Northern’s New MATM (and MANT)

From Geoff Holsclaw and David Fitch:

Leading a church in mission is difficult, requiring much more of pastors than the maintenance of activities. Beyond the ministry skills of preaching, teaching, counseling and evangelism, pastors need the skills of theological reflection, cultural analysis, and building local community.

And not only are new skills needed, but a new way of teaching them is needed.  We need a less expensive way that keeps future church leaders from being burdened with debt.  And we need a training that fits into the normal pace and place of life and ministry.

While not right for everyone, I’m excited about the prospects of Northern Seminary’s new Master of Arts in Theology and Mission.  It provides a strong biblical and theological base for reflecting on God’s mission in the world and for leading a community in mission.  Besides core courses in the Old and New Testament, Church History, and Christianity Theology, this program develops the theological, ethnographic, missiological, and leadership skills necessary to be a missionary pastor in our changing North American context.

The program is affordable (based around low monthly payments), local (drive in only one day a week for classes), and communal (join a community of missionary-theologians).

This program, and others like it, are changing the face of seminary training.

Check out Northern Seminary’s Master of Arts in Theology and Mission and stay connected through their media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo.

In addition to this new MA program with Dr. Fitch, I (SMcK) am announcing today that I will be guiding a new MA in New Testament program at Northern, and our focus will be on learning to read the NT in context, that is, to see mission and gospel and theology in context. More about this soon. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s announcement. This program will being Fall 2015. 57 hours. Similar to the MATM in organization, but not identical.