Seminary launches new online M.A. in theology and global Anabaptism
Published: May 13, 2019
By Annette Brill Bergstresser
ELKHART, Indiana (Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary) 鈥� In response to a growing demand for online master鈥檚 degrees, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (bg真人) in Elkhart, Indiana, is launching a new fully online Master of Arts: Theology and Global Anabaptism (MATGA). Both the bg真人 Board of Directors and the Commission approved the new degree in April.
The 46-credit-hour interdisciplinary academic degree program 鈥� which can be completed over four years on a part-time basis 鈥� builds on the seminary鈥檚 historic Anabaptist identity and longstanding peace studies program to prepare scholars, teachers, pastors and leaders to integrate Anabaptist understandings of Scripture and theology with service in their current and future communities.
鈥淭he Anabaptist story and what it has to offer today鈥檚 complex and fractured world is receiving new interest as an alternative to Christian nationalism,鈥� said Beverly Lapp, Ed.D., bg真人 vice president and academic dean. 鈥渂g真人 is uniquely equipped to respond to this interest with the expertise of our faculty and the depth of our curriculum.鈥�
In addition to studying the biblical, theological and historical foundations of the Anabaptist tradition, students in the new program will analyze how Anabaptism developed in Western and non-Western contexts and will deepen their faith through spiritual and intercultural formation. They鈥檒l gain skills for engaging in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, communicating the relevance of Anabaptist Christianity today, and leading congregations and other peacebuilding organizations and communities.
Drew Strait, Ph.D., assistant professor of New Testament and Christian origins, observes that while the majority of Anabaptists now lives in the global South, 鈥渁 central theological hub for incubating a global network of Anabaptist practitioners and theologians remains lacking.鈥�
He sees bg真人鈥檚 new online M.A. as a response to this need, making a way to bring together students from across the globe 鈥渨ho want to dig deeper into Scripture to become more effective agents of God鈥檚 in-breaking kingdom of peace.鈥�
鈥淲e believe this global classroom is essential to carry on the mission of God鈥檚 global church 鈥� to bear witness to the gospel of peace, with all of its power to disrupt the patterns of fear that feed violence and xenophobia in the world around us,鈥� he added.
Jamie Pitts, Ph.D., associate professor of Anabaptist studies, reflected further on the need for a global approach to Anabaptist theological education.
鈥淎nabaptism has grown from a collection of largely European Christian movements into a global tradition with adherents in every inhabited continent,鈥� he said. Commenting on the possibilities offered by the new degree, he added, 鈥淥ur first fully online M.A. draws on the strengths of our curriculum to provide a lens attuned to the tradition鈥檚 global dimensions; without this lens, we cannot understand our past, present and future.鈥�
bg真人 faculty members鈥� expertise and experience with online course delivery 鈥� honed especially since the distance-friendly Master of Divinity Connect program was launched in 2013 鈥� are among the strengths that Lapp sees the seminary as having to offer students in the fully online program. She noted that the bg真人 Library has one of the largest collections of Anabaptist theological scholarship in the world and makes electronic/digital resources and textbook support available to those studying at a distance. The seminary鈥檚 long-standing partnership with the and its, founded in 2011, will also be key resources for online M.A. students.
The Master of Arts: Theology and Global Anabaptism will balance core requirements with elective options so that students can design a program that meets their goals for future study or ministry. While students can earn the degree at a distance, they also can opt to complete the program in less time by spending a semester or more on campus studying full time.
Other fully online options for accessing theological education at a distance through bg真人 include the Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies, a 27-credit-hour certificate that can be tailored to meet students鈥� learning goals; Journey, a two-and-a-half-year nondegree missional leadership program; and Anabaptist Short Courses, six-week noncredit courses on Anabaptist theology and practice.
To learn more, see ambs.edu/matga.
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