Ministry, Theology and Practice MTh

This Masters in Ministry, Theology and Practice is intended for pastoral professionals, to develop and enhance their abilities in congregational ministry, culturally relevant hermeneutics and preaching, creative approaches to ministry, and freedom of inquiry in theological doctrine.<br/><br/>**WHY THIS PROGRAMME**<br/><br/><br/>- Glasgow has a leading reputation—and not just in recent times—for combining critical academic excellence with an awareness of and focus on the wider community in terms of application of theology. We are known for the creativity of our theological programmes, again going back to the early days of Protestant Enlightenment through the Theology and human existence concerns of the previous century to a theology that is properly aware of contexts, ideologies, traditions and source texts, thus ‘hermeneutical’.<br/><br/><br/>- This particular purpose-made Masters, working with professional ministers, is unique in the UK. <br/><br/><br/>- The degree can be undertaken in London or Glasgow.<br/><br/><br/>- This unique programme marks a new phase in nearly three centuries of collaboration between the Dr Williams’s Trust and the University of Glasgow in supporting the development of Christian ministry.<br/><br/><br/>- It is delivered by academics who presently have a strong commitment to and experience of training for Christian ministry.<br/><br/><br/>- It welcomes the diverse practice and backgrounds of ministers and church workers from a number of denominations.<br/><br/><br/>- Applicants from qualifying denominations may be eligible for bursaries from the Dr Williams Trust.<br/><br/><br/>**PROGRAMME STRUCTURE**<br/><br/>Over two years, you will take:<br/>- Six core courses<br/><br/><br/>- Dissertation<br/><br/><br/>**YEAR 1**<br/><br/>**Semester 1: September to December**<br/>Year 1<br/>Semester 1: September to December<br/>RESEARCH TRAINING - THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES<br/>BIBLE, DOCTRINE AND FREEDOM OF INTERPRETATION <br/>Semester 2: January to March<br/><br/>RESOURCING CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRY <br/>Summer<br/>RELIGION, THEOLOGY AND CULTURE DIRECTED STUDY (SEMESTER 2)<br/><br/>**YEAR 2**<br/><br/>**Semester 1: September to December**<br/>HOMILETICS & BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS<br/><br/>Semester 2: January to March<br/>CREATIVE MINISTRY<br/><br/>Summer<br/>DISSERTATION<br/><br/>**LEARNING AND TEACHING**<br/><br/>This programme sustains our historic commitment to offer academic training to those exercising leadership roles in Christian churches through delivering continuing professional development in four key areas:<br/>- equipping for congregational ministry<br/><br/><br/>- culturally relevant hermeneutics for preaching<br/><br/><br/>- creative approaches to ministry and Christian social responsibility<br/><br/><br/>- theological inquiry.<br/><br/><br/>The programme aims to:<br/>- embed missional practice and strategy throughout ministerial practice.<br/><br/><br/>- employ an expanded depth of hermeneutical and theological knowledge, to enrich preaching and generate creative approaches to worship.<br/><br/><br/>- provide skills in congregational studies, organisation, and management relevant for those in Christian leadership.<br/><br/><br/>- enhance reflection on the social and cultural significance of theology and construct a coherent understanding of Christian approaches to social engagement and transformation.<br/><br/><br/>- develop skills in reflective practice and personal reflexivity.<br/><br/><br/>This will be done by means of presentations and written assignments, with teaching input once a month for 5 hours at a time, on four occasions per module, amounting to 20 hours contact time, each over a semester.<br/><br/>Lectures, discussion of texts led by the teacher, presentations by students and summing-up will contribute to formation and stimulate further study, application, reflection and written responses by the students.