Ministry, Theology and Practice (Taught)

This Masters in Ministry, Theology and Practice is intended for pastoral professionals, to develop and enhance their abilities in congregational ministry, culturally relevant hermeneutics and preaching, creative approaches to ministry, and freedom of inquiry in theological doctrine.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

• This programme arises out of nearly three centuries of collaboration between the Dr Williams’s Trust and the University of Glasgow in supporting the development of Christian ministry.

• It welcomes the diverse practice and backgrounds of ministers and church leaders from a number of denominations.

• The programme is designed for professional development of church leaders as part-time study spread over 2 years.

• Glasgow has a leading reputation—and not just in recent times—for combining critical academic excellence with an awareness of and focus on the wider community in terms of application of theology. We are known for the creativity of our theological programmes, as far back as the early modern period with its linking of Christian doctrine to questions of human existence, resulting in a theology that is properly aware of contexts, ideologies, traditions and source texts, thus ‘hermeneutical’.

• The degree can be undertaken in London or Glasgow.

• It is delivered by academics who presently have a strong commitment to and experience of training for Christian ministry.

• Applicants from qualifying denominations may be eligible for bursaries from the Dr Williams's Trust.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Over two years, you will take:

Three core courses

Creative Ministry
Resourcing Congregational Ministry
Research Training - Theology and Religious Studies

A Course of self-directed study

Either one of these two options:

Religion, Theology and Culture Directed Study (Semester 1)
Religion, Theology and Culture Directed Study (Semester 2)

Two of the following optional or listed courses (subject to timetable confirmation)

Homiletics and Biblical Hermeneutics
Bible, Doctrine and Freedom of Interpretation
Studies in Early Church History and Theology (Online)
TRS MTh or Honours courses (Glasgow-based only)

The writing of a 15,000 word dissertation

LEARNING AND TEACHING

This programme sustains our historic commitment to offer academic training to those exercising leadership roles in Christian churches through delivering continuing professional development in four key areas:

• equipping for congregational ministry

• culturally relevant hermeneutics for preaching

• creative approaches to ministry and mission

• theological inquiry.

The programme aims to:

• embed missional practice and strategy throughout ministerial practice

• employ an expanded depth of hermeneutical and theological knowledge, to enrich preaching and generate creative approaches to worship

• provide skills in congregational studies, organisation, and management relevant for those in Christian leadership

• enhance reflection on the social and cultural significance of theology and construct a coherent understanding of Christian approaches to social engagement and transformation

• develop skills in reflective practice and personal reflexivity.

This will be done by means of presentations and written assignments, with teaching input once a month for 5 hours at a time, on four occasions per course, or online 2 hours per week, amounting to 20 hours contact time, each over a semester.

Lectures, discussion of texts led by the teacher, presentations by students and summing-up will contribute to formation and stimulate further study, application, reflection and written responses by the students.