Master of Divinity - Specialization in Church Planting and Multiplication

Wesley Seminary’s specialization in Church Planting and Multiplication is designed to equip pastors, church leaders, and current or future church planters with the training needed to start a new church, campus, or fresh expression of incarnational ministry, and/or to strengthen established churches or reinvigorate struggling churches by infusing them with a biblical vision for a healthy multiplying church.

In addition to the Master of Divinity learning outcomes, students with a specialization in Church Planting and Multiplication should, with graduate-level competency, be able to:

• Analyze cultural and contextual trends to maximize missional effectiveness.
• Create strategies for developing fresh expressions of church.
  
  

Admission Requirements

• A baccalaureate or master's degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting body, the Association for Biblical Higher Education, or international theological accrediting associations affiliated with the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education.
• A minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.5 from the degree granting institution.
• An official transcript from the degree granting institution.
• Two recommendations including
  • One from a pastor or denominational supervisor.
  • A general recommendation.
• A three to four page autobiography and statement of ministry purpose. The statement of purpose should reflect one’s sense of God’s direction in relation to Christian ministry or service.
• A signed Ministry Context form.

Transfer Credit

• A maximum of 27 hours may be transferred from another accredited master's program, provided it falls within seven years prior to admission.
• Students who have taken equivalent courses in their undergraduate program to BIBL-500 The Bible as Christian Scripture, THEO-500 Introduction to Christian Theology, and CHST-500 Global Christian History will be allowed/encouraged to substitute an advanced Bible, theology, or church history elective.

Program Requirements

• Students must have completed all required courses before enrolling in the Capstone Course MIN-695. Registration in the Capstone MIN-695 will be cancelled for any students who fail to satisfactorily complete all required courses.
• All requirements for the degree must be completed within ten years of enrollment.

Graduation Requirements

• Completion of core requirements.

• Minimum grade of "C" in each core and elective course.
• Cumulative grade point average of 2.5.
• Successful completion of the Bible Content exam with a 70% or higher.
• All requirements for the degree must be completed within ten years.
• Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.

M.Div. Program of Study (75 credits)

First Year Experience (15 credits)

WSEM-501	Pastor, Church, and World	3
BIBL-500	The Bible as Christian Scripture	3
CHST-500	Global Christian History	3
-	or
CHST-510	History of Christian Missions	3
THEO-500	Introduction to Christian Theology	3
MISS-500	Cultural Contexts of Ministry	3
-	or
MISS-510	Cultural Anthropology	3

MDiv Core (39 credits)

BIBL-620	Missional Hermeneutics	3
MISS-620	Missional Church	3
CHST-621	The Story of Christian Worship	3
WSHP-621	Christian Worship	3
THEO-630	Soteriology for Christian Formation	3
CONG-630	Christian Formation in Communities and Congregations	3
BIBL-631	Exegesis Christian Proclamation	3
PROC-631	Christian Proclamation	3
THEO-640	Pastoral Theology	3
PCRE-640	Pastoral Care & Relationships	3
CHST-641	Historical Perspectives on Christian Leadership	3
LEAD-641	Christian Leadership	3
MIN-695	Integration Capstone	3

Spiritual Formation (6 credits)

SPIR-500	Spiritual Formation: Change & Transformation	1
SPIR-520	Spiritual Formation: Self Awareness & Appraisal	1
SPIR-540	Spiritual Formation: Goal Setting & Accountability	1
SPIR-560	Spiritual Formation: Mentoring & Spiritual Direction	1
SPIR-570	Spiritual Formation: Personal & Corporate Disciplines	1
SPIR-590	Spiritual Formation: Recovery & Deliverance	1

Electives (15 credits)

(Students may elect to take one of Wesley Seminary's specializations as part of the MDiv)

Specialization in Church Planting and Multiplication (15 credits)

This specialization consists of four courses: one required course and three courses from Church Planting and Multiplication electives.

Required Course

Must take this course.

MISS-550

Foundations of Church Planting and Multiplication

3

Church Planting and Multiplication Electives

Must take at least 9 hours.

MISS-530	Preparing Leaders to Plant Churches	6
MISS-540	Evangelism in Context	3
MISS-552	The Calling, Character, and Competency of a Church Multiplier	3
MISS-553	Initiating New Church Plants, Sites, and Fresh Expressions	3
MISS-554	Maximizing the Post-Launch Phase	3
CONG-525	Newcomer Integration	3
LEAD-558	Missional Growth and Multiplication	3
LEAD-565	Emerging Trends in Church Multiplication	3
MIN-559	Staying Power: Leading a Church Through Change	3

Electives

-	Elective	3
Total Credit Hours:		75