Contextualized Pastoral Ministry (MACPM)
Credential: Master of Arts
Location: Kampala, Uganda (online and residencies)
Program Director: Rob Blanks, MDiv
Program Mission Statement: 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 Learning Outcomes: As a result of this program, the students will:
1. Formulate a biblical understanding and worldview through the study of Scripture interpretation, the biblical narrative, theology, and church history.
2. Form the moral, ethical, and spiritual foundations necessary for personal spiritual growth and sustainable ministry.
3. Design and deliver clear and effective biblical preaching and teaching grounded in sound hermeneutics ensuring a biblically accurate message.
4. Demonstrate professional skills necessary for appropriately managing their own life and leading others, not through abusing authority, but through biblical servant leadership.
5. Build effective personal and professional relationships based on mutual support and accountability for the purpose of intentional ministry development.
6. Understand and respond to major issues facing the African church through careful study, cultural assessment, biblical evaluation, and contextual application.
Additional Program Information: Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School, in partnership with the Pastors Discipleship Network in Uganda, offers an online MA for African pastors and church leaders. This 40-credit degree program includes training in Bible and theology, ministry application, and African contextualization. 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. Online classes that run for 7 weeks – following the pattern of 3 weeks of study, 1 week of break, and then 3 weeks of study – offer flexibility of time and location for students to complete their studies on their time and at their location.
The program follows a cohort model with a new cohort of 22 qualified African men and women beginning each May and taking the same classes together throughout the 2-year program. Teaching and learning in this program follows a western educational model focused on critical thinking aspects of understanding like analyzing, evaluating, applying, and creating. Education is not focused on rote memory. The “train the trainer” ministry model, emphasized at the program’s various levels, calls students to actively share their training with other Christian leaders in their sphere of influence. Students gather twice a year at the Pastor’s Discipleship Network in Uganda for events such as orientation for new students, 3-day residencies, team building exercises, marriage conferences and commencement.
Curriculum Structure and Degree Requirements
| Curricular Structure |
Credits |
| Biblical and Theological Foundations Courses |
15 |
| Ministry Application Courses |
15 |
| African Context Courses |
10 |
| Program Total |
40 |
Biblical and Theological Foundations Courses (15 credits)
| 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 |
| PDN 505 | Church History and the African Context | 3 |
Ministry Application Courses (15 credits)
| PDN 511 | Communicating Biblical Truth | 3 |
| PDN 512 | Spiritual Formation and Discipleship | 3 |
| PDN 513 | Community and Family Systems | 3 |
| PDN 514 | Holistic Child Development | 3 |
| PDN 515 | Leader's Life and Work | 3 |
African Context Courses (10 credits)
| PDN 521 | Issues in African Pastoral Ministry I | 3 |
| PDN 522 | Issues in African Pastoral Ministry II | 3 |
| PDN 523 | Field Based Ministry I | 2 |
| PDN 524 | Field Based Ministry II | 2 |
Admission, Retention, and Graduation
Admission Requirements
Individuals seeking admission to the Contextualized Pastoral Ministry (MA) program must complete the current application process through both Lancaster Bible College|Seminary and Graduate School and the Pastors Discipleship Network. The following items are required for submission, along with the application: autobiographical essay, two references, and official transcript.
Students must agree to LBC|Capital’s Statement of Faith and Community Life Standards.
In addition, students will be required to pass a basic computer proficiency test, reading and writing assessment, and panel interview. All assessments will be provided at the Pastors Discipleship Network.
Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing
No transfer credit is accepted for this program.
No Advanced Standing is awarded for this program.
Program Retention
Academic progress is monitored after each term. Students will be academically dismissed after being on probation for two consecutive class periods as a registered student. Students will be notified by letter from the Chair of the Church and Ministry Leadership Department and the Registrar of Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School.
When students are academically dismissed, they have the right to appeal for reinstatement if they believe there were extenuating circumstances involved with their poor performance. The appeal must be written and submitted to the Chair of the Church and Ministry Leadership Department within 30 days of receiving the letter of dismissal. The appeal will be considered by the Student Appeals Committee. The decisions by the Committee are final.
Graduation Requirements
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
Program Faculty
Program Director: Rob Blanks, MDiv
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 Gunnison, CO with their 4 children, Marian, Hayden, Judah, and Josiah.
Faculty:
Rob Blanks, MDiv
Eric Brandt, MA
Tim Brubaker, PhD
Dr. Mark Cote, PhD
Gordon Gregory, PhD
Rev. Russ Ooms, ThM
Timothy Nicholls, PhD
Charles Ross, PhD
Terry Timm, DMin
Richmond Wandera, PhD
Esther Zimmerman, PhD