and the integration of theology for Baptist ministry and church life.

THTH8300 Apologetic Preaching (3 hours)
This seminar is designed to equip students to understand cultural, doctrinal, moral, and other contextual issues for the purpose of faithfully proclaiming God’s Word. Students will study various apologetic approaches and will be able to understand the nature of apologetics, specifically as it relates to the preaching ministry. The seminar will address the nature of worldviews and the uniqueness and reasonableness of the Christian worldview. Special attention will be given to communicating and defending the Christian worldview in the context of expository preaching. Also can be taken as PMTH8300.

THTH8301 Theological Issues for Ministry in the 21st Century (3 hours)
This seminar involves conversation and reflection on various dimensions of Christian ministry from a theological perspective. A twin-pronged focus examines contemporary theological issues in the broader faith community and issues related to the specific places of ministry served by students enrolled in the seminar.

THTH8302 Doctrinal Foundations for Contemporary Ministry (3 hours)
This seminar is designed to involve students in research and reflection upon the various doctrinal foundations for contemporary ministry. A twofold approach will examine the development and articulation of specified doctrines of the Baptist Faith and Message and the development and implementation of the doctrines within the various contemporary ministries of the local church. This course also serves as preparation for the students to engage in theological reflection in other ProDoc seminars, the Final Project Proposal, and the Project Report.

THTH8303 The Problem of Evil and Suffering (3 hours)
This course exposes students to classical and contemporary treatments of the so-called problem of evil and explores their significance for the Christian worldview and ministry in the local church. Issues addressed include the nature of evil and suffering, the cause of evil, the intelligibility and coherence of the Christian concept of God in light of evil, solutions offered by various world religions to the problem of evil, and an assortment of philosophical and apologetic responses to the problem at hand.

THTH8304 The Christian Worldview (3 hours)
This seminar is designed to involve students in researching, understanding, and communicating the Christian worldview and its implications for ministry. Issues addressed include the nature of worldviews, the uniqueness of the Christian worldview in comparison to other worldviews, and the reasonableness of the Christian worldview. Special attention is given to issues related to communicating and defending the Christian worldview in the context of contemporary ministry. The seminar also prepares students to engage in worldview reflection in other professional doctoral seminars, the final project proposal, and the final project report.

THTH8305 The Bible and Contemporary Issues (3 hours)
This course focuses upon how best to communicate the message of the Bible in order to address contemporary apologetic issues. Issues addressed include oral and written communication forms, apologetic methodology, biblical authority, textual authenticity, science and the Bible, and other similar issues. Students will also study how best to communicate biblical truth and the Christian worldview via contemporary media. Special attention will be given to implementing these communication forms in pastoral ministry.

THTH8306 Issues in Baptist Life (3 hours)
This Seminar is designed to involve students in the analysis and investigation of relevant theological issues pertinent to Baptist life in general and the Southern Baptist Convention in particular. Students will encounter and engage significant theological and ministerial issues through readings, papers, and class discussions. The course is designed to promote the integration of theology in Baptist ministry and church life. A variety of specific topics may be addressed in the seminar at different times.

Project in Ministry Status

PDPM8601 Project in Ministry I (6 Hours)
This part of the student’s program involves the implementation of the project in ministry and writing the Project Report. The student will be registered for this course ONLY after receiving approval of the Final Project Proposal from the Faculty Advisor and the ProDOC. The student has one year to complete the project in ministry and report from the time of registration. All tuition fees for the project in ministry must be paid at this time.

PDPM8002 Project in Ministry II
This is the second semester of the student’s implementation of the project in ministry and/or writing of the Project Report. No fees are required for this component.

PDPM8003 Project in Ministry III
This is the third semester, if necessary, of the student’s implementation of the project in ministry and/or writing of the Project Report. No fees are required for this component.