Educational Offerings

Ministry education resources available to the regional cooperatives through ministry partners include: seminary and baccalaureate degrees, diploma in ministry, certificate in ministry, short-term modules, and stand-alone events. In addition to the resources offered by ministry partners, regional cooperatives will develop their own ministry education offerings.

Seminary degrees are available through on campus, extension center, and distance learning options. Degree information is available on the websites of the two BGAV partner institutions—Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and The John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Arlington. Leland offers degree courses at its Newport News and Fredericksburg locations as well.

Baccalaureate degrees are available through BGAV ministry partners Averett University, Bluefield College, and Virginia Intermont College. Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, Pineville, KY is an out-of-state partner that provides courses at extension centers in SW VA as well as over the internet. Information on the respective degree programs is available on the websites of these schools.

The Diploma in Theology

The Diploma in Theology offered by Leland is a program of study for students seeking to gain knowledge and practical skills for ministry. The program is for both laity and ministry candidates who have completed a high school degree or equivalent but not yet received a Bachelor's degree. The core curriculum is taught on the undergraduate level. Graduation requirements: 48 semester credit hours and full payment of all tuition and fees.

Ministry Certification is a process that allows both clergy and laity to gain practical ministry skill development without enrollment in a degree or diploma program. Currently, BTSR offers a ministry certification program online. The John Leland Center plans to launch its ministry certification program at various extension centers in the fall of 2004.

BTSRSchool of Christian Ministry Advanced Congregational Leadership Certificate

Our Vision

While many of our students pursue ordination, churches also need persons trained to fulfill the leadership roles of congregations today. Those who answer the call to prepare themselves as congregational leaders will better fulfill their calling to serve God through the church and in their vocational settings.

BTSR acknowledges that every believer is called to ministry. Therefore, BTSR is committed to being a frontline resource for congregations and for persons who are called to ministry in their own congregations. The School of Christian Ministry seeks to nurture those congregational leaders who have increasing roles in guiding the mission and ministry of their churches.

Ministry in our social context is more challenging than ever before. Many ministers are overwhelmed at the rate of cultural change and need to enlist and train co-ministers out of their own congregations to lead in ministry and mission efforts. Fortunately, many persons have both the desire and calling to take a more active and creative role in the practice of ministry in the church.

Through the School of Christian Ministry (SCM), Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond is seeking to help bridge the gap between ministry needs and resources.

BTSR proposes to develop congregational leaders, and thereby strengthen Baptist congregations through the SCM by utilizing the seminary’s on-campus technology infrastructure, including the existing facilities and networks, and mobilizing the regional churches to help accomplish this project.

The BTSR School of Christian Ministry will offer an Advanced Congregational Leadership certificate that will provide people with an opportunity to better prepare themselves for Christian service in a congregational setting. The SCM will provide theological education to support the faith and commitment of congregational leaders and train them to express their faith through leadership in the church.

The program provides the theological bases for the work of congregational leaders, be it teaching, working with youth, providing pastoral care, leading in evangelism, or parish nursing. Through study, peer interactions, and reflection participants can exercise the vocation of the church to continue the ministry of Christ in the world.

The BTSR School of Christian Ministry program involves information, formation, and critical reflection in four core courses–one each in Bible, Theology, Spiritual Formation, and Baptist Identity–and three courses in a focused field of interest. There will be seven ministry training tracks in the SCM program.

Each ministry track consists of seven required courses: four core courses and three ministry concentration courses. A BTSR Certificate of Advanced Congregational Leadership will be awarded upon completion of the seven courses. However, anyone may take one or more courses in any specialized ministry area, including core courses, without declaring a particular certificate Specialized Ministry concentration.

All SCM courses will be offered electronically using Internet technologies and the Blackboard ™ course management system. In order to enroll in this program, students must have access to a computer and to the Internet.

Current Specialized Ministry Concentration Courses include: Developing Lay Leadership, Preschool/Children’s Ministry, youth Ministry, and Health Ministries and Parish Nursing. Future concentrations will be offered in Christian Education, Pastoral Care for Congregational Leaders, Congregational Development, and Faith and Financial Management. The Ministry Certificate program is available in Spanish.

For more information on the BTSR School of Christian Ministry visit www.btsr.edu or call 1-888-339-BTSR (2877).

The Certificate in Theological Studies is a non-degree program that permits students to achieve a basic introduction to the major theological disciplines. A student may take up to 30 credit hours. Admittance to the Certificate is through the Advanced Special Student process. The program requires a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

The purpose of the Leland Center’s Ministry Certification program is to provide emerging and established leaders in local churches an opportunity to pursue theological and ministry skill training in an accessible and affordable format. This program is the product of a growing awareness within Baptist life of the necessity of ministry training in the local church setting. Clergy who have had little or no formal ministry training desire convenient and accessible continuing education opportunities to update ministry training and take ministry skills to the next level. Many churches are experiencing a growing number of lay leaders who are sensing a call to be more involved in the formal ministries of their church but have neither the time nor money to pursue the requisite training under a traditional seminary format. This program, over the course of an 18 month to 2 year period, will allow both clergy and lay leaders to train both academically and professionally for many of the church related ministries of their church.

How does the Ministry Certification program work?

Part I

The program consists of 5 core courses in Biblical Studies and Theology taught at Leland Center Extension Sites. Currently, there are at least four locations where these courses may be taken: Arlington, Hampton Roads, Richmond, & Mineral, Virginia. The required Certification Courses are: Old Testament, New Testament, Theology I, Spiritual Formation, & Church History. These courses are part of a more advanced collegiate level Leland program, The Diploma in Theology, offered within the extension centers. Ministry Certification students are required to Audit these five core courses. Each class is taught over a 15 week span with terms in the fall and spring. Classes are sometimes offered in the summer in a condensed 7 week format. All classes are taught in the evening or Saturdays to accommodate the work schedule of participants.

Through partnership with Virginia Baptist General Association Ministry Certification students pursue skill specific courses and seminars sponsored by Virginia Baptists. The range of possible ministry areas includes: Childrens ministry, Worship Leadership, Pastoral ministry, Discipleship ministry, Seniors ministry, and others. No fewer than four courses or seminars are required in a ministry specific skill area for Certification.

Parts I & II may be pursued simultaneously.

After the completion of Parts I & II, Certification candidates must complete a practicum through a Virginia Baptist Church. Working with a mentor on a ministry project, Certification candidates will have an opportunity to do hands on ministry with a skilled mentor guiding and evaluating their work.

For more information call 1-703-812-4757 or request by email to info@johnlelandcenter.edu.

Clear Creek Baptist Bible College Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry

The B.A. in Pastoral Ministry prepares the graduate to lead in a local church as pastor or associate pastor. For many graduates this degree is their final formal ministry preparation. It also serves as an excellent preparation for advanced study at a seminary or graduate program. A solid core of 97 hours gives a strong preparation for ministry. The Pastoral Major consists of 31 hours with 10 hours of electives that allows the student freedom to structure his studies according to personal needs and interests.

The two-year associate program prepares individuals for church staff positions. The student who successfully completes this program should demonstrate a general knowledge of biblical teaching and ministry skills. Successful completion of the program requires 64 hours of coursework.

Clear Creek provides a program leading toward bi-vocational ministry preparation. As individuals train for ministry wherever God leads, it may be necessary to engage in additional work while serving a church. In light of our rapidly changing society, many adults will change careers as many as seven times during their working years. The career of an individual before entering ministry training may be obsolete when he desires to reenter the working world. A previous career may not be compatible with ministry responsibilities. It is our desire to make job training available simultaneously with ministry training.

The Bi-Vocational Ministry Program may also apply to the Associate of Arts in Pastoral Ministry which includes Bible/ministry, general studies, Christian development, and Christian service requirements. With the bi-vocational option, up to 16 hours of study from an accredited institution may be substituted for the electives listed in the catalog. Those hours must be pertaining to one subject or profession.

The Bi-Vocational Ministry Program may also apply to the Associate of Arts in Pastoral Ministry which includes Bible/ministry, general studies, Christian development, and Christian service requirements. With the bi-vocational option, up to 16 hours of study from an accredited institution may be substituted for the electives listed in the catalog. Those hours must be pertaining to one subject or profession.

The B.A. in Missions and Evangelism prepares the graduate to serve as a missionary or evangelist. Those completing the program should be able to design and implement a program of evangelism in their assigned area of future service. Some mission careers require additional study beyond the Bachelor of Arts and the Clear Creek B.A. in Missions and Evangelism is an excellent preparation for the graduate study of missions and evangelism at a seminary or other graduate program.

The A.A. in Missions and Evangelism is designed to give the graduate an introduction to missions and evangelism. The student who successfully completes this program should demonstrate a general knowledge of biblical teaching and mission and evangelism skills.

The Bachelor of Arts in Church Ministries will prepare the student for a ministry in a local church. The graduate of this program should be able to plan, coordinate, administer, and implement the numerous programs and ministries unique to the local church and its agencies.

Further, five emphases are offered within the Church Ministries and Administration major: Minister of Preschool and Children, Minister of Youth, Minister of Church Recreation, Minister of Education and Minister of Music. These emphases will permit the student to personalize their degree with their calling more precisely. These specialized emphases are achieved through classroom courses, library research, supervised ministry experience in local churches as in the Child Development Center and Family Life Center operated by the college. All inquiries concerning the details of these emphases should be directed to the Academic Dean. The heart of the Bachelor of Arts in Church Ministries is a 97 hour core of required courses that provides a firm foundation in biblical/theological, professional and general studies.

The Bachelor of Arts in Church Ministries will prepare the student for a ministry in a local church. The graduate of this program should be able to plan, coordinate, administer, and implement the numerous programs and ministries unique to the local church and its agencies.

Further, five emphases are offered within the Church Ministries and Administration major: Minister of Preschool and Children, Minister of Youth, Minister of Church Recreation, Minister of Education and Minister of Music. These emphases will permit the student to personalize their degree with their calling more precisely. These specialized emphases are achieved through classroom courses, library research, supervised ministry experience in local churches as in the Child Development Center and Family Life Center operated by the college.

The heart of the Bachelor of Arts in Church Ministries is a 97 hour core of required courses that provides a firm foundation in biblical/theological, professional and general studies.

The Church Music emphasis intends to prepare the graduate to serve as a minister in a Southern Baptist church with responsibilities in music leadership. The graduate of this program should be able to plan and lead worship services, congregational singing, and the graded choir program. The 128 hour curriculum will also equip the graduate to assist in the pastoral and educational ministries of the church.

The certificate is a one year program ideal for the student who can only attend one year or who can study part-time over several semesters. This program includes the Christian Development Program requirements:

1) Christian Service Assignment

2) In-Service Participation (Weekly Reports)

The Christian Leader’s Certificate intends to prepare the graduate as a staff assistant or lay leader. The student who completes the 32 hour curriculum should demonstrate a basic biblical understanding and practical skills for assisting in a local church ministry.