Master of Arts: Pastoral Ministry

The Master of Arts: Pastoral Ministry is offered in a fully online format and is designed to shape pastors and church leaders with a Wesleyan approach to pastoral ministry. Particular attention is given to preparing pastors and church leaders to integrate theological study with the practice of ministry in congregations as well as broader contexts.

Enrolling in just one course at a time, students in NNU’s Master of Arts: Pastoral Ministry program can complete all educational requirements for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene in as little as 28 months, with most of the summer off. Students from other religious traditions should consult with their ecclesiastical leaders to determine if any additional course work will be necessary to fulfill their denomination’s particular ordination requirements.

Students in the program complete twelve three-credit courses, plus two two-credit supervised ministry courses that must be completed near the end of the student's program, scheduled in consultation with the program coordinator.

Students are typically drawn to this program because it focuses specifically on foundational preparation for the practice of ministry in the Wesleyan theological tradition, and also because it fulfills the educational requirements for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene specifically, as well as other church bodies.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. The graduate understands and is able to explain Wesleyan-Holiness theology as it relates to Scripture, Christian tradition, reason, and experience in the practice of ministry. (RH)
2. The graduate identifies characteristics of the cultural context of ministry and assesses them through an appropriate theological perspective, compares existing cultures with alternative cultural expressions, and develops personal and corporate practices consistent with the reign of God. (CC)
3. The graduate practices the means of grace (spiritual disciplines) that lead to emotional and spiritual health, personal Christian virtue, and responsible social engagement. (PSF)
4. The graduate integrates Christian theological themes in the understanding and practice of ministry and leadership. (MPL)
5. The graduate understands the historic interplay between cultural, philosophical, and theological shifts that inform Christian ministry practice. (RH)
6. The graduate engages the social context from the perspective of Christian mission to articulate and embody the gospel of Christ. (CC)
7. The graduate utilizes insights of missional leadership to evaluate and assess congregational contexts and move persons and congregations toward practices consistent with a Wesleyan-Holiness theology. (PSF)
8. The graduate understands and is able to explain God's mission in the midst of a dynamic and changing world. (MPL)