Church Planting M.Div. Specialization
Degree Overview
Vocational Calling
To serve as a church planter in an international or a North American ministry setting. The International Concentration is designed for implementation in cooperation with the International Mission Board, while the North American Concentration is designed for implementation in cooperation with the North American Mission Board.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Adam Hughes (Curriculum Coordinator)
Dr. George Ross (North American Concentration Advisor)
Dr. Ken Taylor (International Concentration Advisor)
Program Requirements
Basic Ministerial Competency Component (61-62 hours)
Biblical Exposition Competency (17 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
Encountering the Biblical World | 2 |
Exploring the Old Testament | 3 |
Exploring the New Testament | 3 |
Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics | 3 |
Old Testament Exegesis (English) | 3 |
New Testament Exegesis (English) | 3 |
*Students who have the biblical language skills needed may substitute Hebrew or Greek exegesis courses, including Intermediate Greek or Hebrew.
Christian Theological Heritage Competency (15-16 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
Christian Apologetics | 3 OR 2/3 |
Systematic Theology 1 | 3 |
Systematic Theology 2 | 3 |
History of Christianity: Early-Medieval | 3 |
History of Christianity: Reformation-Modern | 2 |
Baptist Heritage | 2 |
NOBTS, SBC, and Cooperative Program | * |
Disciple Making Competency (9 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
Supervised Ministry 1: Personal Evangelism Practicum (M) | 2 |
Church Missions (M) | 3 |
Christian Evangelism (M) | 2 |
Discipleship Strategies (M) | 2 |
Interpersonal Skills Competency (2 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
Interpersonal Relationship Skills | 2 |
Servant Leadership Competency (6 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
Pastoral Ministry | 3 |
Church Leadership and Administration (M) | 3 |
Spiritual and Character Formation Competency (4 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
Christian Ethics | 3 |
Introduction to Spiritual Formation (M) | 1 |
Worship Leadership Competency (8 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
Worship Leadership | 3 |
Proclaiming the Bible | 3 |
Preaching Practicum | 2 |
Church Planting Component (26-28 hours)
North American Concentration (26 hours)
Church Planting (12 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
Ministry to Refugees, Immigrants, and Internationals | 3 |
Church Revitalization | 2 |
Principles of Church Planting | 2 |
Spiritual Warfare in the Local Church | 3 |
Urban Church Planting 2 hours | 2 |
Church Planting Practicum (11 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
Internship I - Church Planting | 3 |
Internship II - Church Planting | 3 |
Ethnography and Church Planting | 2 |
Ministry Integration Project | 3 |
Free Electives (3 hours)
International Concentration (28 hours)
Eight hours will be taken on campus in a combination from the following areas. The remaining 20 hours will be taken on the field overseas.
Missions (4 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
Contemporary Mission Methods and Movements | 2/3 |
Life and Work of the Missionary | 2/3 |
Free Electives (4 hours)
On the Field Overseas Courses** (20 hours)
See description of the course schedules for either the 2-year or 3-year plan below.
Total Required: 87-90 hours
(M) Indicates course is also available in a mentoring format.
*All graduate students must take this course during orientation in their first semester; however, students will not receive a credit hour or be charged for the course.
**In order to complete the 20 hours of overseas courses, a student must be approved by the International Mission Board of the SBC to serve as an ISC missionary or missionary apprentice.
On the Field Overseas Suggested Course Schedule
(Two-Year ISC Assignment) (20 hours)
Year 1:
Semester 1 (6 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
International Church Planting Practicum | 2 |
Field Language Acquisition | 1 |
Transcultural Communication of the Gospel | 3 |
Semester 2 (6 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
International Church Planting Practicum | 2 |
Field Language Acquisition | 1 |
World Religions Practicum | 3 |
Year 2:
Semester 1 (4 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
International Church Planting Practicum | 2 |
Clinical Field Project in Evangelism | 2 |
Semester 2 (4 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
International Church Planting Practicum | 2 |
Discipleship Practicum | 2 |
Options for Year 2:
Guided Reading Elective (or appropriate field-based course)
On the Field Overseas Suggested Course Schedule
(Three-Year Apprentice Assignment) (20 hours)
Year 1:
Semester 1 (1 hour)
course | hours |
---|---|
Field Language Acquisition | 1 |
Semester 2 (1 hour)
course | hours |
---|---|
Field Language Acquisition | 1 |
Year 2:
Semester 1 (5 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
International Church Planting Practicum | 2 |
Transcultural Communication of the Gospel | 3 |
Semester 2 (5 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
International Church Planting Practicum | 2 |
World Religions Practicum | 3 |
Year 3:
Semester 1 (4 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
International Church Planting Practicum | 2 |
Clinical Field Project in Evangelism | 2 |
Semester 2 (4 hours)
course | hours |
---|---|
International Church Planting Practicum | 2 |
Discipleship Practicum | 2 |
Options for Years 2 and 3:
Guided Reading Elective (or appropriate field-based course)
Entrance Requirements
Those interested in this degree should be planning to work through the North American Mission Board (NAMB) or International Mission Board (IMB)of the Southern Baptist Convention. The entrance requirements are the same as those established for enrollment in the basic Master of Divinity degree at NOBTS. Any person enrolled in the degree plan who is unable to pursue working with the NAMB or the IMB should plan on completing another degree plan since a number of courses are field based while engaged in church planting.
Those seeking to serve in a church plant in North America should contact the NAMB for assessment related to potential suitability for church planting. Those seeking to serve with the IMB should contact that agency to determine suitability as a potential international missionary and church planter. Enrollment in the degree plan and appointment by the IMB are separate issues.
Additional Information
Those interested in the degree plan may contact the Registrar’s Office of NOBTS or the office of Dr. Philip Pinckard. Phone: 504.282.4455, Extension 3224. E-mail address: ppinckard@nobts.edu.