Pastoral Ministry
The Pastoral Ministry program at Mid-America Christian University is designed to provide a broad-based education in the discipline, to integrate knowledge of the discipline within a vocational ministry perspective, and to prepare students for success in graduate school. Person’s interested in pursuing a degree to prepare one for the role of being a pastor in a local church, or a person seeking a degree in which one is trained to teach and preach on a regular basis will be well served by this degree.
Students are given specific instruction from a Wesleyan-Arminian perspective by professors who have vocational experience in ministry. In fact, all full-time faculty members in the Pastoral Ministry Degree program are licensed or ordained minister.
Finally, instruction in the classroom is applied in real time ministry context by each student completing six semesters of Christian Service assignments. Christian Service assignments are where students, in collaboration with a faculty member, serve in a local church or non-profit organization. These assignments are crafted to meet the specific vocational goals of each student.
Program Highlights:
- This broad-based education involves general education requirements, practical ministry classes, Biblical studies, and Theological studies.
- Students may choose from one of two areas of concentration in the Pastoral Ministry degree: Pastoral Ministry Degree and a multi-discipline degree in Pastoral Ministry and Business.
- Students will integrate classroom experience with field experience. Six semesters of Christian Service assignments are completed before graduation under the guidance of the Christian Service Reflection Group Leader. Students serve as hospital chaplains at a local hospital in the Practicum in Pastoral Care class under the direct supervision of the hospital on-site professor.
- Students are instructed in the Inductive/Literary method when studying the Bible at MACU. Core Bible classes are taught from this approach and the student is afforded opportunity to refine his/her use of the method over time. This method equips the student with the necessary skills to study the Bible in one’s own language (English) and discover the truths of the Word of God.
Students who rigorously apply themselves to the curriculum of the Pastoral Ministry Degree enter graduate school or seminary with the essential tools to succeed. Some of our students have distinguished themselves as graduate assistance in Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. In addition, students enter the workplace with essential entry level skills to participate and lead in ministry.
