Advanced M.Div. Church Planting Concentration
The Advanced Master of Divinity in the Billy Graham School is an accelerated professional degree program for students who have a baccalaureate or a Master of Arts degree in religion or biblical studies, who have at least a 3.3 college grade point average, who have completed at least 6 hours at the introductory level in Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Church History, and Systematic Theology (or 5 hours at the introductory level plus 3 hours at an advanced level in each of these subjects), and who have submitted an acceptable 12-20 page research paper. Students are also encouraged to have completed 3 hours each in ethics, philosophy, hermeneutics, preaching, elementary Hebrew, and elementary Greek.
This program has the flexibility to allow the Adv. M.Div. student to complete the final 18 hours of studies while under appointment either by the North American Mission Board or the International Mission Board. Students who are interested in this program must consult the Billy Graham School Director of Student Advising.
Vocational Objectives
- Church planting
- Pastorate
- Biblical and theological studies
- International missions
- North American missions
- Ethnic ministry
| Remedial/Pre-requisite Courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| 20400 | Elementary Hebrew | (3) |
| 22400 | Elementary Greek | (3) |
| 31980 | Written Communication (if required)u | (2) |
| 42490 | Cooperative Program | (0) |
| Scripture and Interpretation (12 hours) | ||
| 20440 | Hebrew Syntax and Exegesis | 3 |
| 22440 | Greek Syntax and Exegesis | 3 |
| 27800 | Theology of the Old Testament | 3 |
| 27820 | Theology of the New Testament | 3 |
| Theology and Tradition (12 hours) | ||
| 25140 | Advanced Church History | 3 |
| 26100 | History of the Baptists | 3 |
| 27050 | Advanced Introduction to Christian Theology | 3 |
| Theology and Tradition elective | 3 | |
| Worldview and Culture (6 hours) | ||
| 28500 | Introduction to Christian Philosophy1 | 3 |
| 29250 | Survey of Christian Ethics1 | 3 |
| Ministry and Proclamation (8 hours) | ||
| 30000 | Christian Preaching2 | 3 |
| 30020 | Preaching Practicum or Preaching elective (30060-30620)3 | 3 |
| 40150 | Personal Spiritual Disciplines | 2 |
| BGS Core Studies (21 hours) | ||
| 30960 | Intercultural Communication or | |
| 33000 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| 32060 | Building an Evangelistic Church | 3 |
| 32100 | Personal Evangelism | 3 |
| 32960 | Introduction to Missiology | 3 |
| 33820 | Introduction to Church Planting | 3 |
| World Religions elective (32900, 32977, 32980, or 33600) | 3 | |
| Church and Society elective (36020-37700) | 3 | |
| Research and Elective Studies (18 hours)5 | ||
| 33060 | Field Seminar in Church Planting | 3 |
| 33080 | Field Seminar in Church Planting | 3 |
| 33410 | Language Learning for Missionaries or | |
| a BGS elective | 3 | |
| 33420 | Cultural Acquisition for Missionaries or | |
| BGS elective | 3 | |
| 33830 | Contextualized Church Planting or | |
| 33860 | Church Multiplication Strategies | 3 |
| BGS elective | 3 | |
| Total Advanced Master of Divinity with a concentration in Church Planting Requirements |
77 | |
| • Elementary Hebrew (if required) | +3 | |
| • Elementary Greek (if required) | +3 | |
| • Written Communication (if required) | +2 | |
uSee Written Communication Requirement in Academic Section.
1Students who completed introductory level courses in undergraduate work must take electives in these disciplines.
2Students who did not take a minimum of three hours of preaching in undergraduate work must take Christian Preaching (30000) and Preaching Practicum (30020). Students who did complete an introductory level preaching course in undergraduate work must take Preaching Practicum (30020) and a preaching elective (30060-30620). Christian Preaching (30000) is reserved for men. Women will substitute The Ministry of Teaching (45400).
3Preaching Practicum (30020) and Preaching elective (30060-30620) are reserved for men. Women will substitute courses 45450, 46515, or 48100.
4Students who completed an introductory level evangelism and church growth course during undergraduate work must take either Advanced Studies in Evangelism and Church Growth (32040) or a BGS elective approved by the Dean.
5Students who did not complete a course in biblical hermeneutics during undergraduate work must take Biblical Hermeneutics (22100) as one of these electives.
