Church Planter Training at TEDSA church planting movement is rapidly growing in the U.S. and around the world. TEDS is committed to providing cutting-edge instruction and learning experiences to prepare students for church planting ministries in various settings. Specialized training in church planting is offered through its core courses and wise choice of electives. Church planting field education and internship experiences are also available. The TEDS Placement Office can connect students to opportunities that abound in denominational, nondenominational, and cross-cultural mission settings. MDiv CurriculumThe Master of Divinity (MDiv) with congregational: pastor-teacher focus is the recommended degree program for prospective church planters. Intercultural church planters should consider the MDiv cross-cultural ministry focus. Core courses provide in-depth biblical and theological study. Courses in biblical studies, evangelism, preaching, leadership, worship, missions, social and cultural exegesis, counseling, church history and Christian education are all vital to effective leadership in church planting ministry. Church Planting Related Course OfferingsStudents preparing to become church planters are urged to consider the following courses which may be taken as electives in the MDiv or other degree programs: 1. Foundations of Church Planting - one of the following: | | PT 5150 | Introduction to Church Planting in North America | | or ME 8230 | Global Church Planting (for urban or intercultural contexts) | 2. Advanced Issues in Church Planting: | | PT 6155 | Advanced Church Planting | | PT 6000 | Church Planting Boot Camp (preparation for a specific plant) | | or ME 8235 | Advancing Indigenous Churches (for intercultural contexts) | 3. Specialized ministry skills for church planting, depending on a student’s area of interest or need: | | EM 5210 | Christian Leadership | | ME 5175 | Evangelistic Bible Study | | ME 6963 | Principles of Discipleship | | PT 7848 | Ministry of the Urban Church | | ES 7815 | Change, Power, Conflict | | EM 7260 | Small Group Process in Ministry |
Internship and Field Education Opportunities The growing metro areas of Chicago/Milwaukee/Northwest Indiana offer numerous opportunities for firsthand experience in a church planting setting. Many of these are cross/multi-cultural. Internship and field education experiences may also be completed at distant locations or internationally. Students preparing for church planting ministry should consider these options for guided ministry experience: | PT 7466 | Church Planting Internship | | PT 7450/7451/7452 | Urban Ministry Practicum | | PT 7466 | Urban Ministries Internship | | ME 7466 | Mission/Evangelism Internship |
Church Planting Week Each spring semester a special focus is given to church planting on the TEDS campus during Church Planting Week. The week features a leading church planting speaker in chapel services and training seminars where students learn firsthand from experts about current trends and strategies in church planting. Recruiting interviews also provide opportunities to identify future church planting placement. Find out more For more information contact Associate Professor of Mission and Intercultural Studies Dr. Craig Ott at cott@tiu.edu. |
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