Ongoing Education :: FAQs :: Masters Program
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
Masters Ministry Training Classes in Bluefield and Roanoke
What is the Christian Leaders Link? The Christian Leadership Network was established as a ministry of Virginia Baptists in December 2004. Its mission is to provide practical church training and theological study for lay leaders and ministers in Southwest Virginia in order to further the cause of the Kingdom, enhance the ministry of churches, and grow healthy leaders. The Network accomplishes this mission, primarily, by providing undergraduate and Masters ministry training classes. In 2006, a partnership with the John Leland Center, a Virginia Baptist education partner, allowed us to offer these classes. Other initiatives include peer-learning groups, life coaching, and workshops. The Network is headquartered in Roanoke.
Our educational philosophy? Our classes focus on preparation for ministry and Christian impact, whether in the local church or the community. Teaching from a solidly Biblical perspective, we believe ministry preparation is best achieved through open exchange of ideas and interaction between students, instructor, and curriculum. Our aim is to produce "reflective theological practitioners," able to critically appraise, from a Biblical and theologically-sound perspective, any ideas they encounter while remaining effective in ministry.
What is the Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies? This program is a non-degree, graduate-level program permitting students to take 20 credit hours (ten 2-hour courses) in a variety of ministry areas. Students entering the program must have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Special note to Bluefield College students: Any Bluefield College student within 18 hours of graduation and having a 2.5 grade point average may take a Masters class as a Graduate Special Student with Leland.
What courses are included in the Graduate Certificate of Theological Studies?
- Introduction to Theological Studies
- Philosophy for Theology
- Global Church History
- Christian Ethics
- Old Testament I and Old Testament II
- New Testament I and New Testament II
- Spiritual Formation
- Ministry Leadership elective (Biblical Models of Leadership, Church Administration, Christian Education, Preaching)
Who would benefit from the classes?
- Full-time ministers
- Bi-vocational ministers
- Business and professional people who are interested in exploring the ways in which their faith and vocational lives intersect.
- Volunteer church leaders (e.g., Bible teachers, deacon leaders)
- Persons interested in personal spiritual growth and/or ministry effectiveness
- Those who serve in a ministry capacity requiring a broader background in theology and practical ministry training, but do not wish to pursue a completed degree
- Those who have professional training and experience in other areas, but find themselves with ministry responsibility in a local church, mission, or faith-based non-profit organization
- Those who wish to prepare for a more focused area of ministry
- Those exploring a call to ministry
What is the cost for taking these classes? Tuition for each class is $700 per class, a fee comparable to those of other seminaries. Students may also audit a Masters course for $350. Tuition scholarships, reducing tuition to $466/class, are available for Baptist General Association of Virginia church members who take classes for-credit.
Additional fees include a one-time admissions fee of $50. Students taking classes for credit are assessed a student activity fee of $35 each semester. This fee covers administrative costs to register a student for classes, maintain grade records, and provide transcripts. Auditing students do not pay the student activity fee.
When are classes offered? Fall semester classes begin in late August and spring semester classes begin in late January. Classes meet once/week for two hours for 15 weeks. One week each semester is set aside for reading days/spring break and classes do not meet that week. "Intensives" are occasionally offered, depending on preferences and needs of students in the program.
Where are these courses offered? Masters courses are, currently, offered at Bonsack Baptist Church, Roanoke. Masters classes will be offered on the Bluefield College campus beginning fall 2011.
How long to complete the Graduate Certificate? A student completing two Masters classes per semester can obtain a Graduate Certificate in 2 1/2 years.
Who will be class instructors? All instructors for Masters classes are required to have a Ph.D and sufficient educational background in the course area they teach.
Why these classes are just right for you:
- Classes and instructors are devoted solely to training for more effective ministry in the church or community. The training you receive is thoroughly grounded in Scripture, will enable your own spiritual growth, and equip you for making a Kingdom difference in a constantly changing culture.
- The Masters program of The John Leland Center is fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, the premier accrediting body for more than 240 schools of theology and seminaries in the United States and Canada. Because of its accreditation, other colleges and seminaries will, normally, accept transfer credits from Leland.
- By completing ten 2-hour classes, students will receive a Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies, a significant accomplishment that churches will recognize.
- For students wishing to pursue a full Master's degree, credits from the Graduate Certificate can be applied to the Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, or Master of Christian Leadership programs at The John Leland Center. Those degrees do have some residency requirements, meaning you would have to take some classes in Arlington. But, Leland is mindful that students can't pull up family and ministry roots to move to Arlington. So, they are "creative" in scheduling classes to avoid disruption of family or ministry (weekends, Friday/Saturday, etc.)
- Students may take classes for credit or audit a class. As well, students may pursue a full Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies (ten 2-hour classes) or take individual classes.
- Students can enter the program during any semester, knowing required classes are offered on a rotating schedule.
- In response to the needs of students, both daytime and evening classes are offered.
- Tuition (Credit: $700/class; Audit: $350/class) and fees are affordable and comparable with other schools.
- Classes are small, allowing interaction with other students and personal relationships with instructors.
- Because classes are offered locally, students connect with other ministers and lay leaders from their area. Students become a "family" and support group for each other as they continue their educational journey.
- The program and classes are specifically designed for non-traditional students who, because of age, family, or work responsibilities, are unable to pull up roots to continue their education. Our students include those just beginning their ministry, those entering ministry as a second career, those serving as bivocational leaders, and those who simply want to make a difference in their church or community.
- Family, church, and career responsibilities are considered in planning for class schedules and course requirements.
How do I arrange to take classes? To begin the admissions process, simply contact the Christian Leaders Link at 540.977.2652 or 877.977.2652 (toll-free).
