JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 21, 2020 — 51社区 is offering a new Bachelor of Science in Christian Leadership program through its School of Theology and Missions and School of Adult and Professional Studies.
The new program is intended to equip bivocational pastors, church leaders and laypersons who have not finished their bachelor鈥檚 degree to lead their churches theologically and administratively. The degree is designed specifically for adult students, providing them with robust theological training and enriching their ministries.
The School of Theology and Missions and the School of Adult and Professional Studies have partnered together and united their resources to offer this fully online program to students, said Orlando Lobaina, dean for the School of Adult and Professional Studies.
鈥淲e can deliver a Union education to someone鈥檚 living room from here 鈥� and someone who鈥檚 not going to relocate to Jackson, this person will be working still in the ministry 鈥� but yet they鈥檙e getting an education that can be flexible, affordable and accessible,鈥� he said.
Ray Van Neste, dean for the School of Theology and Missions, added: 鈥淲e have the faculty who can provide a really solid, robust theological education, and they (School of Adult and Professional Studies) know how to guide us in the online aspect for non-traditional students and how to receive, advise and walk alongside those students.鈥�
Extensive support services are available for students to help with writing, tutoring and career support. Some examples of courses offered are 鈥淭eaching the Bible,鈥� 鈥淐ounseling in the Church,鈥� 鈥淭he Church: Identity and Polity鈥� and 鈥淟eadership in Scripture.鈥�
Van Neste said the idea for the program arose from conversations with representatives from the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board who expressed that there was a need for further biblical, theological education for pastors and those in leadership positions.
鈥淭hese days there are more and more bi-vocational people in ministry, and more people are being called later in life who then don鈥檛 have this kind of training,鈥� Van Neste said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to be able to provide training for people in these situations.鈥�
Lobaina said he is excited about the opportunity of using technology to provide a Christ-centered education to students who are in full-time ministry so that Union can help them accomplish the Great Commission.
鈥淚f we can use this opportunity to see them getting better training not just in Tennessee, but across this country and across the world, what a great opportunity to help with taking the Great Commission to other parts,鈥� Lobaina said.
The program will begin in the fall of 2021 but is now enrolling students in existing core classes for the spring semester. The Bachelor of Science in Christian Leadership degree is pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Union鈥檚 admissions advising representatives are ready to answer any questions prospective students may have. Those interested can contact Luanne Powell, director for marketing and enrollment for the School of Adult and Professional Studies, at soaps@uu.edu.