Ministry Leadership (BA)
Credential: Bachelor of Arts
Major: Ministry Leadership, Biblical Studies
Location: Lancaster
Program Director: Esther L. Zimmerman, PhD
Program Mission Statement: The Ministry Leadership program exists to develop emerging leaders for biblically based, spiritually formative ministry in the local church, community, and around the world.
Program Description: This degree offers a solid foundation of Biblical knowledge, leadership theory, and practical skills development through the coursework while providing a highly customizable framework for hands-on learning through the field experience and mentoring relationships which run throughout the program.
Program Learning Outcomes: As a result of this program, students will:
1. Formulate a philosophy of ministry that is biblically grounded, spiritually formative, and rooted in the global mission of God.
2. Integrate healthy spiritual formation and leadership practices for the purpose of developing spiritual, emotional, and physical health in both their personal and professional lives.
3. Inculcate an understanding and praxis of servant leadership, team dynamics, and self-awareness.
4. Demonstrate effective communication and leadership skills which are biblically grounded, culturally sensitive, and useful for holistic influence in various ministry contexts.
5. Develop effective personal and professional relationships based on mutual support and accountability for the purpose of intentional ministry leadership development
Experiential Learning:
We place a high value on field experience in ministry preparation. As a result, all undergraduate Ministry Leadership students will complete three substantial field experiences: a 3-credit field experience early in their program, a 3-credit internship as well as a 3-credit practicum in ministry leadership prior to graduation. Students are responsible for arranging their own field placements in area churches or parachurch ministries. However, the School of Bible & Ministry maintains an active list of ministry field experience opportunities and works closely with students and ministries to ensure a good learning experience.
Ministry Leadership BA Curriculum Scope
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Curriculum Structure
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Credits
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|
LBC Foundation Studies Courses
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4
|
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Bible & Theology Core Courses
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30
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Arts & Sciences Core Courses
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31
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Major Courses
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45 |
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Exploration Studies – Elective Courses
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12 |
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Program Total
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122
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LBC Foundations (4 credits)
Bible & Theology Courses (30 credits)
| BTH 101 | Foundations for Biblical and Theological Studies | 3 |
| BIB 103 | Creation & Covenants: OT I | 3 |
| BIB 104 | Israel's Life & Literature: OT II | 3 |
| THE 223 | Christian Narrative I: Creation & Fall | 3 |
| THE 224 | Christian Narrative II: Redemption & Consummation | 3 |
| BIB 203 | Life of Christ: NT I | 3 |
| BIB 204 | Early Church: NT II | 3 |
| Bible Elective - BOT or BNT | 3 |
THE
| Theology Elective | 3 |
| THE 320 | Christianity and Culture | 3 |
Arts & Sciences (31 Credits)
| LAN 101 | Academic Writing, Research, and Rhetoric | 3 |
| LAN 104 | Public Speaking | 3 |
LIT
| Literature Elective (100/200 level) | 3 |
HIS
| History Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
SCI
| Science Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
SCI
| SCI Lab (100/200 Level) | 1 |
MAT
| Math Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
| SOC 101/PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective (300 or 400) level | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective (300 or 400) level | 3 |
Ministry Leadership Courses (45 credits)
| CML 102 | Foundations of Ministry | 3 |
| CML 210 | Fundamentals of Leadership | 3 |
| CML 324 | Spiritual Formation of Ministry Leaders | 3 |
| MIN 201 | Strategic Ministry Leadership | 3 |
CML
| CML Elective | 3 |
CML
| CML Elective | 3 |
| THE 303 | Theology of Children, Youth and Family | 3 |
| THE 411/CML 411 | Role of Women in the Church | 3 |
| CML 201, CFM 201, PAS 220, or YMN 201 | |
| PAS 320 | Counseling and Care in the Church | 3 |
| ICS 120 | Discipleship/Evangelism | 3 |
| CFM 421 | Community Ministry | 3 |
| CML 250 | Ministry Field Experience | 3 |
| MIN 350 | Ministry Leadership Internship | 3 |
| MIN 450 | Ministry Leadership Practicum | 3 |
| CML 400 | Cross Cultural Experience | 0 |
Exploration Studies (12 credits)
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
Program Director: Esther L. Zimmerman, PhD
Esther is Scottish though she now makes Pennsylvania her home. She attended Cairn University (BS, Bible and BS, Secondary Education), Pennsylvania State University (MEd, Training Design and Development) and earned a PhD from Lancaster Bible College.
She has been teaching full-time at Lancaster Bible College since January 2016. Prior to that, she served for 12 years as International Children’s Ministry Director for a global mission organization while also supporting her husband in local church ministry.
Esther has been blessed with a global ministry perspective as she led a training project that has now extended to more than 80 countries. Her passion is multiplication of discipleship ministry to children in their families and communities and she continues to serve as an active member of the Global Children’s Forum. She and her husband, David, have three children.