Last week, Peter Harvin (AU's Chief Information Officer) joined me on a trip to New Orleans, where we spent a day with our friends at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, checking out their use of Compressed Interactive Video (CIV) for delivering instruction to multiple locations. NOBTS has a great system going, and they can link as many as 12 sites together to provide access to a single course.
Our little old Master of Ministry program won't need as extensive a network as that -- we're planning sites in Columbia and Charleston to be linked to the Anderson classroom. But it was really helpful to see how our colleagues are handling these issues. Thanks to Jerry Barlow and the gang at NOBTS for being so gracious in showing us how they use CIV to teach.
Keep checking back -- new announcements coming, including some major Baptist leaders who have agreed to be part of our program!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Trustees approve M.Min.
The last on-campus step for approval of Anderson's Master of Ministry degree was completed with today's overwhelming affirmation by the university's Board of Trustees.
Now the last stage of approval is with the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS), which will soon receive documents relating to the new program. Once the program receives affirmation from SACS, then we'll be official and can proceed with seeking and receiving applications for enrollment.
We're looking forward to that first class in August 2009!
Now the last stage of approval is with the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS), which will soon receive documents relating to the new program. Once the program receives affirmation from SACS, then we'll be official and can proceed with seeking and receiving applications for enrollment.
We're looking forward to that first class in August 2009!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Faculty approves M.Min.
This week the AU faculty voted to approve the Master of Ministry degree. Next week the degree program will be presented to the university's Board of Trustees. And after that, the last stage of approval will be with SACS, our regional accrediting agency.
At Catalyst this week in Atlanta, I had the chance to speak to a number of people about the new M.Min. degree, and there is growing interest in what we'll be doing in fall 2009. More to report soon!
At Catalyst this week in Atlanta, I had the chance to speak to a number of people about the new M.Min. degree, and there is growing interest in what we'll be doing in fall 2009. More to report soon!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Another step along the way
Our Master of Ministry degree moved one step closer to reality when, earlier this week, the APPC committee of the University faculty approved the proposal and moved its recommendation to the full faculty, which meets October 6.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Step 1: Complete
This morning, the faculty of the College of Arts Sciences approved the Master of Ministry degree proposal, sending it on to the university-wide committee that reviews new courses and degrees. They'll act on it next week -- if it's a positive action, it will go to the full faculty for action in their October meeting.
Although there are several "hoops" to jump through, they serve an important purpose -- to be sure that any new courses and degree programs will be of high quality and that they will accomplish the objectives they target. At each point in the process, a new set of eyes evaluates the proposal to make sure it is sound and that it is in accordance with the university's overall mission and long-range plan.
To pick up on some Olympics imagery: we've just left the starting block, but we're moving toward the finish line!
Although there are several "hoops" to jump through, they serve an important purpose -- to be sure that any new courses and degree programs will be of high quality and that they will accomplish the objectives they target. At each point in the process, a new set of eyes evaluates the proposal to make sure it is sound and that it is in accordance with the university's overall mission and long-range plan.
To pick up on some Olympics imagery: we've just left the starting block, but we're moving toward the finish line!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Moving the M.Min. forward
This is an exciting time in the development of the Master of Ministry degree at Anderson. Next week, it will go before the faculty of the college of Arts & Sciences for their approval and recommendation to the next stage. (The M.Min. will be in the Graduate School of Christian Ministry, not the College of Arts & Sciences, but any degree has to be recommended to the full faculty from within an existing college.) Assuming that goes well, then the full roster of M.Min. courses will go to the appropriate AU faculty committee for approval. So it's going to be a busy fall.
Yesterday I had a chance to briefly visit with pastors of the Saluda Baptist Association here in Anderson, and tell them about the program being developed. There was a lot of interest, and two pastors expressed serious interest in enrolling themselves. The interest grows!
Yesterday I had a chance to briefly visit with pastors of the Saluda Baptist Association here in Anderson, and tell them about the program being developed. There was a lot of interest, and two pastors expressed serious interest in enrolling themselves. The interest grows!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Preaching Boot Camp
In addition to the development of the Master of Ministry program -- which will launch next August -- we are also working on other projects that the Graduate School of Christian Ministry (GSCM) will sponsor or host. One of those is a unique conference event we'll be calling Preaching Boot Camp. It will be on campus next May 18-22, and the focus is on helping pastors learn to develop a long-range plan for their preaching.
We'll kick off Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning with Stephen Rummage leading a session on planning a preaching schedule. He's a preaching pastor at Hickory Grove Baptist in Charlotte and wrote a book on Planning Your Preaching -- a great resource! I'll lead a session on Wed. morning on growing a biblical sermon, then Thursday morning Mike Glenn (Brentwood Baptist Church in Nashville) will talk about his own planning approach, including working with his music and arts team. I have an invitation out to someone to lead Friday morning with a session on planning preaching as a team (with other pastors). We'll have worship three nights.
Then each afternoon, the participants will have time in the library to work with their own preaching plan for the coming year. Hopefully, most participants will go home with a substantial part of their year planned.
The event will be sponsored by the GSCM, the university's Office of Church Relations, the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and Preaching magazine. We'll have announcements going out soon. I think it is going to be a great time together. I'll share more as the rest of the program is finalized.
We'll kick off Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning with Stephen Rummage leading a session on planning a preaching schedule. He's a preaching pastor at Hickory Grove Baptist in Charlotte and wrote a book on Planning Your Preaching -- a great resource! I'll lead a session on Wed. morning on growing a biblical sermon, then Thursday morning Mike Glenn (Brentwood Baptist Church in Nashville) will talk about his own planning approach, including working with his music and arts team. I have an invitation out to someone to lead Friday morning with a session on planning preaching as a team (with other pastors). We'll have worship three nights.
Then each afternoon, the participants will have time in the library to work with their own preaching plan for the coming year. Hopefully, most participants will go home with a substantial part of their year planned.
The event will be sponsored by the GSCM, the university's Office of Church Relations, the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and Preaching magazine. We'll have announcements going out soon. I think it is going to be a great time together. I'll share more as the rest of the program is finalized.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Just a year away
Tomorrow (Aug. 21) is the first day of classes for the new academic year at Anderson University -- and it marks one year until we will welcome the first entering class to the Master of Ministry (M.Min.) program at AU.
The Graduate School of Christian Ministry (GSCM) came into existence this summer when I joined AU as its founding dean and first (and for now, only) faculty member. My major job over the next year is to plan, shape and then launch the M.Min. program, to begin with the 2009 fall semester.
Many people have asked me if we are going to create a seminary at AU and offer the traditional Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree. In fact, that is not our direction at all. I love seminaries (I attended and worked at a great one), but we want to shape an alternative model of theological education. The GSCM will be a university-based professional school, much like the College of Business functions within the university.
Why not a Master of Divinity degree? The M.Div. is a solid and comprehensive preparation for ministry, but it should not be the only option available to those preparing for ministry, or those already in ministry positions who want to expand their own training. At AU, we would like to craft a different model for preparing 21st century ministers. It's not a replacement for the M.Div. -- in fact, I expect many of our M.Min. graduates to eventually move on to a seminary and complete an M.Div., and I think we'll have some M.Div. graduates who will be attracted to our M.Min. as a valuable supplement to their seminary training. (We'll be working this year with selected seminaries to creat articulation agreements for our graduates; these will facilitate an easy transfer of our M.Min. credits toward an M.Div. degree, for those who want the additional training.)
What will make the M.Min. unique?
* First, it is a streamlined degree; as we currently envision it, the degree will consist of 42 credit hours, compared to more than 90 in a typical M.Div. curriculum. We anticipate the average student will complete the program in 18 months to two years.
* Second, it is an intensely practical degree. The majority of courses taken will be focused on the practical challenges ministers face. More than 40 percent of the degree is projected to be in the areas of leadership and communication/preaching, along with courses in pastoral ministry and evangelism and church health. At the same time, students will gain a solid background in biblical and theological studies. (Future blog posts will flesh out the proposed curriculum. Remember that all of the curriculum must still go through approval processes both within the university and with our regional accrediting agency.)
* Third, it is a ministry-focused degree. Every class will deal with real-life ministry application of the course content. Many of the courses will be taught by gifted practitioners who can share insights out of their own experience of building great churches and ministries. And we will expect every student to be engaged in a ministry position of some kind while they are enrolled, whether it is a full-time staff position or a part-time volunteer role.
* Finally, it is a flexible degree. While it's too early to discuss all the options, I can say that we are committed to making the M.Min. program available by way of a variety of delivery systems.
Needless to say, I'm excited about what God is going to be doing among us in the coming months and years. We ask for your prayers and your ideas as we move forward in the planning process. If you know of potential students, tell them about this new program and direct them to our website (www.auministry.com). And if you'd like to be included in an email and/or mailing list to receive updates on the GSCM or the M.Min. program, just drop me a note at mduduit@andersonuniversity.edu, or write me at:
Dr. Michael Duduit
Anderson University
316 Boulevard
Anderson, SC 29621
And visit this blog regularly to keep up with developments!
Blessings!
Michael
The Graduate School of Christian Ministry (GSCM) came into existence this summer when I joined AU as its founding dean and first (and for now, only) faculty member. My major job over the next year is to plan, shape and then launch the M.Min. program, to begin with the 2009 fall semester.
Many people have asked me if we are going to create a seminary at AU and offer the traditional Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree. In fact, that is not our direction at all. I love seminaries (I attended and worked at a great one), but we want to shape an alternative model of theological education. The GSCM will be a university-based professional school, much like the College of Business functions within the university.
Why not a Master of Divinity degree? The M.Div. is a solid and comprehensive preparation for ministry, but it should not be the only option available to those preparing for ministry, or those already in ministry positions who want to expand their own training. At AU, we would like to craft a different model for preparing 21st century ministers. It's not a replacement for the M.Div. -- in fact, I expect many of our M.Min. graduates to eventually move on to a seminary and complete an M.Div., and I think we'll have some M.Div. graduates who will be attracted to our M.Min. as a valuable supplement to their seminary training. (We'll be working this year with selected seminaries to creat articulation agreements for our graduates; these will facilitate an easy transfer of our M.Min. credits toward an M.Div. degree, for those who want the additional training.)
What will make the M.Min. unique?
* First, it is a streamlined degree; as we currently envision it, the degree will consist of 42 credit hours, compared to more than 90 in a typical M.Div. curriculum. We anticipate the average student will complete the program in 18 months to two years.
* Second, it is an intensely practical degree. The majority of courses taken will be focused on the practical challenges ministers face. More than 40 percent of the degree is projected to be in the areas of leadership and communication/preaching, along with courses in pastoral ministry and evangelism and church health. At the same time, students will gain a solid background in biblical and theological studies. (Future blog posts will flesh out the proposed curriculum. Remember that all of the curriculum must still go through approval processes both within the university and with our regional accrediting agency.)
* Third, it is a ministry-focused degree. Every class will deal with real-life ministry application of the course content. Many of the courses will be taught by gifted practitioners who can share insights out of their own experience of building great churches and ministries. And we will expect every student to be engaged in a ministry position of some kind while they are enrolled, whether it is a full-time staff position or a part-time volunteer role.
* Finally, it is a flexible degree. While it's too early to discuss all the options, I can say that we are committed to making the M.Min. program available by way of a variety of delivery systems.
Needless to say, I'm excited about what God is going to be doing among us in the coming months and years. We ask for your prayers and your ideas as we move forward in the planning process. If you know of potential students, tell them about this new program and direct them to our website (www.auministry.com). And if you'd like to be included in an email and/or mailing list to receive updates on the GSCM or the M.Min. program, just drop me a note at mduduit@andersonuniversity.edu, or write me at:
Dr. Michael Duduit
Anderson University
316 Boulevard
Anderson, SC 29621
And visit this blog regularly to keep up with developments!
Blessings!
Michael
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