DUC Bachelor of Arts (Missionary Leadership)
With the rapidly changing cultural context today, preparation towards pastoral ministy or a worker in Christian ministry will need to be concived differently in both content and delivery. This is because the challenges facing the church today is not about merely learning theology and new communication techniques for effective communicating the gospel in persuasive manner. Rather, it is about a sober reflection and change in attitude of individuals and the church in response to the challenges of post-Christendom. It is about how the modern church can motivate its congregation to customarily embark on evangelistic mission in a way that can be onsidered Christian.
The BA in Missional Leadership prepares those interested in exploring new ways of developing God’s people to be missional-minded. The degree provides reliable ministry training that takes into consideration of the changing context of modern society. It integrates insights from Christian Theology, contextual studies and practical ministry, focusing on the meaning and mission of the church, church planting, and secularism, pluralism and Christian mission. It also examines, from the Christian Perspective, key issues such as leadership skills, mentoring and personaldevelopment, organizational management, change management, and other related issues.
Students undertake internship in missional church settings to enable them develop their individual gifts in Christian ministry and to integrate their knowledge with practice.
Rationale:
“Faith seeking understanding”, is a phrase that has classically described theology as a discipline. The mission of the School of Theological Studies is: “To provide, through teaching and research, an understanding of the Pentecostal/Charismatic tradition, particularly in Africa in relation to the broader Christian traditions and other religions of the world.”
Goal & Objectives:
BA (Missional Leadership) students will be equipped with the essential tools to integrate studies in academic and practical theology in the area of modern missional studies. Acknowledging the central role of the mission of the church in theology and practice of Christianity, this programme challenges students to redefine the church’s missional nature than simply organising its mandate around mission activities. It is designed to help students re-examined and re-envision what it means to be church; the ‘sent people of God’, rather than the ‘sender’, and empowers them to equip others to take the mission outside the walls of the church.
The programme integrates the Church’s mission with the wholeness of life, both personally and culturally. It recognises the value of tradition and the inherent opportunities and pitfalls within specific culture against the tenants of Christianity. It equips students to lead through servant-hood, emphasising the need for Christ followers to live out the gospel so that it is seen and experienced in community.
Students will acquire and develop practical knowledge and understanding in the core areas of the historical interplay between cultural, philosophical, and theological shifts that inform Christian ministry practice, utilise insights of leadership to evaluate and assess missional contexts and motivate members of the church towards practices consistent with the mission of the church, be able to explain God’s mission in the midst of a dynamic and changing world, engages the social context from the perspective of Christian mission to articulate and embody the gospel of Christ, demonstrate a better understanding of what it means to live in a community and a foundation in theology for self-directed and lifelong learning which will prepare students for higher research, academic and professional pursuits