We just concluded a wonderful two-day retreat with 17 new Master of Ministry students on campus. (Two more students begin classes this week, but couldn't be at the retreat.) We packed in lots of information during orientation day on Thursday, then had a powerful worship experience that evening for our Service of Consecration -- the official dedication of the David T. Clamp Graduate School of Christian Ministry.
Friday was a rich day, as the group spent the morning sharing the wisdom and insights of Dr. Calvin Miller, a pastor and teacher who has published more than 30 books. Each new student attending the retreat received a free autographed copy of Dr. Miller's new memoir, Life Is Mostly Edges. After lunch, we gathered for some final Q&A time, heard a stirring challenge from Calvin Miller, then concluded as we took hands and gathered for a time of prayer.
Our very first M.Min. class is Monday evening at 7:00 pm (Eastern), as Dr. Dale Ellenburg leads the online edition of our Old Testament Survey course. He'll be meeting everyone online and trying out his new webcam! Most students received their DVD lecture material at the retreat; a few are still to be distributed, but it's coming.
Tuesday night at 6:00 pm will be our first on-campus M.Min. course as I teach the Leadership in Ministry I course. Part of the class will feature a special guest speaker, President Evans Whitaker of Anderson University (himself a Ph.D. in leadership), who will talk about how organizations work and how to better understand the process of leading different kinds of organizations.
We've been aiming toward this week for a year now, and it's exciting to be getting underway. Keep us in your prayers! And if you were planning to start the M.Min. this fall but didn't get everything together yet, don't worry -- Term 2 starts in just eight weeks, and you can join us then.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
This is the week
It is now less than a week until our first Student-Faculty Retreat begins for the Master of Ministry program. These are exciting days, and we look forward to welcoming about 18-20 students who will be with us August 6-7.
For those of you who will be coming, here's what to expect:
Everything kicks off at noon on Thursday for our opening luncheon, in the Agnew Dining Room of the Merritt Administration Building. You'll have the chance to meet President Evans Whitaker, Provost Danny Parker, and a host of other AU leaders.
The rest of the afternoon will be spent in the computer lab of the Thrift Library, where we'll be packing you full of information -- about computer services, financial aid and business issues, a great orientation to using library resources from off the campus, and much more. Bring your questions!
Dinner will be on your own -- a great time to get acquainted with other M.Min. students and enjoy one of the great restaurants near the university. Then at 7:30 pm we'll share in a special time of worship with our Service of Consecration. This is a time of commitment and celebration for the David T. Clamp Graduate School of Ministry -- a historic time as we launch this new program. Dr. Calvin Miller will be our preacher of the evening.
Friday morning we'll regather at 9:00 am in Room 102 of the Watkins Teaching Center, which just happens to be our new Master of Ministry classroom. Hopefully everything will be ready by then -- tables and chairs in place, technology installed, and so on. (Just today they were installing the whiteboards on the wall.)
Friday morning will be a unique opportunity as we listen to and dialogue with Calvin Miller about ministry. If you aren't already familiar with Dr. Miller, you'll become a fan that day. He is a uniquely gifted pastor, teacher, writer and speaker who has helped build a church as well as invested his life in teaching pastors. He has written more than 30 books, including the classic, best-selling The Singer trilogy. (I once called him the poet laureate of the evangelical world -- a phrase that now shows up on the backs of several of his books!) I've asked him to spend the morning talking about things he has learned about ministry and how you can apply those insights in your own life and service.
We'll have lunch together that day, then finish the day with some comments I'll share, then a closing message and challenge from Dr. Miller. You'll be on your way by 3:00 pm, and I guarantee you it will be a memorable day!
Give us a call or send an email if you have questions. If you are coming from out of town and need advice about places to stay, let us know. We look forward to seeing you Thursday!
For those of you who will be coming, here's what to expect:
Everything kicks off at noon on Thursday for our opening luncheon, in the Agnew Dining Room of the Merritt Administration Building. You'll have the chance to meet President Evans Whitaker, Provost Danny Parker, and a host of other AU leaders.
The rest of the afternoon will be spent in the computer lab of the Thrift Library, where we'll be packing you full of information -- about computer services, financial aid and business issues, a great orientation to using library resources from off the campus, and much more. Bring your questions!
Dinner will be on your own -- a great time to get acquainted with other M.Min. students and enjoy one of the great restaurants near the university. Then at 7:30 pm we'll share in a special time of worship with our Service of Consecration. This is a time of commitment and celebration for the David T. Clamp Graduate School of Ministry -- a historic time as we launch this new program. Dr. Calvin Miller will be our preacher of the evening.
Friday morning we'll regather at 9:00 am in Room 102 of the Watkins Teaching Center, which just happens to be our new Master of Ministry classroom. Hopefully everything will be ready by then -- tables and chairs in place, technology installed, and so on. (Just today they were installing the whiteboards on the wall.)
Friday morning will be a unique opportunity as we listen to and dialogue with Calvin Miller about ministry. If you aren't already familiar with Dr. Miller, you'll become a fan that day. He is a uniquely gifted pastor, teacher, writer and speaker who has helped build a church as well as invested his life in teaching pastors. He has written more than 30 books, including the classic, best-selling The Singer trilogy. (I once called him the poet laureate of the evangelical world -- a phrase that now shows up on the backs of several of his books!) I've asked him to spend the morning talking about things he has learned about ministry and how you can apply those insights in your own life and service.
We'll have lunch together that day, then finish the day with some comments I'll share, then a closing message and challenge from Dr. Miller. You'll be on your way by 3:00 pm, and I guarantee you it will be a memorable day!
Give us a call or send an email if you have questions. If you are coming from out of town and need advice about places to stay, let us know. We look forward to seeing you Thursday!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
M.Min. fully accredited
Wonderful news: we have just received news from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) -- our regional accrediting agency -- that the Master of Ministry degree has been "approved and included within the scope of accreditation previously granted."
In other words, both our classroom and online M.Min. programs are fully accredited before classes even begin. We had been expecting the need for a site visit by a SACS team before receiving such confirmation, so this is unexpected but welcome news.
In other words, both our classroom and online M.Min. programs are fully accredited before classes even begin. We had been expecting the need for a site visit by a SACS team before receiving such confirmation, so this is unexpected but welcome news.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Reception planned June 16
We will be sponsoring a reception on Tuesday, June 16, for persons in the area who are interested in learning more about the Master of Ministry program. The drop-in event will be from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in the Vandiver Gallery of the Thrift Library.
We'll have light refreshments and an opportunity to meet AU folks and talk about the M.Min. program. I'll be there and I look forward to seeing you there.
If you'd like to attend, please give us a call at (864) 328-1809 to RSVP by June 15, or send an email to ministry@andersonuniversity.edu. Thanks!
We'll have light refreshments and an opportunity to meet AU folks and talk about the M.Min. program. I'll be there and I look forward to seeing you there.
If you'd like to attend, please give us a call at (864) 328-1809 to RSVP by June 15, or send an email to ministry@andersonuniversity.edu. Thanks!
Monday, June 8, 2009
College of Christian Studies created
Here's the news release about the new school:
The Board of Trustees of Anderson University voted to create a new College of Christian Studies at their May 22 meeting.
The new college will be the seventh academic unit of the university, joining the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Visual & Performing Arts, Adult and Professional Studies, and the School of Interior Design. The College of Christian Studies will incorporate the university’s existing undergraduate programs in religion and ministry studies, along with the new David T. Clamp Graduate School of Christian Ministry.
Dr. Michael Duduit, who joined the Anderson faculty in 2008 as Dean of the Clamp School, will serve as Dean of the newly-created college. Duduit, who also serves as Executive Editor of Preaching magazine, serves as Professor of Christian Ministry at AU and is directing the university’s new Master of Ministry degree program.
“This new College of Christian Studies reflects our commitment to serve the churches of our state and region by providing the best of undergraduate and graduate preparation for ministry,” explains Dr. Evans Whitaker, President. “The college will build on our existing strong programs in these areas and expand to include additional majors and opportunities for training the next generation of church leaders.”
In addition to providing excellent programs for training ministry leaders, the College of Christian Studies will also provide academic support for existing AU courses required of all students, including classes in Bible and the teachings of Jesus. The College will also sponsor a variety of continuing education programs for current church leaders.
This is the second major announcement Anderson University has made in the past month concerning programs for ministry education. The university recently announced an $8 million gift from the estate of David T. Clamp for which the university named its new graduate school in ministry.
The Board of Trustees of Anderson University voted to create a new College of Christian Studies at their May 22 meeting.
The new college will be the seventh academic unit of the university, joining the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Visual & Performing Arts, Adult and Professional Studies, and the School of Interior Design. The College of Christian Studies will incorporate the university’s existing undergraduate programs in religion and ministry studies, along with the new David T. Clamp Graduate School of Christian Ministry.
Dr. Michael Duduit, who joined the Anderson faculty in 2008 as Dean of the Clamp School, will serve as Dean of the newly-created college. Duduit, who also serves as Executive Editor of Preaching magazine, serves as Professor of Christian Ministry at AU and is directing the university’s new Master of Ministry degree program.
“This new College of Christian Studies reflects our commitment to serve the churches of our state and region by providing the best of undergraduate and graduate preparation for ministry,” explains Dr. Evans Whitaker, President. “The college will build on our existing strong programs in these areas and expand to include additional majors and opportunities for training the next generation of church leaders.”
In addition to providing excellent programs for training ministry leaders, the College of Christian Studies will also provide academic support for existing AU courses required of all students, including classes in Bible and the teachings of Jesus. The College will also sponsor a variety of continuing education programs for current church leaders.
This is the second major announcement Anderson University has made in the past month concerning programs for ministry education. The university recently announced an $8 million gift from the estate of David T. Clamp for which the university named its new graduate school in ministry.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Catching up on the news
So much has been happening in recent weeks that I've fallen behind in reporting on big events surrounding the Master of Ministry program. So here's a quick catch-up:
* As I mentioned in a previous post -- but with news this big you want to say it again! -- at spring commencement, President Whitaker announced an $8 million gift from the estate of Mr. David T. Clamp for the support of graduate education for ministers. Thus, the school I lead now proudly bears this name: the David T. Clamp Graduate School of Christian Ministry. Mr. Clamp was a native of nearby Honea Path, worked for the federal government in DC, and saved and invested his money. He was determined to leave a worthy legacy for the Kingdom, which he has done in no small part with the sacrificial support of his wife, Jane Clamp. Their commitment to this program will continue to make a difference in lives until the Lord returns.
* Around the same time, we announced the members of our Strategic Faculty for the Master of Ministry program. These are gifted leaders who have agreed to participate in our instructional program in some way -- some will come to class to teach a class now and then, while others will be recording video instruction for the online courses. The full list is available from our home page (http://www.auministry.com/). We are grateful for this tremendous group!
* And while all this is happening, we have begun receiving applications (print and online) for the M.Min. program. We have already received 15 applications for August, with 5 students accepted thus far; the rest are in various stages of sending their supporting materials (transcripts, reference letters). It is shaping up to be a tremendous inaugural class.
* And speaking of the entering class, they will be joining us on campus August 6-7 for our first Student-Faculty M.Min. Retreat. This will be a time of orientation, getting acquainted, and focusing on preparation for ministry. Our featured retreat leader will be Dr. Calvin Miller, former preaching professor at Beeson Divinity School, a best-selling author, and one of our strategic faculty. Calvin is a friend, and he will make a wonderful contribution in the lives of our students. (OK, I know this was in a previous post also, but it's another one of those items that bears repeating.)
That's enough for now. More big news coming soon!
* As I mentioned in a previous post -- but with news this big you want to say it again! -- at spring commencement, President Whitaker announced an $8 million gift from the estate of Mr. David T. Clamp for the support of graduate education for ministers. Thus, the school I lead now proudly bears this name: the David T. Clamp Graduate School of Christian Ministry. Mr. Clamp was a native of nearby Honea Path, worked for the federal government in DC, and saved and invested his money. He was determined to leave a worthy legacy for the Kingdom, which he has done in no small part with the sacrificial support of his wife, Jane Clamp. Their commitment to this program will continue to make a difference in lives until the Lord returns.
* Around the same time, we announced the members of our Strategic Faculty for the Master of Ministry program. These are gifted leaders who have agreed to participate in our instructional program in some way -- some will come to class to teach a class now and then, while others will be recording video instruction for the online courses. The full list is available from our home page (http://www.auministry.com/). We are grateful for this tremendous group!
* And while all this is happening, we have begun receiving applications (print and online) for the M.Min. program. We have already received 15 applications for August, with 5 students accepted thus far; the rest are in various stages of sending their supporting materials (transcripts, reference letters). It is shaping up to be a tremendous inaugural class.
* And speaking of the entering class, they will be joining us on campus August 6-7 for our first Student-Faculty M.Min. Retreat. This will be a time of orientation, getting acquainted, and focusing on preparation for ministry. Our featured retreat leader will be Dr. Calvin Miller, former preaching professor at Beeson Divinity School, a best-selling author, and one of our strategic faculty. Calvin is a friend, and he will make a wonderful contribution in the lives of our students. (OK, I know this was in a previous post also, but it's another one of those items that bears repeating.)
That's enough for now. More big news coming soon!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
New name, new future!
Today was an exciting time in the life of Anderson University and the Master of Ministry program.
At commencement this morning, President Whitaker announced an $8 million dollar gift for the graduate program in ministry. I am now Dean of the David T. Clamp Graduate School of Christian Ministry.
Mr. Clamp's story is an amazing one. Born on a farm near Honea Path, SC, he spent his career in government service, primarily with the Civil Aeronautics Board. He lived modestly, saving and investing his money, with a dream of leaving it to invest in the training of ministers. In recent years as he was in declining health, his wife Jane has been his partner in making sure his dream would come to fruition. Last October, Mr. Clamp went to be with the Lord, and now his legacy has been realized through Anderson University.
This gift is an incredible investment in the training of ministers, and provides the kind of financial stability that many seminaries and divinity schools can only dream of having. Every student who studies with us and goes on to ministry service will be a part of the legacy of David and Jane Clamp. Thanks be to God for men and women of faith who are willing to invest themselves and their resources in Kingdom work. And may God help us to be faithful in carrying out the dream of these faithful servants.
At commencement this morning, President Whitaker announced an $8 million dollar gift for the graduate program in ministry. I am now Dean of the David T. Clamp Graduate School of Christian Ministry.
Mr. Clamp's story is an amazing one. Born on a farm near Honea Path, SC, he spent his career in government service, primarily with the Civil Aeronautics Board. He lived modestly, saving and investing his money, with a dream of leaving it to invest in the training of ministers. In recent years as he was in declining health, his wife Jane has been his partner in making sure his dream would come to fruition. Last October, Mr. Clamp went to be with the Lord, and now his legacy has been realized through Anderson University.
This gift is an incredible investment in the training of ministers, and provides the kind of financial stability that many seminaries and divinity schools can only dream of having. Every student who studies with us and goes on to ministry service will be a part of the legacy of David and Jane Clamp. Thanks be to God for men and women of faith who are willing to invest themselves and their resources in Kingdom work. And may God help us to be faithful in carrying out the dream of these faithful servants.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Calvin Miller at Opening Retreat Aug 6-7
We'll begin the 2009-2010 academic year for the Master of Ministry program with a student-faculty retreat on Thursday and Friday, August 6 and 7, on the Anderson University campus. It will begin with lunch on Thursday and conclude about 3:00 pm on Friday.
This will be a valuable time of orientation, getting to know one another, and preparing to receive maximum value from the coming year of study. We'll be posting additional information and schedules on the auministry.com website soon.
I'm excited to report that Calvin Miller, a well-known preacher and writer (and a member of our M.Min. strategic faculty), has agreed to be with us as a featured leader for the retreat. He'll be our worship speaker Thursday evening, will lead us in a discussion of ministry issues on Friday morning, and will be our closing speaker that afternoon.
Calvin recently retired as Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Studies at Beeson Divinity School; prior to that he taught at Southwestern Seminary. From 1966 to 1991 he served as senior pastor of Westside Church in Omaha, Nebraska, which grew from 10 members to more than 2500 during his pastorate. He has written more than 40 books, including his classic work The Singer. His book Preaching: The Art of Narrative Exposition, was the Preaching magazine Book of the Year in 2007. The retreat will offer a unique opportunity to meet and visit with this gifted ministry leader.
We look forward to our new students participating in this great event, which will be held each fall just prior to the beginning of the fall term. (In future years, we'll encourage M.Min. alumni to come back and join us, with special programming for them as well.) So if you are applying to the M.Min. program, be sure to mark your calendar for Aug 6-7 -- you won't want to miss this special event.
This will be a valuable time of orientation, getting to know one another, and preparing to receive maximum value from the coming year of study. We'll be posting additional information and schedules on the auministry.com website soon.
I'm excited to report that Calvin Miller, a well-known preacher and writer (and a member of our M.Min. strategic faculty), has agreed to be with us as a featured leader for the retreat. He'll be our worship speaker Thursday evening, will lead us in a discussion of ministry issues on Friday morning, and will be our closing speaker that afternoon.
Calvin recently retired as Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Studies at Beeson Divinity School; prior to that he taught at Southwestern Seminary. From 1966 to 1991 he served as senior pastor of Westside Church in Omaha, Nebraska, which grew from 10 members to more than 2500 during his pastorate. He has written more than 40 books, including his classic work The Singer. His book Preaching: The Art of Narrative Exposition, was the Preaching magazine Book of the Year in 2007. The retreat will offer a unique opportunity to meet and visit with this gifted ministry leader.
We look forward to our new students participating in this great event, which will be held each fall just prior to the beginning of the fall term. (In future years, we'll encourage M.Min. alumni to come back and join us, with special programming for them as well.) So if you are applying to the M.Min. program, be sure to mark your calendar for Aug 6-7 -- you won't want to miss this special event.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Preaching Boot Camp news
A good story on Preaching Boot Camp appeared in the most recent issue of the Baptist Courier, the publication of South Carolina Baptists. Here's the link: http://www.baptistcourier.com/3196.article
Registration is underway for the week-long event, which will offer practical guidance in planning a year's preaching. For more info go to www.preachingbootcamp.com.
Registration is underway for the week-long event, which will offer practical guidance in planning a year's preaching. For more info go to www.preachingbootcamp.com.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Online degree begins in August
As 2009 dawns, we have settled on a shift of strategy as we launch the Master of Ministry degree this year.
The original plan had been to begin the classroom-based version of the degree in August, and at the same time to begin two off-site centers in SC. Then we would begin the online degree in spring 2010.
However, as part of an institution-wide commitment to accelerating online education, we have decided to launch the online M.Min. in August 2009 simultaneously with the AU campus program. Because it's not wise to try to do too much at one time -- I can affirm that from bitter experience of attempting it once too often -- we will delay the beginning of the online centers until 2010.
So this August you'll have two ways to participate in the M.Min. program at Anderson: either in a classroom program at AU, or through an online degree. Degree requirements will be the same for both programs, though they may not offer the same courses in the same order.
I'll be sharing more information about both programs in upcoming blog posts. I'm particularly looking forward to telling you about the amazing line-up of faculty who are committing to be part of the M.Min. at AU. Coming soon!
The original plan had been to begin the classroom-based version of the degree in August, and at the same time to begin two off-site centers in SC. Then we would begin the online degree in spring 2010.
However, as part of an institution-wide commitment to accelerating online education, we have decided to launch the online M.Min. in August 2009 simultaneously with the AU campus program. Because it's not wise to try to do too much at one time -- I can affirm that from bitter experience of attempting it once too often -- we will delay the beginning of the online centers until 2010.
So this August you'll have two ways to participate in the M.Min. program at Anderson: either in a classroom program at AU, or through an online degree. Degree requirements will be the same for both programs, though they may not offer the same courses in the same order.
I'll be sharing more information about both programs in upcoming blog posts. I'm particularly looking forward to telling you about the amazing line-up of faculty who are committing to be part of the M.Min. at AU. Coming soon!
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