tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18256458378972296142024-03-08T07:19:20.634-05:00Prepare to Change the WorldUpdates and analysis from Dr. Michael Duduit, founding Dean of the College of Christian Studies at Anderson University in Anderson, SC, and editor of Preaching magazine.Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-18216426832334255292010-05-07T12:09:00.003-04:002010-05-07T12:40:58.719-04:00Sara Horn Joins CCSWe are delighted to report that Sara Horn will join us June 1 as our new Director of External Relations. Sara and her family will be moving to Anderson from Spring Hill, TN (suburban Nashville).<br /><br />In this new role, Sara will be responsible for promoting and building awareness of the College’s undergraduate and graduate programs through various communication and social media channels. <br /><br />In addition to her communication responsibilities, Sara will plan and coordinate various events for the College – including the National Conference on Preaching, Preaching Boot Camp, and other events – as well as oversee a development initiative for undergraduate and graduate scholarships in Christian Studies. <br /><br />She began her writing career as director of news and media relations at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. (I had the privilege of hiring her for her first full-time job when she was a Union student and I was Executive VP at Union.) She was then invited to join the corporate communications staff at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville. She left LifeWay in mid-2005 to work from home as a writer and published author. She was a frequent contributor to Baptist Press, and freelanced for a variety of publications including <em>Home Life</em>, <em>Christian Retailing </em>and <em>Preaching</em> magazine.<br /><br />In the last six years, Horn has written nine books, the majority as a ghostwriter or collaborator. Her first book in 2004, <em>A Greater Freedom: Stories of Faith from Operation Iraqi Freedom</em>, written with Oliver North, was a Gold Medallion nominee. In 2006, she founded a faith-based military wives support organization, Wives of Faith, as her husband prepared to deploy to Iraq as a Navy reservist. Horn’s most recent book, <em>GOD Strong: A Military Wife’s Spiritual Survival Guide</em>, was released by Zondervan in February. She has served as a columnist and feature writer for <em>Military Spouse </em>magazine where she was included in the “Who’s Who Among Military Spouses” for 2008. <br /><br />Horn holds a bachelor’s of music degree with an emphasis in communication arts from Union University. She and her husband Cliff have one son who is nine years old. Horn begins her new position at Anderson June 1. <br /><br />Sara Horn is one of the most gifted communicators in Baptist life today, and we are delighted to have someone of her considerable skills become part of our team. We are blessed to have a unique educational and ministry resource for the church here at Anderson University, and Sara will help us more effectively tell that story both regionally and nationally.Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-5865126675447072502010-03-05T22:18:00.002-05:002010-03-05T22:24:32.421-05:00Goodbye Michele, Hello KelliGood news and bad news. First the bad.<br /><br />Today was the last day in the office for Michele Bennett, our Director of External Relations. Michele has been with us about a year, and has done a fabulous job in helping to promote the Master of Ministry program. She's been wearing two hats, also serving as our Administrative Assistant. Michele is such a talented communicator, and now she'll be using those gifts as a senior communications person for Upward Sports, based in Spartanburg. Michele has contributed so much to our program, and I know the students join me in thanking her for her faithfulness and wishing her all God's best.<br /><br />Now the good news: our new Administrative Assistant is Kelli Strickland, who joined us Monday. (She and Michele had a week of overlap to absorb a year's worth of information!) Kelli is a graduate of Georgia Southern and is wife to local pastor Charles "Bucky" Strickland. She's going to do a great job for us, and will be a helper and advocate for our students.Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-7633966461014902942010-02-27T21:12:00.002-05:002010-02-27T21:17:33.774-05:00Dr. Cribb joins CCSThe College of Christian Studies will be pleased to welcome Dr. Bryan Cribb to its faculty this fall, as Assistant Professor of Christian Studies. He will primarily teach in the undergraduate program, but occasionally teach courses in the Clamp School as well.<br /><br />Dr. Cribb is currently on the faculty of Brewton-Parker College, a Baptist school in Georgia. He and his family will be joining us in Anderson this summer, as he helps us prepare for the new Bachelor of Christian Studies degree program. (More on that later.)<br /><br />He received his Ph.D. in Old Testament at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville. He also served as editor of the campus publication at Southern, and frequently wrote for Baptist Press.<br /><br />Dr. Cribb is going to be a wonderful addition to our team at AU. We look forward to having him join us!Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-87110922937573726022010-01-14T16:23:00.003-05:002010-01-14T16:30:19.321-05:002010-2011 MMin ScheduleLooks like we have a schedule for the Master of Ministry program for the next academic year. The dates shown are when classes begin; classes will be offered on various days. For example, starting in the fall we'll have at least two (maybe three) online courses running sinultaneously, and two classroom courses running each week.<br /><br />Term 1: Begins week of Aug 9; ends week of Oct 4<br />(holiday week of Sept 6)<br /><br />Term 2: Begins week of Oct 11; ends week of Dec 6<br />(holiday for online courses week of Nov 22; classroom courses may be that week or week of Nov 16, working around SC Baptist Convention and Thanksgiving holidays)<br /><br />Term 3: Begins week of Jan 3; ends week of Feb 21<br /><br />Term 4: Begins week of Feb 28; ends week of Apr 25<br /><br />May Term: Begins week of May 16; ends week of June 9Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-10216668185253726202010-01-14T16:16:00.003-05:002010-01-14T16:21:33.879-05:00Great Day with Mark BattersonWe had a remarkable day with Mark Batterson on campus yesterday.<br /><br />It actually began Tuesday evening, when Mark visited our Master of Ministry classroom as a guest speaker during the first session of our Communication for Ministry course. The pastor of National Community Church in DC (<a href="http://www.theaterchurch.com/">www.theaterchurch.com</a>) talked about his experience with planting the DC church, and spoke at length about the use of the web and social networking tools in connecting people. (Mark has some experienec with that -- his blog gets 17 million hits a year!)<br /><br />On Wednesday he spoke to an overflow crowd at campus worship, then spent an hour visiting with more than 100 students and participants in our new Young Leaders Network.<br /><br />Mark Batterson is the kind of gifted leader and communicator we are blessed to involve in the M.Min. program here at Anderson. We look forward to having him back!Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-73281379288553442162009-08-08T18:04:00.003-04:002009-08-08T18:15:26.160-04:00Now we begin!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.<br /><br />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, <em>Life Is Mostly Edges.</em> 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-6600085519349405772009-07-31T21:53:00.003-04:002009-07-31T22:12:44.503-04:00This is the weekIt 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.<br /><br />For those of you who will be coming, here's what to expect:<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.)<br /><br />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 <em>The Singer</em> 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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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!Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-73717767237916041372009-07-02T23:37:00.002-04:002009-07-02T23:45:02.431-04:00M.Min. fully accreditedWonderful 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."<br /><br />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.Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-86973303538371549982009-06-10T10:53:00.002-04:002009-06-10T10:56:14.912-04:00Reception planned June 16We 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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 <a href="mailto:ministry@andersonuniversity.edu">ministry@andersonuniversity.edu</a>. Thanks!Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-89390571175418876012009-06-08T17:55:00.001-04:002009-06-08T17:59:06.364-04:00College of Christian Studies createdHere's the news release about the new school:<br /><br />The Board of Trustees of Anderson University voted to create a new College of Christian Studies at their May 22 meeting.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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 <em>Preaching</em> magazine, serves as Professor of Christian Ministry at AU and is directing the university’s new Master of Ministry degree program.<br /><br />“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.”<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-13650210085998508292009-05-29T21:41:00.003-04:002009-05-29T21:55:56.100-04:00Catching up on the newsSo 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:<br /><br />* 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.<br /><br />* 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 (<a href="http://www.auministry.com/">http://www.auministry.com/</a>). We are grateful for this tremendous group!<br /><br />* 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.<br /><br />* 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.)<br /><br />That's enough for now. More big news coming soon!Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-29071577120465198102009-05-02T20:45:00.002-04:002009-05-02T20:53:56.841-04:00New name, new future!Today was an exciting time in the life of Anderson University and the Master of Ministry program.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-17379934220041381882009-04-02T10:24:00.003-04:002009-04-02T10:36:31.095-04:00Calvin Miller at Opening Retreat Aug 6-7We'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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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 <em>The Singer</em>. His book <em>Preaching: The Art of Narrative Exposition</em>, was the <em>Preaching</em> magazine Book of the Year in 2007. The retreat will offer a unique opportunity to meet and visit with this gifted ministry leader.<br /><br />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.Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-2823657448018956392009-04-01T16:36:00.003-04:002009-04-01T16:38:25.531-04:00Preaching Boot Camp newsA 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: <a href="http://www.baptistcourier.com/3196.article">http://www.baptistcourier.com/3196.article</a><br /><br />Registration is underway for the week-long event, which will offer practical guidance in planning a year's preaching. For more info go to <a href="http://www.preachingbootcamp.com/">www.preachingbootcamp.com</a>.Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-40604381061076648212009-01-05T17:05:00.002-05:002009-01-05T17:14:45.004-05:00Online degree begins in AugustAs 2009 dawns, we have settled on a shift of strategy as we launch the Master of Ministry degree this year.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-86366746214832303852008-11-22T12:24:00.002-05:002008-11-22T12:30:47.596-05:00Checking out tech optionsLast 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Keep checking back -- new announcements coming, including some major Baptist leaders who have agreed to be part of our program!Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-38247131086762674412008-10-18T00:30:00.003-04:002008-10-18T00:34:27.837-04:00Trustees 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />We're looking forward to that first class in August 2009!Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-33010098243187044212008-10-11T17:49:00.002-04:002008-10-11T17:58:35.541-04:00Faculty 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.<br /><br />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!Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-6503404931305061412008-09-24T16:13:00.003-04:002008-09-24T16:17:13.889-04:00Another step along the wayOur 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.Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-447160363281911962008-09-15T20:09:00.003-04:002008-09-24T16:17:55.935-04:00Step 1: CompleteThis 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />To pick up on some Olympics imagery: we've just left the starting block, but we're moving toward the finish line!Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-5689485447662839722008-09-10T08:38:00.003-04:002008-09-10T08:44:38.387-04:00Moving the M.Min. forwardThis 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.<br /><br />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!Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-17114676030190079802008-08-30T14:59:00.002-04:002008-08-30T15:08:16.645-04:00Preaching Boot CampIn 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 <strong>Preaching Boot Camp</strong>. 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.<br /><br />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 <em>Planning Your Preaching</em> -- 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />The event will be sponsored by the GSCM, the university's Office of Church Relations, the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and <em>Preaching</em> 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.Dr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825645837897229614.post-51429774567145578862008-08-20T22:29:00.003-04:002008-08-20T23:02:08.938-04:00Just a year awayTomorrow (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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.)<br /><br />What will make the M.Min. unique?<br /><br />* First, it is a <strong>streamlined degree</strong>; 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.<br /><br />* Second, it is an intensely <strong>practical degree.</strong> 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.)<br /><br />* Third, it is a <strong>ministry-focused degree</strong>. 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.<br /><br />* Finally, it is a <strong>flexible degree</strong>. 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.<br /><br />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 (<a href="http://www.auministry.com/">www.auministry.com</a>). 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 <a href="mailto:mduduit@andersonuniversity.edu">mduduit@andersonuniversity.edu</a>, or write me at:<br /><br />Dr. Michael Duduit<br />Anderson University<br />316 Boulevard<br />Anderson, SC 29621<br /><br />And visit this blog regularly to keep up with developments!<br /><br />Blessings!<br />MichaelDr. Michael Duduithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13317872103798893895noreply@blogger.com0