The Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry will implement several changes including condensing the number of degree programs they offer to two and adding four new courses to the schedule. Changes will be implemented in the fall of 2012.
When the department began looking at significant changes that were taking place concerning course requirements, the departmental heads decided it was time for an overhaul.
“These things have been ruminating around in our heads for months and years, and all of the sudden we have this opportunity to reevaluate what we’re doing,” said Dr. Jeanene Reese, Associate Chair for the Department of Bible Missions and Ministry.
Faculty divided into working groups where they looked at courses that were good as they were, courses that needed to be revisited and courses that could be deleted. They also examined what changes needed to be made in order to meet the needs of students.
The department decided cull the six degree plans now offered to two primary degree plans. Students may declare a BA in a Bible and Ministry Degree or a BA in Vocational Ministry and choose from concentrations already available.
“We’ve kept all the concentrations that we had, but we’ve put them under one of these two umbrellas. We did that is so that we could better facilitate what we don’t yet know is coming,” Reese said.
The Vocational Ministry track is an idea that the department has been contemplating for more than five years. It addresses the student demand for a degree that combines missions and a more financially-supportive field such as accounting or business.
The department discussed Bible, Missions and Ministry’s identity in the university both as a service department and a department meant for training men and women for ministry and teaching. They also discussed what that identity would look like in the ever-changing 21st century, addressing the challenge of preparing students for ministries that do not exist yet.
“We have this sense that things are changing rapidly,” Reese said. “How do we need to deal with that? I’d love to say that we need to fix it, but the truth is we can’t. We have to live in it.”
Throughout this process, the department has developed four new courses.
The first is a missions-related course available to all students called Service in Global Context. It has been used in the past as a no-credit, preparation course for students involved in internships with World Wide Witness. It will now become a regular course for which students will receive credit.
The second new course, BIBL 103: The Story of the New Testament, will only be available to transfer students, enabling them to combine BIBL 101 and 102 in one course. It is pending approval.
The other two new courses only affect majors. The department has designed BIBL 439: Teaching Spiritual Formation and added BIBL 491, which will be used as a senior capstone experience.
Reese said the next phase will depend on what the university decides on the four CORE courses. They are now implementing and developing the latest changes and will continue to make changes as decisions are made concerning CORE requirements.
“One way or another we’re going to be designing at least one more course that everyone will be taking, whether it’s the original two hour one that we’ve been given or something else,” Reese said.
The third step the department will take is to dream big, get excited, listen to students and ask what is needed for the future, Reese said.
“We’ve looked at other universities and the things that they’ve taught, but we don’t want to be dependent on that. We have some wonderful faculty over here that are innovative and great teachers,” Reese said. “They’re also great disciples and great ministers and so I am confident that God’s going to bless this process.”
