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Church-based courses
Contact details

Admissions Administrator:
Miss Sarah Prior
Spurgeon’s College
South Norwood Hill
London SE25 6DJ
Tel: (020) 8683 8462
s.prior@spurgeons.ac.uk

Church based course

This vocational course which involves three-years of full-time study leads to a Bachelor of Theology (BTh) ordinary degree awarded by the University of Wales. It is designed for those with sufficient gifting and experience to be able to undertake paid leadership. You will spend three days each week studying and three days working in a placement, either a church or parachurch context. The course will:

  • Help you gain valuable experience whilst training
  • Help you communicate the gospel clearly
  • Deepen your faith
  • Strengthen your communication skills
  • Enable you to gain experience in Christian leadership whilst having the opportunity to reflect on your practices
  • Develop skills that will make you more effective where God has called you to serve by integrating theological learning with practical Christian ministry

At diploma and degree level you will be able to pursue different options. Some of these relate to the specialisms of church planting and evangelism.

Training to be a Baptist minister

While not all the students at Spurgeon's are Baptists, or training for the ministry, ministerial training has always been, and remains, at the heart of the College's mission. If you are interested in training as a Baptist minister you should contact your Regional Minister who will give you the necessary documentation to complete. If you are considering training for the Baptist ministry please click here.

Course Outline

Our desire at Spurgeon's College is for students to receive the preparation they need for mission and ministry. At each level students will study modules in the Bible, Christian Theology and the Theory and Practice of Christian Ministry in Contemporary Society. By the end of the course each student should:

  • Have a good grounding in the Christian Scriptures and their implications for Christian faith today.
  • Be able to analyse and evaluate the theological and social context in which they carry out their Christian service and to reflect critically on the ways in which theological insight can assist in making a relevant contribution.
  • Have developed appropriate skills, confidence and personal qualities for engaging in Christian leadership, communication and theological reflection.

The following table shows you the modules you will be studying in each level of the course. In the first year you will complete modules on subjects such as Introduction to the Bible, Spirituality, Introduction to Mission and Worship and Preaching Skills, with an option to learn basic New Testament Greek.

In year two your study modules include Communication and Hermeneutics, The Doctrine of Christ, Evangelism and Contemporary Society, Pastoral Care and Counselling and Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament).

In year three you will study modules such as John’s Gospel, The Doctrine of the Church, Encountering World Faiths, Old Testament Prophetic Texts. Three other modules are optional.

 

Modules studied

Certificate Level

Diploma Level

Degree Level

Biblical Studies

Introduction to the Bible
 
 

Old Testament Studies

Aspects of Leadership in the OT (option)
Pentateuch
OT Theology (option)
 
OT Writings (option)
Old Testament Prophetic Texts

New Testament Studies

New Testament Greek (option)
A Pauline Epistle in English (option)
John’s Gospel and Letters
Jesus and the Mission of God
 
New Testament Theology (option)
Introduction to Paul (option)
 
 

Church History

 
Reformation Church History
Modern Church History
 
Doctrine and Practice in the Early Church (option)
English Baptist History

Theology and Ethical Studies

Doctrine of God and Ethics of Relatedness
Doctrine of Christ and Ethics of Humanness
Doctrine of the Spirit and Ethics of Responsiveness
 
 
Doctrine of the Church and Ethics of Distinctiveness

Ministry Studies

Professional Ministry and Practice 1
Professional Ministry and Practice 2
Professional Ministry and Practice 3
Worship and Preaching Skills
Communication and Hermeneutics
 
Spirituality
Pastoral Care and Counselling
 
Pastoral Theory and Practice
Transforming Congregations (option)
Chaplaincy (option)
 
 
Educating the Church (option)

Mission Studies

Introduction to Mission
Evangelism and  Contemporary Society
Encountering World Faiths
Creating New Churches (option)
Urban Church Planting (option)
Mission-Shaped Church (option)
 
Apologetics (option)
 

Assessment

Students are assessed by a combination of essays, course work and examinations. Once you are accepted into College you will receive a detailed Student Handbook which describes the aims, objectives and content of each module. It will also explain the teaching methods and assessment and will provide you with a reading list for each subject.

These are held on a Saturday in March and November each year and will give you the opportunity to meet members of staff and find out more about the course. You can then discuss your situation without commitment and obtain a good understanding of what student life will be like and the financial implications of coming to Spurgeon's College.

Entry Requirements 

Students are admitted to the course on the basis of a combination of academic and personal factors.  All applicants for full-time courses receive an extensive interview.

The normal minimum academic qualification is two A levels or the equivalent.  Applicants without minimum academic qualifications may be admitted to the programme on the basis of substantial relevant experience.

For the church-based BTh course it is a requirement that a suitable placement is found. If this proves impossible we may refer you to a different course offered by the College.

Once you have been accepted on the course you may qualify for financial assistance from your Local Education Authority. This applies to UK citizens who have not received previous Higher Education grants or assistance.

English Language Entry Requirements

Click here for details.