GENERAL OVERVIEW
Truth Theological Seminary (TTS) is an institution of higher education offering doctoral and master-leveled degree programs and directs them into professional Christian ministry. However, in view of the fact that believers and Christian leaders also need equipping and training, TTS has also designed a Certificate program to nurture and help them face the challenges in the church through a series of courses.
Doctor of Ministry
MA in Church Ministry Studies
Certificate in Church Ministry
DEGREE PROGRAMS
TTS currently offers two degree programs: Doctoral Degree and Master’s Degree. The Doctoral Degree program is Doctor of Ministry; the Master’s Degree program is Master of Arts in Church Ministry Studies.
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The Doctor of Ministry degree offered by Truth Theological Seminary is not only a degree with a high level of professionalism but also training for ministers to pursue deeper spirituality. The degree is for the advancement and continuation of the knowledge and skills gained in the Masters-level work previously accomplished by the minister, combined with pastoral professional ministry experience, and a more in-depth study of how to effectively work through spiritual growth and ministry skills to enhance the development of ministry and the knowledge of the Bible. To this end, the candidate will conduct research and analysis in the final ministry research project, which will be learned in the DMin program, so as to be practically applied in church ministries.
The seminars offered by the seminary for this doctoral degree include The Spiritual Nature and Its Development, Leadership Development for Today’s Ministry, The Challenge and Direction of Ministry for the Present Age, Pastoral Care and Pastoral Counseling – a Pastoral Approach to Today’s Issues, Interpersonal Growth, and student-selected course relevant to the student’s focus of study. Students in the DMin program need to learn through library resources, professional journals, computer-assisted Bible and theological studies, in-depth research skills, and use secondary sources dominated by most major sources. Doctoral students’ research mainly focuses on their originality, from the current theory and creativity.
The following objectives are engaged by the learner to accomplish the purpose of the degree:
- Heighten the view of Christian ministry through integrating ministerial studies within the Christian academic setting.
- Expand the comprehension and application of spiritual dynamics both personally and interpersonally in ministry.
- Increase awareness of the significant themes of effective ministry biblically, theologically and methodologically.
- Acceleration of the ability to define theological concepts and ideas and construct appropriate theoretical understandings to provide a basis for more relevant ministry.
- Enhanced ability to discern ministry needs and issues relevant to competent ministry while developing ministries addressing the needs and issues.
- Enlarge the ability to communicate effectively orally and in written form with a view to informing others proficiently.
- Completion of a project incorporating the above objectives within the ministry project.
At the completion of the program, the student should be able to:
- Lead God-called ministry with God-given gift(s) in confidence with impact.
- Advance church growth by developing a successfully tested model(s) of ministry.
- Increase and strengthen theological knowledge and practical skills in developing ministries that impact their church and community.
- Discern critical congregational needs and respond to them with effective solutions.
- Reflect on their professional ministry and leadership effectiveness both theologically and personally.
- Foster networking opportunities to build ministerial relationships that promote personal growth and ministerial success.
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY PROGRAM STRUCTURE & REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
- Must maintain the academic standards and student conduct standards of Truth Theological Seminary while engaged in the Doctor of Ministry program.
- Fulfill each Doctor of Ministry seminar requirements satisfactorily.
- Complete satisfactorily the Doctor of Ministry’s final project.
- Satisfy the financial obligations of the Doctor of Ministry degree.
- Satisfy the Doctor of Ministry requirements within a seven-year period beginning with the start of the student’s first seminar. The student may apply for the continuation of time of the Doctor of Ministry program.
D.Min. “Orientation Seminar” will be arranged prior to the Year-One D.Min. Seminar. The Orientation shall be one-day in length, and its purpose is to orient the students as to the Program’s structure and content.
After Year-One D.Min. Seminar, and prior to Year-Two D.Min. Seminar, the first “Project Planning Seminar” will be arranged.
After Year-Two D.Min. Seminar, and prior to Year-Three D.Min. Seminar, the second “Project Planning Seminar” will be arranged.
The total graduation requirements for this Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree program include six (6) seminars and a Thesis-Ministry Project. It is structured as follow:
6 Pre-Residency Preparation assignments, one per each Residency 0
6 Seminars, 6 units each 36
6 Post-Residency Projects, one per each Residency 0
1 Thesis-Ministry Project 12
Total Program Requirements 48
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
PROGRAM TRACKS (areas of study)
DMIN710 The Spiritual Nature & Its Development 6
DMIN720 Leadership Development for Today’s Ministry 6
DMIN730 Shepherding the Congregation (Church or Organization) 6
DMIN740 Pastoral Care and Pastoral Counseling – A Pastoral Approach to Today’s Issues 6
DMIN750 The Challenge and Direction of Ministry for the Present Age 6
DMIN760 Student-selected course relevant to the student’s focus of study 6
DMIN800 Research Methodology & Paper Writing 0
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DIMN710 The Spiritual Nature & Its Development
Forming one’s inner personal world to conform to the life of Christ:
- Essentials for enhancing personal spiritual growth through spiritual formation
- Influences concerning spiritual formation and growth through the ages
- Study and application of spiritual gifts in one’s personal life
- Spirituality from differing temperament/personality perspectives
- Assisting in the spiritual formation of others
- Assessing the dangers to personal spiritual life (formation)
- Examination of scriptural passages encouraging spiritual formation (the process of sanctification)
DMIN720 Leadership Development for Today’s Ministry
- The nature of leadership in the ministry-theory and practice
- Challenges inherent to Christian leadership
- Developing a team approach to ministry leadership (trusting others in ministry)
- Personal qualities and characteristics of leaders (ethics and morality concerns)
- Developing and using the powers of influence
- Jesus’ example of leading men and women
- Leadership with the different cultural generations
DMIN730 Shepherding the Congregation (Church or Organization)
Shepherding or pastoring the local church in the second decade of the twenty-first century is an ever ongoing requirement of the Lord for the leaders of the Christian church.
- Assist student’s self-understanding through a deeper study of one’s personhood
- Strengthen the student’s capacity to deal with anger issues both personal and interpersonal
- Management of personal stress and burnout possibilities more effectively
- Develop leadership potential and ability to lead in one’s ministry
- Provide greater insight into church life in order to build a more healthy and better-functioning church.
DMIN740 Pastoral Care and Pastoral Counseling – A Pastoral Approach to Today’s Issues
- Historical perspectives of pastoral care through the ages
- The growth of the pastoral counseling movement in the twentieth century
- Creating a caring church or organization through the pastoral ministry
DMIN750 The Challenge and Direction of Ministry for the Present Age
- Biblical and historical perspectives concerning the ministry
- The ministry and the present age – working with continual change
- Can expectations for the ministry be attained and met?
- Ministry that crosses cultural divides of race, gender, and class
- Defining the scope of ministry in the twenty-first century
- The multi-edged call of God to full-time vocational service
DMIN760 Student-selected course relevant to the student’s focus of study
- This Seminar is a student-designed
- Students will choose an area of ministry to investigate
- Students will establish the requirements of the course subject to Seminary approval
- Students will select field mentor to assist in the practice of the ministry chosen. FIELD MENTOR must be Seminary-approved.
DMIN800 Research Methodology & Paper Writing
In this seminar, the students are introduced to basic research tools and methods to conduct ministry research for the final project to fulfill the requirement of the Doctor of Ministry degree plan. Candidates also learn to write the project report in the Seminary’s required academic style.
DMIN820 Thesis-Ministry Project
Students taking this graduation project will be required to select a field advisor for Seminary approval to work with the student under the supervision of the faculty advisor to develop and implement the project. Guidelines for this course are listed in the Doctor of Ministry Project Guidebook.
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY PROGRAM PROGRESSION
Year One Residency
- Pre-residency preparation (complete all assignments prior to residency)
- Two-week residency coursework (6 units per course, a total of 12 units for two courses)
- Post-residency project (Forms A1, B1, C1and A2, B2, C2….see D.Min. Manual binder)
Year Two Residency
- Pre-residency preparation (complete all assignments prior to residency)
- Two-week residency coursework (6 units per course, a total of 12 units for two courses)
- Post-residency project (Forms D1, E1, F1and D2, E2, F2….see D.Min. Manual binder)
Year Three Residency
- Pre-residency preparation (complete all assignments prior to residency)
- Two-week residency coursework (6 units per course, a total of 12 units for two courses)
- Post-residency project (Forms H1, I1, J1and H2, I2, J2….see D.Min. Manual binder)
Year Four, Five and Six
- Submit an acceptable Thesis-Project proposal (Form K….see D.Min. Manual binder)
- Write your Thesis-Project
- Submit a final acceptable copy of approved Thesis-Project (Form L….see D.Min. Manual binder)
MASTER OF ARTS IN CHURCH MINISTRY STUDIES
TTS is a Baptist Seminary serving multi-denominational Chinese churches. “Master of Arts in Church Ministry Studies” is one of the degree programs that TTS offers. Its purpose is to equip the workers of Christ to engage in studying church growth and ministry. Currently, Chinese churches are experiencing shortages of church ministers, especially among Chinese Baptist Churches. Not only the workers are few, but also lacking are the church ministers familiar with the faith and organization of the Baptist churches. Therefore TTS concentrates on equipping the ministers who are missions and Kingdom-minded with power and wisdom of God, to serve well in Chinese churches. These ministers will work well with the church leaders and coworkers to make Christ’s disciples and spread the gospel to build healthy and strong churches.
The graduate of the M.A. program should be able to:
- Use skills of biblical interpretation for an effective exposition of the scriptures.
- Demonstrate a synthetic and analytical understanding of the Bible in both Old and New Testament books.
- Understand the broad spectrum of Christian theology and Christian history and develop a commitment to their personal theological understandings, with tolerance and appreciation for legitimate Christian denominational differences.
- Develop personal spiritual habits and disciplines that will foster the personal spiritual formation and professional ministry growth that are balanced with the needs and demands of family interaction and responsibilities.
- Demonstrate communication skills to facilitate primarily the teaching ministry of the church as well as the preaching functions of church ministry.
- Function effectively in the pastoral care responsibilities of church ministry.
- Demonstrate a capacity to provide leadership within ministry settings to both lay leadership and church staff leadership in multi-cultural settings. The Christian leadership skills and values of motivation, goal setting, evangelism, and interpersonal relationships should be developed for effective ministry.
MA IN CHURCH MINISTRY STUDIES
PROGRAM STRUCTURE & REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
To obtain a Master of Arts in Church Ministry Studies degree at Truth Theological Seminary, 52 units beyond the Bachelor degree is required, which is 31 credit hours of Foundational courses, 19 credit hours of Ministry courses, and 3 credit hours of Capstone Project.
- Complete all required courses within the time frame allowed.
- Achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Not only maintaining the academic standards of the Seminary, but also the Student Code of Conduct set forth by the Seminary.
- Complete all degree requirements including Thesis, Dissertation, and Project, if required.
- Meet the residence requirements.
- Meet all financial obligations.
Spiritual Life Training & Growth 4
Theological & Biblical Studies 15
Church History Studies 5
Philosophy & Culture Studies 6
Ministry Courses 19
Capstone Project for graduation 3
Total Program Requirements 52
MA IN CHURCH MINISTRY STUDIES FOUNDATIONAL COURSES
Spiritual Life Training & Growth 4
MCMS511 Minister’s Spiritual Characters 2
MCMS512 Serving & Spiritual Growth 2
Theological & Biblical Studies 15
MCMS522 Introduction to Old Testament 3
MCMS523 Introduction to New Testament 3
MCMS524 Systematic Theology 1 3
MCMS525 Systematic Theology 2 3
MCMS526 Hermeneutics 3
Church History Studies 5
MCMS532 Baptist History 2
MCMS534 Church History 3
Philosophy & Culture Studies 6
MCMS545 Christian Apologetics* 3
* to include “Comparative Religions” Studies
MCMS546 Challenges & Countermeasure of Post-Modern Thoughts 3
Total Foundational Courses 30
MA IN CHURCH MINISTRY STUDIES MINISTRY COURSES
MCMS650 Research & Writing Methodology 1
MCMS651 Teaching Ministry in the Church 3
MCMS652 Evangelism & Mission: From Theory to Practice 3
MCMS653 Biblical Communications 3
MCMS654 Discipleship Training Ministry 3
MCMS655 Church Admin. & Management 3
MCMS656 Worship & Church Music Ministry Studies 3
Total Ministry Courses 19
Capstone Project for graduation _ 3
Total Program Requirements 52
NON-DEGREE PROGRAM
TTS currently offers one non-degree program: Certificate in Church Ministry program.
CERTIFICATE IN CHURCH MINISTRY
The certificate program offered by the seminary is specially designed to train believers in obtaining the basic equipment in the field where they are called to serve, so that they are involved in the ministry, regardless of the mind and spiritual qualities of ministry, the Bible and the foundation of theology, and the knowledge and skills of the ministry, are fully mastered and can serve God and believers more effectively in the church.
CERTIFICATE IN CHURCH MINISTRY PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
There are currently four areas of concentration studies under this Certificate program. Through studying in Foundational and Concentration subjects, graduates should be able to:
- Use the Biblical interpretation skills to present the different teachings of the Bible more effectively
- Use the evangelistic and missionary knowledge, methods, and techniques learned in the classroom to proclaim the gospel more effectively.
- Be a person who is teachable and able to teach others through the techniques of Christian education, cultivation and discipleship training learned in the classroom.
- Be more effective in visitation and counseling ministry by learning the different needs of different stages of human growth in the classroom, and the more understanding and compassionate of the heart of a pastor and brothers and sisters.
- Through the classroom to learn the promotion and understanding of worship, correctly understand the role of pastor, more effectively develop practical skills, and lead the congregation to have better worship.
CERTIFICATE IN CHURCH MINISTRY PROGRAM STRUCTURE & REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
In order to obtain the certificate of church ministry, the student must complete 29 credit hours, which are 17 credits hours for Foundational Courses and 12 credit hours for Ministry Courses.
CERTIFICATE IN CHURCH MINISTRY FOUNDATIONAL COURSES
CPCM111 Minister’s Spiritual Characters 2
CPCM121 Biblical Background 3
CPCM122 Introduction to Old Testament 3
CPCM123 Introduction to New Testament 3
CPCM132 Introduction to Systematic Theology 3
CPCM136 Comparative Religions Studies _ 3
Total Foundational Courses 17
CERTIFICATE IN CHURCH MINISTRY
MINISTRY COURSES
CPCM232 Personal Evangelism: from Theory to Practice 3
CPCM233 Short-Term Mission Ministry 3
CPCM211 Intro to Pastoral Theology 3
CPCM241 Intro to Church Music Ministry __3
Total Ministry Courses 12
Total Program Requirements 29