Master of Arts - Educational Ministry

The M.A. in Educational Ministry program is designed as a post-baccalaureate degree to prepare persons for assuming positions of competent leadership in the educational and/or youth ministries of their faith communities. The program has attracted students from a range of ages, experiences, and national origins. Graduates of the MA:EM degree program regularly find staff positions with congregations, church agencies, or a wide variety of other options in ministry.

Normally the M.A. in Educational Ministry is a two-year program, combining background theological studies with a concentration of study and field experience in church education. The program may also be taken on a part-time basis. A special "Youth Ministry Track" can be selected by a person seeking special qualification as a youth pastor.

A special course of study is available for a person who wishes to receive special training in the area of youth ministry within the MA:EM degree. The director of admissions and/or the director of M.A. programs can provide the details for this special track in Youth Ministry.

Admission Requirements (show | hide)

  1. Academic requirements
     
    1. To qualify for admission as a candidate for the M.A. in Educational Ministry degree, an applicant must possess an A.B. degree or its equivalent from an accredited college and have a grade-point average of 2.67 (B-) or higher.
       
    2. The applicant's pre-seminary education must include courses in the following areas: English, history, natural sciences, and social sciences.
       
    3. The following special requirements are prescribed:

      Education and/or Psychology: A minimum of six semester hours, including a course in educational psychology.

      Religion (or Theology) and Philosophy: A minimum of nine semester hours distributed between these areas.

      Speech: A minimum of three semester hours in oral rhetoric.

    4. An applicant whose academic history does not show sufficient breadth in the liberal arts may be requested to do additional work as a condition of admission.  
(hide)

Program Requirements (show | hide)

The integrating principle of the MA:EM program is "Formation for Ministry". This integrating principle provides a holistic preparation for ministry through the intentional integration of coursework, Formation for Ministry small group and an internship.

  1. Course requirements
    Division Course Quarter Hours
    Interdisciplinary 901 Theological Education as Formation for Ministry (a) 2
    Biblical 110 Narrative Law and History 4
      120 Poetry and Prophets 4
      210 The New Testament Letters for Christian Life and Ministry 4
      220 The Gospels for Christian Life and Ministry 4
      230 Interpreting the Bible for Christian Life and Ministry 3

    Theological
    310
    Church History Survey
    4
      403 Introduction to Christian Doctrine 3
        One of the following two (prerequisite: 403): 3
        477 Ecumenical Creeds and Confessions  
        491 The Heidelberg Catechism
    (Students not seeking to serve a congregation in the CRCNA may substitute one of the following three core courses in systematic theology for one of the previous two courses on creeds and confessions.)     		 
        One of the following three (prerequisite: 403): 3
        415 The Doctine of God and Creation  
        425 The Doctrine of Christ/Salvation  
        435 The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, Church and Kingdom
    (Students may substitute a systematic theology departmental elective for one of the above three courses with special permission from the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the course instructor.)     		 
      521 Fundamental Apologetics 3
      531 Basic Christian Ethics 3

    Ministry
    600
    Foundations in Ministry I
    3
      601 Foundations in Ministry II 3
        Divisional core  
        Two of the following: 6
        A course in pastoral care  
        A course in worship leadership  
        A course in missions  
       
    Departmental core    		  
      751 The Psychology and Sociology of Education in Christian Ministry 3
      752 Teaching/Learning Methods for Educational Ministry 3
      753 The Theology and Philosophy of Education in Christian Ministry 3
      795 Introduction to M.A. Research Project in Educational Ministry 3
      796 M.A. Research Project 3
       
    Departmental electives    		  
        Two electives within the department of educational ministry 6

    General
     
    Two electives from any department
    6
    Interdisciplinary 902 Theological Education as Formation for Ministry (b) 1
        Total (quarter) hours 80

    Note 1: Students who seek certification by the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps for possible service as Director of Religious Education should take
    760 Christian Nurture of Children
    762 Adult Education in the Church
    771 Foundations in Youth Ministry
    Note 2: Students who seek a concentration in youth ministry must elect at least four courses among
    723 The Pastoral Care of Youth
    755 Administration of Educational Ministries
    756 Personal Piety, Discipleship, and Spiritual Formation
    771 Foundations in Youth Ministry
    772 Youth and Their Culture
    773 Methods for Youth Ministry
  2. Formation for Ministry (FFM) Group - 6 credits

    Students receive one FFM credit per quarter of FFM group involvement for six quarters, for a total of six credits.

    The FFM group is facilitated by a faculty member, pastor or staff minister and composed of 6 to 8 students that meet regularly over the student's entire seminary career (or first two years, if one's program extends longer than two years). These groups are designed to be communities of trust and reflection in which spiritual formation, theological integration, and ministry skill development take place. During the fall, winter, and spring quarters FFM groups focus upon certain areas of personal development or ministry practice. Integral to the success of the FFM group is the student's involvement with a vocational mentor and regular involvement in a local church.

    Activities related to the FFM group are expected to take approximately 40 hours per quarter. Each quarter the student should spend approximately 6 hours with their vocational mentor, 14 hours with their FFM group and related activities, and 20 hours doing required ministry practices, completing documentation for their Formation for Ministry Folio (FFMF), practicing their Rule of Life first developed in Course 901, and participating in the life of the church. This 20 hour figure includes a wide variety of activities but is intended to especially highlight the student's Rule of Life and regular involvement in the life of a local church as an integral part of the formation process.

    List of Grand Rapids CRC Churches

  3. Internships - 2 credits

    All students will ordinarily complete a summer internship as part of their MA: EM. program.

    The internship is generally five to six weeks in length with a minimum of 200 hours of ministry involvement, including significant leadership responsibility. As much as possible this will be an immersion experience that provides a horizon expanding ministry experience. On-site mentoring, a written reflection and peer evaluation are possible ways of guiding/documenting this internship. In this internship, students will be encouraged to complete various ministry practices requirements/documentation for their FFMF. Also, students will be expected to maintain contact with and meet (via e-mail, and/or phone) with their vocational mentor. Sites for these summer internships involve collaboration with ministries such as:

    • Facing Your Future (FYF) ministry settings
    • Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM)
    • Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC)
    • Christian Reformed Home Missions (CRHM)
    • Border-Plex Ministries (El Paso, Texas)
    • Christian Ministry in the National Parks
    • Urban ministry settings in Grand Rapids
    • Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education (SCUPE)
    • Prison Fellowship Jail Ministries

    The student will earn 2 credits for this internship. This internship experience will be processed with the student's FFM leader/group during the subsequent fall quarter.

  4. Formation for Ministry Folio (FFMF) is the collection of the documents that are generated in the Formation for Ministry program as listed below:

    1. Local Church and Vocational Mentor Commitment Form
    2. One Self-Assessment Form for Ministry Practices
    3. Two student-written Progress Reports
    4. Three FFM group leader Response Paragraphs
    5. Two Vocational Mentor Assessments
    6. Internship Assessment
    7. One Integrative Paper Establishing Proficiency for each Ministry Practice Area
      • Evangelism, Discipleship, Teaching (Area #1)
      • Service, Social Justice, Cultural Engagement (Area #2)
      • Worship, Preaching (Area #3)
      • Community Life, Fellowship (Area #4)
      • Pastoral Care, Counseling (Area #5)
      • Administration, Leadership (Area #6)
    8. One Integrative Paper that Establishes Competency in the Area of Specialization
    9. One Final Assessment by FFM group leader
  5. Comprehensive examinations

    In addition to taking regular quarter examinations, candidates for the MA:EM degree are required to sustain a written examination on Bible content, and a one-hour oral comprehensive examination by representative members of the faculty.

(hide)