Master of Divinity with a Concentration in North American Church Planting

Purpose

The Southwestern M.Div. degree concentration in North American church planting provides a solid foundation of classical studies and specific training in church planting. The degree equips students to start and develop effective churches in the many contexts of North America. The church planting experience occurs under the auspices of a partnership between the North American Mission Board, Baptist state conventions, Associations, and churches cooperating with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Entrance Requirements

Students must fulfill the requirements for admission into the Southwestern M.Div. degree program and obtain approval from the designated faculty advisor to be officially admitted into the North American Church Planting concentration.

Educational Method

This concentration combines a strong theoretical emphasis with practical, field-based learning.

Church Planting Experience

Students must be approved by the Professor of Baptist Church Planting for a supervised ministry experience. The placement must include: (1) direct involvement with starting a new congregation, developing a strategy for a people group, or promoting a church planting movement of multiple congregations, and (2) a carefully monitored supervisory relationship with a veteran church planter or missionary.

Course Title	Course Number	Hours
Biblical Studies
Biblical Hermeneutics	BIBST 3203	3
Basic Old Testament I	OLDTS 3313	3
Basic Old Testament II	OLDTS 3323	3
Basic New Testament I	NEWTS 3313	3
Basic New Testament II	NEWTS 3323	3
Biblical Greek I	GREEK 3313	3
Biblical Greek II	GREEK 3323	3
Biblical Hebrew I	HEBRW 4313	3
Biblical Hebrew II	HEBRW 4323	3
Theological Studies
Church History I	CHAHT 3103	3
Church History II	CHAHT 3113	3
Baptist Heritage	BPTST 3203	3
Systematic Theology I	SYSTH 3003	3
Systematic Theology II	SYSTH 3013	3
Ethics and Philosophical Studies
Basic Christian Ethics or	ETHIC 4313 or	3
The Bible & Moral Issues or	ETHIC 4323 or
Development of Christian Character and Decision Making	ETHIC 4333
The Christian Home	ETHIC 4303	3
Philosophy of Religion or	PHILO 4313 or	3
Christian Apologetics	PHILO 4373
Evangelism and Missions Studies
Contemporary Evangelism	EVANG 3303	3
Personal Evangelism Practicum¹	EVANG 3000	0
Introduction to Missiology	MISSN 3363	3
Missions Practicum¹	MISSN 3100	0
Preaching and Pastoral Studies
Foundations for Christian Ministry I²	PASMN 3313	3
Christian Ministry Practicum¹	PASMN 3000	0
Introduction to Expository Preaching³	PRCHG 3313	3
Advanced Expository Preaching^4,5	PRCHG 3323	3
Preaching Practicum¹	PRCHG 3000	0
Additional Requirements
Spiritual Formation I	SPFEV 3101	1
Spiritual Formation II	SPFEV 3111	1
The Ministry of Education	EDMIN 3003	3
Free Elective		3
North American Church Planting Concentration
Introduction to North American Church Planting	MISSN 4493	3
Church Planting in the Urban Contexts	MISSN 5453	3
Missionary Anthropology	MISSN 4373	3
Missions, Evangelism, Applied Ministry, or Islamic Studies Electives (choice of two)	Electives	6
Church Planting Internship	MISSN 5743	3
	Total	92

¹Students will be enrolled in these practicums automatically when registering for the parent course above them in the degree plan.

²Female students should substitute WOMST 4003 Women's Ministries in the Local Church.

³Female students take WOMST 4043 Expository Communication of Biblical Truth.

⁴Female students take a free elective in lieu of Advanced Expository Preaching.

⁵Students preparing for a ministry which includes preaching must complete PRCHG 3323. Those who believe their ministry will not include preaching should submit a course substitution form to the Master's Programs Office at Fleming 209 to request to bypass this course and substitute an elective course.

Additional Resources

The following link provides suggestions for how a student may plan to take the courses required for the M.Div. with the North American Church Planting Concentration.

Students interested in more complete information regarding the program should contact the Professor of Baptist Church Planting at 817-923-1921 extension 6679.