CALLED. EQUIPPED. SENT.
www.northpark.edu/seminary 1
CALLED. EQUIPPED. SENT. North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS), situated on the north side of Chicago in one of the most diverse zip codes in the country, has served as the school for theological and missional education of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) for more than 125 years.
Called
North Park honors your God-given call to ministry, affirmed and developed in Christian community. We will join with you in the discernment, development, and clarification of your call. God’s call rests on your life, for the purpose of ministries of restoration with the people and communities to which you are called. North Park is a place where you can be formed, developed, and equipped for God’s mission.
Equipped Central to North Park’s mission is the development of the whole person. We believe that theological education is about more than courses in Bible, theology, history, leadership, preaching, and ministry. We provide the tools you need to be missionally effective across cultural, economic, geographic, and gender lines. North Park Theological Seminary’s faculty actively build close relationships with students while also participating in the broader community of biblical and theological scholarship. You will learn from some of the leading minds in New Testament, Old Testament, evangelism, cross-cultural ministry, and spiritual formation.
Sent
We envision a diverse community of scholars and practitioners at the forefront of the integration of Biblical and theological competency and missional leadership. With Christ at our center, we seek to educate and form missional leaders for the global church. North Park graduates serve God in a variety of contexts in the church and community.
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Table of Contents Core Values
4-5
Advantages
6-7
Program Overview
8-9
Programs
10-17
MDiv
10-11
MACF
12
MATS
13
MACM
14-15
DMin Preaching
16
DMin Urban Ministry Leadership
17
Dual Degrees
18-19
Certificates
20-21
Distance Cohort Learning
22-23
Learning Modalities
24-25
School of Restorative Arts
26-27
Travel Courses/Intercultural Ministry
28-29
Application & Visit Information
30-31
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CORE VALUES We share North Park University’s values as a Christian, citycentered, and intercultural institution. NPTS also aspires to be the following:
Graciously Evangelical We embrace the centrality of Scripture, live by God’s Word, and offer freedom in its interpretation consistent with unity in Christ. We affirm the full participation of women and men in ministry.
Prophetically Ecclesial We are committed to the whole mission of the church, emphasizing both the Great Commission to evangelize and make disciples, and the Great Commandment to love God and neighbor.
Relationally Global We are a worshiping and learning community that welcomes all disciples, emphasizing spiritual as well as intellectual formation. We nurture love for local communities—urban, suburban, and rural.
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MASTER’S DEGREES
DUAL DEGREES
DOCTORAL DEGREES
CERTIFICATES
85%
OF ALUMNI WORK IN VOCATIONAL MINISTRY
59%
OF STUDENTS TAKE ONLINE CLASSES
53%
EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH STUDENTS
43
COUNTRIES ALUMNI SERVE IN
50%
North Park Theological Seminary’s mission is to form pastortheologians to send out into the world with the ability to evangelize, educate, and disciple communities using Scripture as their guide, and to lead restorative ministries that transform communities through the power of the Holy Spirit. A North Park education forms the whole person, equipping graduates to live out the mission of God in diverse contexts around the world.
REV. DR. DAVID KERSTEN, DEAN OF THE SEMINARY AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR CHURCH RELATIONS
MALE & FEMALE
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NORTH PARK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ADVANTAGES
Affordability
Real-World Experience
North Park Theological Seminary is committed to making a Seminary education affordable for all students who are called to ministry. We aim to keep our tuition at an affordable rate, and offer a range of scholarships, grants, and loans to help you fund your education.
Our robust Field Education program is a companion to your classroom work, giving you further context for your studies. The Office of Contextual and Lifelong Learning will work with you to develop a plan for completing your requirements.
Our staff will walk alongside all incoming students during the admission and financial aid process.
If you are already employed in a ministry setting, that position may be adapted to fulfill the internship requirements of your degree.
www.northpark.edu/seminary/ admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid
www.northpark.edu/seminary/ field-education
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Cultivating Close Community In addition to coursework, a North Park education comes with the opportunity to develop close community with fellow students, faculty, and staff. The relationships formed during your Seminary years will be a source of encouragement throughout your ministry.
On-Campus Advantages There are special advantages when choosing to study on campus. F Each week, students, faculty and staff gather for Chapel followed by a shared community meal where deep relationships are formed. F On-campus students have opportunities to serve on special committees and student groups, further building their leadership skills. F On-campus housing offers affordable apartment living in the world-class city of Chicago. F Many faculty and staff live and work in the neighborhood, increasing the sense that our community “does life together.”
Chicago as a Classroom North Park’s learning community is enriched by having the world at our doorstep. Our location in the city of Chicago will allow you to engage with a diversity of God’s people, giving you an opportunity to build global connections and deepen learning from residents of Chicago.
Urban Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) The Urban Clinical Pastoral Education equips ministry leaders with the tools necessary to identify root causes of injustice and to facilitate the healing of spiritual, social, and systemic wounds. The clinical setting for Urban CPE can be found in a variety of faith-based entities that serve marginalized populations.
Association of Chicago Theological Schools Eleven member schools located throughout the city offer the chance to take courses and learn from several theological traditions. 7
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Academic Degrees Program length varies by program and student status. If attending full-time, most master’s degrees can be completed in two to three years. North Park Theological Seminary is accredited by The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools and by the Higher Learning Commission.
www.northpark.edu/seminary/academics
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Credit Hours (CH)
Full-Time Students Time to Completion
Part-Time Students Time to Completion
79 CH
3 years
5 years
97 CH
3-4 years
5-6 years
Master of Arts in Christian Formation (MACF)
48 CH
2 years
3 years
Master of Arts in Christian Formation (MACF) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA)
69 CH
3 years
4 years
Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM)
36 CH
2 years
3 years
Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA)
60 CH
2 years
3 years
Master of Arts in Christian Ministry with Restorative Arts Track
57 CH
4 years
N/A
Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS)
60 CH
2 years
3 years
Doctor of Ministry in Preaching (DMin)
48 CH
3 years
N/A
Doctor of Ministry in Urban Ministry Leadership (DMin)
48 CH
4 years
N/A
Programs
Master of Divinity (MDiv)
Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA)
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Master of Divinity (MDiv) Credit Hours: 79, 11 field education credits Timeline to completion: 3-5 years
Field breakdown:
Bible and Languages: 24 CH History: 9 CH Theology: 12 CH Spiritual Formation: 4 CH Ministry: 15 CH Electives: 15 CH
North Park has given me an opportunity to not only learn and explore new ideas and concepts within the classroom, but also provided educational experiences in the hospital, prison system, and international parish ministry. I received a well-rounded education that was challenging yet fulfilling.
FANCHON KELLY, MASTER OF DIVINITY
Designed to train individuals for congregational ministry leadership, the MDiv program is the Seminary’s most comprehensive ministry preparation degree. This program provides foundational knowledge and practical skills to help you become an interpreter of scripture for your community through preaching and leadership.
Dual Degree Through the dual-degree program, the MDiv can be combined with a Master of Business Administration or Master of Nonprofit Administration. See pages 18-19 for more details.
Credentialing in the ECC The Master of Divinity is the principal ministerial degree for those seeking ordination to word and sacrament in the ECC and in many other denominations. This ordination grants the authority to preach and teach the word, administer the sacraments and rites of the church, and exercise pastoral care and leadership.
Modality
An MDiv can be completed by taking a combination of in-person, online, and intensive hybrid courses. 27 credit hours must be completed in residence.
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Urban Missionary
Michael Thomas, Master of Divinity Radiant Church, a church in Seattle led by Michael Thomas, launched in September 2014 after several years of planning and partnership with the ECC. Today, the congregation continues to grow in numbers and in its commitment to Jesus, diversity, community, and being a light in the city. “Our church is growing because we have intentionally tried to emulate the kind of community that I experienced at North Park,” Michael says. “My wife, children, and I experienced an authentic, diverse community where people loved, cared for, and supported one another. We could see an embodiment of being our neighbor’s keeper and loving thy neighbor as oneself.” Michael is proud of the young church that already represents seven ethnicities and a wide range of socio-economic statuses. Michael grew up Baptist, and through a series of events, including meeting a former youth pastor who was planting a Covenant church in Detroit, became connected to the ECC. He completed a Master of Divinity at the Seminary after earning a bachelor’s degree in Church and Ministry Management at North Park University. While in Seminary, he also served as an athletics chaplain to undergraduates on campus. “While I was a chaplain, I learned how to disciple and engage people about Jesus Christ in a way that they can relate and respond to,” Michael says. “You can’t just use church jargon and tradition and make assumptions with people who didn’t grow up in the church. Having that experience and coming to Seattle, it feels like the same kind of ministering I did on campus.” “The beautiful thing about North Park is that it answers the ‘why we do what we do,’” Michael says. “It’s not just about learning Hebrew and Greek, or understanding how to interpret God’s word. We learn these things so that we can reach others with the same gospel message that we have been reached with.”
The beautiful thing about North Park is that it answers ‘why we do what we do.’
MICHAEL THOMAS, MASTER OF DIVINITY
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Students who pursue the MACF have a particular interest in ways in which people are formed in Christian life and discipleship, and have a passion for participating in the growth of others. Those who graduate with an MACF degree often serve as associate pastors in areas of youth, children, or adult formation. You may also find them serving on a college campus or in church based young adult ministries.
DEAN DEB AUGER, DEAN OF STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY LIFE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MINISTRY
Master of Arts in Christian Formation (MACF) Credit Hours: 48 CH, 7 field education credits Timeline to completion: 2-3 years
Field breakdown:
Bible: 12 CH History: 3 CH Theology: 3 CH Spiritual Formation: 3 CH Foundations in Christian Ministry: 9 CH Christian Education and Formation and Ministry Electives: 9 CH Electives: 9 CH Prepares ministers who serve in specialized areas of ministry, or who work in the nonprofit sector. The program exposes students to a variety of disciplines while better equipping them to lead their ministries through a foundation in Bible, theology, and spiritual formation.
Dual Degree Through the dual-degree program, the MACF can be combined with a Master of Business Administration or Master of Nonprofit Administration. See pages 18-19 for more details.
Credentialing in the ECC The MACF is the principal ministerial degree for those seeking ordination to word and service in the ECC. This ordination grants the authority to broadly preach and teach, administer the sacraments, and be involved in the life of the whole church through an area of specialty.
Modality
An MACF with an MBA or MNA can be completed by taking in-person, online, and intensive hybrid courses. 17 credit hours must be completed in residence.
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Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS ) Credit Hours: 60 CH, 2 field education credits Timeline to completion: 2-3 years
Field breakdown:
Bible: 15 CH History: 9 CH Theology: 12 CH Spiritual Formation: 3 CH Electives: 6 CH Concentration Electives: 9 CH Thesis: 6 CH The Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) is an academic-focused program intended for students who desire advanced study in the Bible, theology, and church history. MATS graduates often go on to pursue doctoral studies in a Biblical or theological field leading to a career in academic scholarship. The program may also be a good choice for lay persons who desire greater theological training to serve local congregations in teaching or related ministries.
My North Park seminary education not only offers depth and breadth of rich engagement with global and historical Christianity but is equipping me with tools to contribute articulately as a shaping agent within church and society. Beyond this, the North Park community is dynamic and diverse-an ideal place for formation!
MATTHEW PODSZUS MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
Each MATS student must declare a field of major concentration by the beginning of his or her second semester. Options include Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, Theology/Ethics, and Cross-Cultural Ministry. The Academic Cabinet may be petitioned for permission to pursue an alternate field of concentration. To complete the degree, students will write a major thesis in their area of concentration.
Modality
This program is ideal for the student considering subsequent doctoral studies. 24 credit hours must be completed in residence.
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Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) Credit Hours: 36 CH, 3 field education hours Timeline to completion: 2-3 years
Field breakdown:
Bible and Languages: 6 CH History: 3 CH Theology: 3 CH Spiritual Formation: 3 CH Ministry: 6 CH Christian Education and Formation and Ministry Electives: 9 CH Electives: 9 CH A North Park Theological Seminary education prepares students for tomorrow’s mission fields in a variety of possible vocational paths. Whether you’re just beginning your vocational path or seek a Seminary education to bolster the ways in which you’re already living out your call, we will work with you to accomplish your goals. The MACM is designed to enhance ministry across a variety of vocations—within and outside the church—this program equips pastors, lay leaders and church staff through foundational theological training.
Dual Degree Through the dual-degree program, the MACM can be combined with a Master of Business Administration or Master of Nonprofit Administration. Seepages 18-19 for more details.
Modality
An MACM with an MBA or MNA can be completed by taking in-person, online, and intensive hybrid courses. 13 credit hours must be completed in residence.
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Master of Arts in Christian Ministry with Restorative Arts Track Credit Hours: 57 CH (includes field education modules and four 12-credit certificates) Timeline to completion: 4 years
Field breakdown:
Foundational Courses Certificate: 12 CH Restorative Arts Certificate: 12 CH Transformative Justice Certificate: 12 CH Pastoral Arts Certificate: 12 CH The Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) with Restorative Arts is the only seminary program in the country where incarcerated and non-incarcerated students study side-by-side in a blended classroom. All courses for this program are held at Stateville Correctional Center. The MACM will help you think critically about your faith and practice within the deep reality of the brokenness of this world. Develop your own model for ministries of restoration through an integrated classroom experience. Whether you are a lay leader, staff pastor, bivocational minister, or serving in a nonprofit organization, if you are a servant leader and desire to do restorative ministry in contexts such as prisons or other areas that are susceptible to violence, this degree is for you.
Modality
This program takes place inside Stateville Correctional Center in a blended classroom of both free and incarcerated persons studying together as a cohort.
Little did I know on my first day of class that this would be the beginning of a spiritual revival that would forever change my life. With the examples of love and humility shared through North Park leadership, I stand confident in my ability to go forward. Today, I am proud to be called a Christian. Today, I thank God for North Park.
MICHAEL SIMMONS MACM STUDENT, SCHOOL OF RESTORATIVE ARTS AT STATEVILLE
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Doctor of Ministry in Preaching (D. Min) Credit Hours: 48 credit hours Timeline to completion: 3 years Outcomes: 100% Graduation Rate Designed for active ministers from around the country looking to develop their understanding and skills as a preacher. Each year, students are accepted into a new cohort for the DMin in Preaching program. Students are both women and men representing each of the partner schools, bringing a wide range of traditions and perspectives to the group. You’ll study with this cohort throughout your DMin program, providing peer review and support to each other as you all grow in your practice.
Every minister needs to possess three core competencies: lead well, teach well, and self-care well. The Doctorate of Ministry degree is specifically designed to equipped women and men to be impactful and inspiring teachers of the gospel.
DR. DWIGHT A. PERRY DEAN OF FACULTY/PROFESSOR OF HOMILETICS AND LEADERSHIP
This DMin program is structured around a series of core and elective courses taken during three summer residencies in Chicago. F First-year Participants: Preaching as Interpretation F Second-year Participants: Preaching as Performance F Third-year Participants: Preaching as Social Transformation
Preaching as Interpretation This course offers an opportunity for participants to acquire perspective on their own interpretive strategies for preaching, both in terms of the Biblical text and the community, and to sharpen their practice of interpretation in dialogue with recent critical thought.
Preaching as Performance Participants join their own experience with scripture in developing sermons that communicate in-depth. Preachers focus on their capacity to embody the text as lived experience.
Preaching as Social Transformation
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This course explores the social dimensions of preaching, including the congregation’s social context, the social world of the Biblical text, and elements of preaching that enable a congregation to engage in issues of social justice.
Doctor of Ministry in Urban Ministry Leadership (D. Min) Credit Hours: 48 credit hours Timeline to completion: 4 years Offered in partnership with Fuller Theological Seminary, this program is for current ministers with a heart for God’s work in the city. This cohort based program invites a community of scholar-practitioners to learn from one another as they deepen their commitment to urban ministry leadership. The curriculum draws from disciplines including history, theology, and ministry and culminate in a final thesis project. North Park Theological Seminary’s faculty actively build close relationships with students while also participating in the broader community of Biblical and theological scholarship. You’ll learn from some of the leading minds in New Testament, Old Testament, evangelism, cross-cultural ministry, and spiritual formation.
Dr. Soong-Chan Rah Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism For Dr. Rah, engaging in urban and intercultural ministry is a passion. His classes enable students to identify the skills necessary for sociocultural analysis, a deepened theology, and spiritual formation and discipleship in practical ministry.
Working in ministry, you start to ask good questions that you don’t have easy answers to. The questions you’re asking are deep, important questions. At North Park, you’ll examine real-life scenarios that people encounter, allowing for theological engagement of practical ministry.
DR. SOONG-CHAN RAH PROFESSOR OF CHURCH GROWTH AND EVANGELISM
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DUAL DEGREES
Dual Degrees Ministry today requires knowledge and skills as diverse as organizational leadership, fundraising, and managing a staff. Our dual degrees are an efficient combination of two different programs offered in partnership with North Park’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management. Graduates leave uniquely prepared for rapidly changing, interdisciplinary opportunities in many church, nonprofit, and business environments. Through the dual-degree program, the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, and Master of Arts in Christian Formation can be combined with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA). MBA & MNA Formats: Online In-person Online + In-person
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Master of Business Administration (MBA) Develop your leadership and management skills while building a toolkit of practical knowledge in core areas like finance, strategy, and marketing. You will graduate ready to lead your church to greater success. MBA Core Courses: F Organizational Behavior and Ethics F Ethical Leadership F Financial Accounting F Managerial Accounting F Global Macroeconomics for Managers F Microeconomics for Managers F Managerial Finance F Financial Decision Making F Quantitative Decision Making F Marketing Analysis and Consumer Behavior F Multi-Sector Convergence and Social Responsibility F Strategy for Competitive Advantage F MBA Capstone
The North Park dual degree program has been essential to forming who I am in Christ as woman in ministry. It has helped me get back to the basics and dive into the “whys� of many foundational doctrines and to be honest, my own faith. I truly appreciate how we have so many professors and directors who are able and willing to assist with any questions I have, no matter what the area of life it may be in.
CRISTINA FERRI MACF/MNA STUDENT
Master of Nonprofit Administration Gain best-practice knowledge in fundraising, finance, strategy, ethical leadership, and more. You will gain all the tools you need to serve your church with excellence. MNA Core Courses: F Organizational Behavior and Ethics F Ethical Leadership F Nonprofit Financial Management F Nonprofit Financial Decision Making F Nonprofit Marketing Analysis and Consumer Behavior F Multi-Sector Convergence and Social Responsibility F Nonprofit Management: Theory and Application F Nonprofit Board Governance and Volunteer Management F Nonprofit Law, Policy, and Government Relations F Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations F Annual Gift Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations F Measuring Outcomes and Assessment F Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Management Capstone 19
CERTIFICATES
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Certificate
Overview
Method
Christian Studies
A basic orientation to Christian thought, spirituality, and practice at the master’s level. Courses apply to any master’s degree.
Courses are taught in a variety of formats including online, weeklong intensives, and traditional on-campus.
Congregational Vitality
Equips current and future pastors to shepherd congregational renewal, allowing for greater missional effectiveness and impact.
Designed to be completed in two-years through intensive and intensive-hybrid course formats.
Faith & Health
Learn core concepts which will support clergy and health professionals in ministries of health, gaining skills that can be applied in both clinical and congregational settings. Offered in collaboration with the School of Nursing & Health Sciences.
Nearly all courses are offered online – in a schedule that fits all student needs.
Foundational Courses
These four core courses provide the foundational building blocks to all of our Seminary master’s degrees. This certificate is also ideal for ECC students required to complete these courses for credentialing.
Courses are all offered online, as intensive hybrid courses at regional sites across the country, or in a face-to-face classroom setting in Chicago.
Intercultural Studies
Offers the skills and Biblical framework necessary to effectively serve in multicultural and global ministry.
Nearly all courses are offered online – in a schedule that fits all student needs.
Spiritual Direction
Train to serve as a spiritual director in the Christian tradition, equipped to offer a ministry of guidance and prayer. Designed to be completed in just over two years in a cohort of 15 to 20 students.
Blend of online learning throughout the year with one-week intensive courses on campus.
Transformative Justice
This unique certificate is being offered at Stateville Correctional Center, requiring students to attend onsite courses one day each week at Stateville. Students will deepen their knowledge and faith practice in an integrated classroom of free and incarcerated students.
Designed to be completed as part of a two-year cohort program, onsite at Stateville Correctional Center.
Youth Ministry
Vocational ministers and lay leaders will learn how the church can play a vital role in shaping young lives, integrating theory and practice in this four-course program.
Designed to be completed in about two years through intensive and intensive-hybrid course formats. 21
AN EDUCATION THAT COMES TO YOU
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Distance Cohorts North Park Theological Seminary has partnered with the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) and several ECC regional conferences to provide an innovative distance cohort model called Ignite, allowing you to remain in your local context, and access Seminary education in your home region!
Advantages
Join a cohort of colleagues in ministry as you earn your master’s degree by taking both online courses and intensive courses in your home region. Here are just a few Ignite benefits: F Enjoy courses offered in your area F Learn from North Park Theological Seminary scholars F Study alongside fellow students in a face-to-face environment F Develop deep relationships with faculty
Ignite has personally blessed me, because I never thought it was possible to be in full-time ministry, and be a wife, mother, and student all at the same time. The cultural, socio-economic, and generational diversity of our cohort of practitioner-students contributes to the richness of the experience. Most importantly, I have been able to get to know myself better as I grow to know God better.
KAREN FIGUEROA IGNITE MDIV STUDENT, PACIFIC SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE
F Complete your master’s degree in just 3-5 years
Reduced Cost Through the seminary’s partnership with the ECC, regional conferences, and local churches, the program cost is significantly reduced.
Contact Contact the NPTS Admissions Office at semadmissions@northpark.edu to learn more about a distance cohort near you. *Currently, this option is only available to students affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC).
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ACCESSIBILITY IN SEMINARY EDUCATION Whether you are preparing for ministry or seeking support for your current call to ministry, North Park welcomes students from all over the country—and world—who desire Biblical and theological training. While no degree from North Park Theological Seminary can be completed fully online – one-third of each degree’s credit hours must be earned through courses taken on our Chicago campus – you can choose a combination of online, intensive, and hybrid courses. This flexible schedule will allow you to pursue your studies in the way that works best for you.
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Distance Learning Course Formats 1. Online Interact with professors and other students through a convenient, online platform. 2. Intensive One-to-two-week classes on our Chicago campus. 3. Hybrid Combination of online and three-to-five-day classes in Chicago or at regional locations. www.northpark.edu/seminary/academics/ distance-learning/
Pathways to Seminary We have created pathways to degree completion for our distance students. Summer (June) and Winter (January) intensives along with hybrid options offer students the opportunity to fulfill residency requirements, as well a chance to get to know our seminary community and fellowship in-person with online classmates and professors.
Degree Residency Requirements Residency requirements may be met through either semester-long or one-or-two-week intensive courses available on our Chicago campus. When you come to Chicago for class you will:
Encouraging students to think critically and theologically about our world, and to apply the Bible in the real-life challenges of the Christian church is my call and mission in life.
MAX LEE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF NEW TESTAMENT
F Participate in a range of community activities: Chapel, meals with faculty, staff, and students. F Receive academic advising as faculty and staff partner with you to develop a degree completion plan that works best for you. F Live on and enjoy our beautiful campus while spending time with classmates. F Experience all that Chicago offers – in our neighborhood and beyond.
Max Lee
Associate Professor of New Testament Dr. Max Lee came to North Park Theological Seminary with a passion to prepare students for a lifetime of pastoral ministry through theological education. As a New Testament professor, Dr. Lee enjoys helping students develop the skill sets they need to be better preachers and teachers of God’s word. Dr. Lee hopes that every person entering his class will walk away with a greater knowledge about the culture and social values of the first century world, a greater love for reading the New Testament in its ancient context, and a greater faith to live out this same gospel message more radically today. Ordained as a Baptist minister, Dr. Lee has served as a pastor, preacher, college staffer, youth leader, and short-term missionary to Japan. His primary research area is the Apostle Paul in his Greco-Roman philosophical, cultural, and literary environment. He actively preaches and teaches for several local churches in the Chicago area. 25
COMMITTED TO RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
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School of Restorative Arts at Stateville Correctional Center North Park Theological Seminary’s School of Restorative Arts prepares students for ministry in contexts susceptible to violence. With the intention of building community and awareness across systemic divides, the program is set within the walls of Stateville Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison outside of Chicago, and is the first of its kind to offer a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) to incarcerated and free students.
While an MACM degree is broadly designed to equip students with the tools to identify their gifts of ministry and develop vocational identity, the SRA program incorporates a restorative arts track with additional coursework focused on non-violent conflict as well as addressing personal trauma and healing. This combination of general ministry preparation and intentional training equips students who are called to minister in settings such as areas of drug or alcohol abuse, densely populated areas of economic distress, as a gang interventionist, as a social worker in schools, or in prison settings as a peer mentor or chaplain.
The men of Stateville are used to the worst being expected of them. But any claim that we who are free are the ones “fixing” those who are incarcerated is misguided. It renders insignificant the transformative work done by incarcerated students. For imprisoned and free individuals to be able to come together in learning and in worship is humanizing for all of us. You will be exposed to a diversity of theological ideas, student body, and denominational backgrounds. In a Seminary context, we are all doing ministry together. The mutual learning that happens in the midst of adults who are studying Christian theology is the life-giving aspect of my work.
DR. MICHELLE CLIFTON-SODERSTRUM PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY & ETHICS, DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL OF RESTORATIVE ART
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TRAVEL COURSES AND INTERCULTURAL MINISTRY
The Center for World Christian Studies The need for intercultural competency continues to grow both at home and abroad. A distinctive of North Park Theological Seminary is our commitment to equip students to minister in intercultural settings. The Seminary promotes intercultural competency as an integral part of theological education. All North Park students are required to have an intercultural ministry experience, and all degreeseekers complete a cultural competency module as a co-curricular requirement.
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Travel Courses Building missional relationships with partner institutions across the globe, North Park Theological Seminary is an international hub for theological education that offers theological resources to help build partner churches. North Park Theological Seminary offers travel courses twice per year. Recent classes have traveled to: F Democratic Republic of Congo F Ecuador F Italy F France F Thailand F Israel-Palestine
Swedish Exchange North Park has a strong commitment to study abroad programs in Scandinavia. Our Swedish heritage and exchange with Stockholm School of Theology allow students to take classes overseas. In addition to academics, students can pursue intercultural field education experiences during their study abroad.
St. Augustine said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel only read a page.� North Park prioritizes experiential intercultural learning that not only contributes to personal development, but also equips and empowers global partners with whom we can learn together. Taking ourselves out of the comfort and security of our national environment places us in a posture of openness, expectancy and self-discovery. Consider it essential for your own cultural agility to enroll in a travel course during your academic studies.
DR. PAUL DE NEUI PROFESSOR OF MISSIOLOGY AND DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR WORLD CHRISTIAN STUDIES
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We look forward to partnering with you as you continue your journey. 1. Apply Applications to North Park Theological Seminary are considered as they are received throughout the year. Once you’ve determined which program is right for you, complete and apply to North Park. www.northpark.edu/seminary/apply Required application materials: F F F F F
Online application Official academic transcripts Essays Recommendations Resume
2. Visit The best way to find out if North Park is the right fit for you is to visit our campus: F F F F F F
Tour campus Attend a class Meet with a faculty member Meet with an admission representative Attend a chapel service or community event Plan an overnight visit
www.northpark.edu/seminary/admissions/visit/
3. Determine Your Cost See a basic estimate of the annual costs you can expect: www.northpark.edu/seminary/admissions/ File your FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov
4. Deposit and Register Your tuition deposit confirms your intention to enroll at North Park, and allows you to register for classes and make housing decisions: www.northpark.edu/seminary/admissions/
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IMPORTANT DATES March 31 Priority application deadline for all fall semester and summer-session applicants. March 31 Application deadline for Certificate in Spiritual Direction. April 15 Deadline to submit Presidential and Mosaic Scholarship applications for fall enrollment. June 15 Tuition deposit deadline to confirm fall enrollment. October 15 Priority application deadline for all spring-semester applicants. November 1 Deadline to submit Presidential and Mosaic Scholarship applications for spring enrollment. December 1 Tuition deposit deadline to confirm spring enrollment.
Learn more and plan your campus visit: www.northpark.edu/seminary/visit
(800) 964-0101 or (773) 244-6229
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www.northpark.edu/seminary 773-244-6229
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