How does the Course fit together?

Integrated and incremental

The study programme is designed to offer an integrated and incremental approach to the study and reflective practice of Christian ministry and mission. Each level represents a coherent, comprehensive and integrated combination of education, training and formation. In addition to integration within each level, the programme is also integrated vertically with each level building on the preceding one, in a spiral formation.

The course is delivered by a combination of distance-learning modules, reflective practice in the local context and centre-based learning.

 

For BA students, the educational and formational elements are part of the academic programme and accrue academic credits towards their academic award.

MA students in initial training are required by the churches to do the same training and formational work, but these do not accrue credit towards the MA. There is time budgeted for this work in both programmes.

Integration

Both the BA and MA programmes are integrated ones which are designed to be theological, doxological, missiological, contextual, ecumenical and collaborative. The integrated nature of the STETS Course is expressed first through the incorporation of these dimensions in all aspects of the programme and through giving due attention to the related processes of education, training and formation . The emphasis of the MA itself is more on education, however, it has been designed to function in harmony with the training and formation components of the BA course which are used for all initial ministerial training.

The STETS spiral

One important way both the BA and MA programmes offer integrated training is through their spiral design. Each pays regular and recurrent attention to the three core elements of Scripture, Theology and the Church in Mission.

Thus, in the BA, the first distance-learning module (A1) introduces the study of Scripture, Theology and ministry in the Church's Mission. The programme then addresses each of these elements in two turns of the spiral within each phase: A2 deals with Scripture, A3 with Theology, and A4 with the history of the Church in Mission. A second turn of the spiral begins with the second Scripture module A5.

Similarly, in the MA, the first module M1 explores the study of Scripture, Theology and ministry in the Church's Mission at M-level, before moving proceeding with modules in Scripture (M2), Theology (M3) and the Church in Mission (M4). For a more detailed outline of the contents of these modules see the module descriptions below.

In this way you are enabled to give due attention to the central concerns of theological subjects such as the Hebrew Bible, Systematic Theology and Church History and Practice, while tackling them in terms of STETS' overall missiological and contextual orientation. This spiral arrangement produces further opportunities for you to develop and integrate your learning.

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