Contextualized Pastoral Ministry
Name of Program
Master of Art in Contextualized Pastoral Ministry
Credential
Master of Arts
Introduction
Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School, in partnership with the Pastors Discipleship Network in Uganda, offers an online M.A. for African pastors and church leaders. This 40-credit degree includes training in Bible and theology, ministry application, and African contextualization.
Program Purpose
This program seeks to prepare African church pastors and leaders to utilize their unique gifts both personally and professionally for holistic ministry in a variety of African contexts through academic rigor (head), spiritual formation (heart), and professional ministry experience (hands).
Program Philosophy
This program prepares African church pastors and leaders to serve their church and society, by developing a biblical understanding and worldview, ministry and leadership skills, and applying this to the African context.
Highlights of the Program include:
• This degree is designed specifically with African pastors and church leaders in mind.
• This program is online, allowing for the education of qualified African men and women who are already established in ministry and life.
• The online aspect offers unparalleled flexibility of time and location, allowing the student to study at virtually any time and location.
• On a typical year, students will gather twice at the Pastors Discipleship Network in Uganda for events such as orientation for new students, 3-day residencies, team building exercises, marriage conferences, and commencement.
• Commencement is celebrated at the Pastors Discipleship Network in Uganda.
• This program provides contextualized application for Africa.
• This degree offers African pastors a western educational opportunity which focuses, not on rote memory, but the critical thinking aspects of understanding, analyzing, evaluating, applying, and creating.
• This program follows the cohort model, where every May a new cohort of approximately 22 new students start. Each cohort stays together throughout the entire 2-year program, taking the same classes together.
• This program features accelerated online classes that run for 7 weeks following the pattern of 3 weeks of study, followed by a break week, then another 3 weeks of study.
• The “Train the Trainer” ministry model is emphasized at the program’s various levels. This model calls students to actively share their training with other Christian leaders in their sphere of influence.
Educational Philosophy
Students will be equipped to lead their churches and train other African leaders to do the same through a western educational opportunity which focuses, not on rote memory, but the critical thinking aspects of understanding, analyzing, evaluating, applying, and creating.
Locations offered
Uganda
Program Director
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Rev. Robert Blanks received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO and a Master of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Rob has served as a pastor in Colorado and a missionary in Mozambique. His passion is discipleship through theological education. Rob and his wife, Heather, live in Lancaster, PA with their 4 children, Marian, Hayden, Judah, and Josiah.
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Faculty List
Rev. Rob Blanks, MDiv (Program Director)
Dr. Brian Pinzer, PhD
Dr. Richmond Wandera, PhD
Dr. Terry Timm, DMin
Mr. Eric Brandt, MA
Dr. Gordon Gregory, PhD
Dr. Tim Brubaker, PhD
Dr. Ron Belsterling, PhD
Dr. Victor Jacobs, PhD
Rev. Russ Ooms, ThM
Dr. Desiree Segura-April, PhD
Program Core Competencies
The Master of Arts Contextualized Pastoral Ministry program will equip students for ministry by developing needed core competencies for church leaders:
• Biblical Understanding and Worldview
• Spiritual Health and Ministry Integrity
• Biblical Communication Skills
• Ministry Leadership Skills
• Ministry Mentoring and Professional Experience
• African Contextual Application
Contextualized MAM Curricular Structure/Degree Requirements
Competencies and Credits for Each
| Competencies |
Credits |
| Biblical Understanding and Worldview |
12 |
| Spiritual Health and Ministry Integrity |
6 |
| Biblical Communication Skills |
3 |
| Ministry Leadership Skills |
6 |
| Ministry Mentoring and Professional Experience |
4 |
| African Contextual Application |
9 |
| Program Total |
40 |
Competency 1
Biblical Understanding and Worldview
The student will formulate a biblical understanding and worldview through the study of Scripture interpretation, the biblical narrative, theology, and church history.
| PDN 501 | The Biblical Narrative | 3 |
| PDN 502 | Biblical Hermeneutics | 3 |
| PDN 503 | Introduction to Christian Theology I | 3 |
| PDN 504 | Introduction to Christian Theology II | 3 |
Competency 2
Spiritual Health and Ministry Integrity
The student will form the moral, ethical, and spiritual foundations necessary for personal spiritual growth and sustainable ministry.
| PDN 512 | Spiritual Formation and Discipleship | 3 |
| PDN 513 | Community and Family Systems | 3 |
Competency 3
Biblical Communication Skills
The student will design and deliver clear and effective biblical preaching and teaching grounded in sound hermeneutics ensuring a biblically accurate message.
| PDN 511 | Communicating Biblical Truth | 3 |
Competency 4
Ministry Leadership Skills
The student will demonstrate the professional skills necessary for appropriately managing their own life and leading others, not through abusing their authority, but through biblical servant leadership.
Competency 5
Ministry Mentoring and Professional Experience
The student will build effective personal and professional relationships based on mutual support and accountability for the purpose of intentional ministry development.
Competency 6
African Contextual Application
The student will understand and respond to major issues facing the African church through careful study, cultural assessment, biblical evaluation, and contextual application.
| PDN 505 | Church History and the African Context | 3 |
| PDN 521 | Issues in African Pastoral Ministry I | 3 |
| PDN 522 | Issues in African Pastoral Ministry II | 3 |
Application, Admission, Retention, and Graduation
Admission Requirements
Individuals seeking admission to the MACPM Program must complete the current application process through both Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School and the Pastors Discipleship Network.
Application Process
•
Complete the online Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School application
•
Complete an Autobiographical Essay
•
Provide Two References
•
Provide Official Transcripts
•
Agree to Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School’s “Statement of Faith” and “Community Life Standards” statement
•
Pass a basic computer proficiency test at the Pastors Discipleship Network
•
Pass a basic reading and writing assessment at the Pastors Discipleship Network
•
Pass a panel interview at the Pastors Discipleship Network
Graduation
The following requirements must be successfully completed in order to receive a Seminary degree or certificate:
•
Satisfactory completion of all course work
•
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
•
Fulfillment of all financial obligations
•
Adherence to biblical standards and ethics in living one’s lifestyle