Church based course

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Church-based courses
Contact details

Admissions Administrator:
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 involves three years of full-time study and leads to a Bachelor of Theology (BTh) ordinary degree awarded by the University of Wales. It is the ultimate combination of theory and practice, designed for those with sufficient gifting and experience to undertake paid church leadership. You 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
  • Give you experience in Christian leadership
  • Enable you to reflect on your practice
  • Develop skills that will make you more effective where God has called you
  • And teach you much about the Bible, Christian Doctrine and Church History

The BTh course has a large common core of modules but in the final year you will be able to pursue some options, some of which relate to the specialisms of church planting and evangelism.

Training to be a Baptist minister

Not all the students at Spurgeon's are Baptists, or training for the ministry, yet 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, contact your Regional Minister who will give you the necessary documentation to complete. If you are considering training for the Baptist ministry click here.

Course outline

This course offers the best possible preparation for mission and ministry. At each level students take 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
  • Be able to reflect critically on how theological insight can assist praxis
  • Have increased their skills, confidence and personal qualities for engaging in Christian leadership, communication and theological reflection

In the first year of the course you will complete modules such as Introduction to the Bible, Spirituality, Introduction to Mission and Worship and Preaching Skills.

In year two your study modules including Communication and Hermeneutics, the Atonement, Evangelism and the Local Church, 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, World Faiths and Old Testament Prophetic Texts. Three other modules are optional.

Click here for a list of the current modules which make up the course.

Assessment

Students are assessed by a combination of essays, course work and examinations. They receive a detailed Student Handbook which describes the aims, objectives and content of each module. It also explains the teaching methods and assessment and contains a reading list for each subject.

These are held on Saturdays in March, May and November and 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 student life 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 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.

 

This degree is validated and awarded by the University of Wales, UK. For further details regarding the University and its validation services, log on to www.wales.ac.uk/validation or email validation@wales.ac.uk