SEBTS announces new certificate in Ministry to Women

By Chad Burchett/SEBTS

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) – Committed to training women to serve the Church and fulfill the Great Commission, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has announced a new self-paced GO Certificate in Ministry to Women.

As a part of Southeastern’s larger efforts to equip women, the GO Certificate in Ministry to Women is a seven-course, self-paced certificate designed to train women to make disciples. Southeastern believes the flexibility of this certificate offers a unique training opportunity for women in the Church who are eager to grow in faithfulness to the Great Commission.

“At Southeastern, we believe mature disciples make mature disciples, so it is our desire to aid the Church in the work of the Great Commission,” said Julia Higgins, assistant professor of ministry to women and director of women’s degree programs. “Our heartbeat is to see women growing in biblical knowledge, theological depth, and missional passion; and that is why we are excited to announce the new GO Certificate in Ministry to Women.”

“While Southeastern offers a myriad of degrees, we hope that this certificate will meet busy women where they are by providing theological education that is affordable and accessible through self-paced courses taught by our faculty,” Higgins said. “It is our desire that women who are called to minister to other women will be prepared to make disciples in the ministry context the Lord has placed them, all for the glory of King Jesus and the good of his Church.”

The certificate features seven courses designed to offer women biblical and theological foundations for ministry as well as training tailored to equip women to live on mission, teach and counsel other women, and lead women’s ministries:

• Old Testament Survey
• New Testament Survey
• Christian Theology
• Biblical Exposition for Ministry to Women
• Leading Women to Be on Mission
• Women’s Ministry in the Local Church
• Counseling Women

Chris Thompson, associate vice president for academic administration, said the combination of biblical depth and program flexibility makes this certificate highly adaptable for the needs of churches and individual students.

“The new GO Certificate in Ministry to Women courses provide rich, theological training designed for women in an accessible format,” Thompson said. “Churches can use individual courses in a small group setting or individuals have the option to work their way through a seven-course certificate at their own pace. These courses are intentionally designed, so they can be adapted to a student’s calling and context.”

The GO Certificate in Ministry to Women will be available to students for $97 per course, totaling $679 for the seven courses. For a limited time, students who sign up for courses within the first year they are offered can receive a discounted rate of $50 per course, and spouses of existing Southeastern students can receive the certificate at their regularly discounted rate of $25 per course.

To learn more about the certificate or to register for courses, go here. To find out more about how you or your church can take part, contact Brandi Wyatt, Southeastern’s coordinator for certificate services, at [email protected].

SBTS announces 84 credit hour M.Div.

By Jacob Percy/SBTS

LOUISVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist Theological Seminary announced a significant update to its Master of Divinity Degree today, which is now available to current and prospective students.

The new 84 credit hour M.Div. features a simplified core organized around 21 credit hours in biblical studies, 21 credit hours in theological studies, and 21 credit hours in practical studies. This core, combined with 21 credit hours of electives, allows students to combine comprehensive training in Bible, theology and ministry with the flexibility to direct their study to the courses that will best prepare them for ministry and vocational objectives.

Southern Seminary will also allow students to earn additional credentials in the form of nine credit hour Graduate Certificates. These Graduate Certificates allow students to direct their electives toward specialized study. Graduate Certificates also provide an opportunity for those who already have an M.Div. to return and earn additional credentials.

Additionally, Southern Seminary will now offer an incentive for the residential Master of Divinity, where students will only pay for the first nine credit hours each semester and can take up to 15 credit hours at no additional expense. This incentive signals Southern Seminary’s continued commitment to the residential M.Div. even as it continues to expand and enhance its online degrees.

President R. Albert Mohler, Jr. said of the new degree, “Southern Seminary is totally committed to the education and preparation of preachers for the church, pastors for God’s flock, and heralds of the Gospel. The Master of Divinity degree is the central program through which we accomplish this purpose, and we are taking this action to make certain that Southern Seminaries world respected M.Div. degree is made optimal in every dimension for the future faithfulness of the church.

“The degree builds on more than a century and a half of Southern Seminary’s leadership in theological education. It is deeply committed to the training of pastors in the scriptures, in doctrine, and in ministry. We stand behind this degree as the most faithful program in theological education, and our commitment is to continue this mission for generations to come.”

These changes are available to students now, and Southern Seminary is actively accepting applications for the Winter 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters. For more information about the new 84 credit hour Master of Divinity degree, visit sbts.edu/newmdiv.

The update is available to current M.Div. students as well. For more information contact the Center for Student Success.