What's new?

The Making Connections Initiative

Heidi De Jonge, serves as our Pastor for Discernment Initiatives. Heidi's work includes:

Helping potential seminary students discern their calling to ministry by working with the recruitment office and the Facing Your Future program.
Serving as pastoral adviser to women students.
Creating relational networks, connecting with other institutions such as high schools and colleges, and churches, in order to connect with people who may be considering vocational ministry.
Planning and hosting Discerning Your Calling events at Calvin Theological Seminary, and beyond.
The Student Ambassador Program where current students are paired with incoming students in order to help them with the transition to seminary life.
Designing the Discerning Your Calling website where people can find resources and information on the subject of Discerning Your Calling.

Faculty consultations

These are events held on Calvin's campus which give CTS faculty the opportunity to meet with ministry practitioners. Each consultation addresses a different subject. The purpose of the consultation is for faculty members to listen and learn about the thrills and challenges of ministry - from those who are 'in the field.' Previous topics include rural ministry, multi-staff ministries, and church planting. In August 2006 we held a consultation on the subject of urban ministry.

CTS website

We have recently completely redesigned our website. The new website offers user-friendly, helpful information about the seminary's degree programs, continuing education offerings and day to day life and ministry. Our home page features will keep you up to date on what's happening at the seminary, from conferences and courses to job openings.

Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy (EPMC)

EPMC is a program of the Christian Reformed Church in America which is designed for students who aspire to ministry in the Christian Reformed Church, but who attended other seminaries. CTS is serving the denomination by offering the program for EPMC students. The Making Connections initiative supports this program with communication and hospitality efforts.

Book of the Quarter

Every quarter, the seminary president chooses a 'book of the quarter' for the seminary community to read together. Reading groups comprised of people from the local community, and led by faculty members meet twice per quarter to discuss the book. Often we have the privilege of meeting the author here at CTS and hearing him or her talk about their writing.

Church Connection Initiative

A "Church Connection Initiative at Trinity" office has been established at Trinity Christian College, (Palos Heights IL). This initiative offers assistance to Trinity students and other individuals in discerning a calling to ministry, and provides continuing education opportunities to pastors and church members in Chicago and in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. This office is supported by a grant from the Making Connections Initiative, the Center for Excellence in Preaching, and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.

Ministry Practices

Pat Zandstra serves as our 'Formation for Ministry Specialist' to develop the Formation for Ministry program, assisting students and faculty in their small groups and in developing competency in ministry practices. She is helping us to connect with partner churches that will serve as ministry practice sites for our students and vocational mentors for our MDiv and MA students who help them reflect on their seminary education in light of ministry practice.

New Course in Formation

The new interdisciplinary course in "Theological Education as Formation for Ministry" serves as 'bookends' - orientation and capstone - to the seminary program of M.Div. and M.A. students. The course will be divided into two parts; the first will occur during the orientation week and fall quarter of a student's first year, and the second will occur during the student's final year. The course allows students to explore the interrelated nature of all parts of seminary life and the ways in which habits developed through theological education are critical to life-long, discerning ministry practices. This integral relation between the "thinking" and "doing" of theology is illustrated by examining how spiritual formation is related to all ministry practices.

Service-Learning

The second CTS Service-Learning Day was held on September 28, 2006 (in conjunction with new course IDIS 901-902, "Theological Education as Formation for Ministry"). First year students spent a day volunteering with various local churches and organizations in Grand Rapids. Students engaged in theological and personal reflection on the day, as a part of the 901 emphasis on the relation between "thinking and doing". While required for new students, a number of other students and CTS staff participated in the day.

Continuing Education

There are many offerings from the continuing education office which provide ministers, students, teachers and community members to enrich their life-long learning. Be sure to keep an eye on the Continuing Education Calendar for upcoming events and courses. The continuing education office at CTS collaborates extensively with the Center for Excellence in Preaching and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.