An innovative new master of ministry degree will be offered by Anderson University in both classroom and online formats beginning in August 2009, pending approval of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Michael Duduit“The master of ministry offers an alternative model of ministry education that fits the needs of 21st century churches,” said Michael Duduit, founding dean of the Graduate School of Christian Ministry at AU. “The M.Min. has been designed to focus on the core competencies of pastoral ministry today, particularly in the area of leadership.”
The M.Min. program will be offered in two formats. The first is a classroom-based program which will meet on the AU campus one night per week, four hours per night. Most courses will run on eight-week terms, plus two intensive week-long courses in the summer. The second delivery option will be a fully online degree, which will offer lectures via video in addition to interactive online classes with instructors.
One of the strengths of the AU program will be the use of gifted pastor-scholars as professors, in addition to the full-time faculty. “Because the major emphasis of this degree is in the practical areas of pastoral ministry,” Duduit explained, “we will draw on effective, well-trained pastors and church leaders who can integrate their ministry experience with outstanding academic preparation.”
Duduit, who joined the AU faculty in June, has worked with pastors and churches for more than two decades as founding editor of Preaching magazine. He also writes a weekly newsletter that’s read by more than 20,000 pastors and church leaders. He previously taught and served in administrative roles at Southern Baptist Seminary, Union University, and Samford University, and is author or editor of more than a dozen books dealing with preaching.
The curriculum for the M.Min. degree will consist of 42-credit hours in both biblical-theological foundations – biblical studies, theology, church history and worldview/apologetics – and in practical ministry areas, such as leadership, communication and preaching, evangelism and church health, and pastoral ministry. The degree will conclude with a course of “Ministry in the 21st Century” and preparation and presentation of a practical ministry project conducted in the student’s own ministry setting.
Applications for enrollment in the M.Min. program will be accepted beginning Feb. 1. Additional information is available at www.auministry.com.