Men and women who are in vocational ministry, or who wish to move into vocational ministry, often find that a seminary education is a necessary step in their professional development. But for many Mennonite Brethren, moving to one of MB Biblical Seminary's campuses in Fresno, California, Langley, British Columbia, or Winnipeg, Manitoba is a challenge.
This fall, MB Biblical Seminary began offering a Master of Arts in Christian Studies degree in a configuration that does not require that the student relocate. The stream, called ACTSess, is offered through the Seminary's Langley campus. In Langley, MB Biblical Seminary is a member ACTS, a consortium of six denominational seminaries.
ACTsess allows the student to complete a Master of Arts program in a three- to five-year time frame with as few as six one-week study visits to the Langley campus. Learning options include online, correspondence and transfer courses accented by in-class, bundled modular courses. Students take two courses per semester and can start in fall, spring or summer.
"Some people who would like to pursue a Seminary education are in jobs or family situations where moving from home just is not feasible," says Doug Berg, MB Biblical Seminary's Associate Dean at ACTS. "The ACTSess study stream allows them to get the equipping they need for ministry, without placing an undue burden on them or their families."
The MA in Christian Studies degree consists of a core curriculum including Bible, Theology, Church History, and Leadership. Students can specialize in church ministries, Bible, theology, pastoral care, cross-cultural ministries or apologetics. The duration of the program may be affected by the specialization that is chosen.