BS - Christian Ministry Leadership
The Bachelor of Science with a Major in Christian Ministry Leadership prepares students for advancing-level ministry leadership in Christian churches and para-church organizations. Laypersons in local churches will gain greater spiritual development, greater awareness of ministry leadership roles and issues, and enhance their current local church service. This degree seeks to provide bachelors’ level academic foundations for ministry leadership health and fruitfulness. This degree seeks to aid students in fulfilling many requirements for District License and Ordination in The Wesleyan Church and other churches. Additionally, it prepares the student for Masters level work in Christian Ministry or Divinity. This program includes an optional, elective Experiential Learning Ministry Lab.
Students may also meet the requirements of this program by completing the Associate of Science degree with a major in Christian Ministry Leadership.
Christian Ministry Leadership graduates will:
- Employ sound interpretive and exegetical methods in order to use the Bible effectively for leadership, preaching, and teaching.
- Articulate theology in clear, understandable ways that relate to life and mission and result in Christian transformation.
- Demonstrate the values and traits necessary to equip ministry leaders who demonstrate prayerfulness, spiritual maturity, creativity, inspiration, trust building, and collaborative spirit.
- Apply relevant aspects of historical Christianity to inform ministry and the life of the church today.
- Demonstrate an ability to equip leaders who can organize, lead and multiply small groups for discipleship and membership classes.
- Demonstrate the ability to lead people to share a strategic vision with concrete goals, enabling a team or congregation to move forward.
- Develop a contextual and transformative method of ministry that engages local constituencies, including persons of different generations, ethnicities, genders, and cultures.
- Demonstrate the capacity to model and equip others to establish and sustain redemptive relationships that lead persons to Christ and engage them in discipleship.
- Demonstrate sound leadership and management practices including strategic planning, communicating, organizing, delegating, and managing finances.
- Explain the biblical and theological bases and practical functions of the various elements of worship (such as use of scripture, sacraments, prayer, preaching, music, offering, baptism, communion, being a bearer of the word, contemplation, creed, drama, weddings, funerals, and other important rites and rituals).
- Describe basic counseling skills including awareness of when to refer counselees to other professionals.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for the BS in Christian Ministry Leadership offered through the School of Service and Leadership, College of Adult and Professional Studies are as follows:
- Completion of the Associate of Science degree with a major in Christian Ministry.
- Completion of required prerequisites including; MIN-240 Cultural Contexts of Ministry, REL-241 Survey of Church History, REL-285 Biblical and Theological Foundations of Leadership, and MIN-285 Foundations of Group and Team Leadership.
Transfer Credit Policy
Transfer credit for core curriculum requirements for undergraduate programs within the College of Adult and Professional Studies may be granted as follows:
- Credit must have been earned at a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) with a minimum grade of "C".
- Courses must be approved by the School of Service and Leadership.
- Students must complete at least 30 hours of the core curriculum at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Graduation Requirements
To graduate with a BS in Christian Ministry Leadership from the School of Service and Leadership, College of Adult and Professional Studies at Indiana Wesleyan University, the following requirements must be met:
- Completion of 120 semester hours.
- Completion of the required core courses with a GPA of 2.50 or higher.
- Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Completion of 30 hours of general education as specified (General Education Requirements).
- Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.
Christian Ministry Leadership - Program of Study
Prerequisite Courses
| MIN-240 | Cultural Contexts of Ministry | 3 |
| REL-241 | Survey of Church History | 3 |
| REL-285 | Biblical and Theological Foundations of Leadership | 3 |
| MIN-285 | Foundations for Group and Team Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Core Courses
| BIL-203 | Advanced Inductive Bible Study | 3 |
| BIL-310 | Book of Genesis | 3 |
| BIL-420 | Gospel of Mark | 3 |
| MIN-405 | Creative Bible Preaching and Teaching | 3 |
| MIN-340 | Principles of Congregational and Pastoral Care | 3 |
| THE-311 | Ecclesiology | 3 |
| MIN-350 | Non-Profit Financial Management | 3 |
| MIN-360 | Theology and Leadership of Worship | 3 |
| MIN-370 | Holistic Disciple Making | 3 |
| MIN-455 | New Models of Ministry | 3 |
| REL-424 | Christian Theology II: Salvation /Holiness | 3 |
| MIN-469 | Pastoral Care and Counseling for Ministry Leadership | 3 |
| MIN-465 | Strategic Ministry Leadership | 3 |
| MIN-477 | Leading Team Driven Organizations | 3 |
| MIN-475 | Leadership Development for Ministry | 3 |
| MIN-483 | Trinitarian Theology and Church Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 48 |
