Program Overview
The major in Christian Ministries and Leadership prepares women and men for entry-level positions in a variety of congregational and para-church ministries. The program’s two concentration each incorporate practical elements, and also require the student to acquire competency in biblical and theological reflection, which serve as the theoretical foundations for this course of study. Critical thinking and oral and written communication skills are also stressed. This program can also serve as a foundation for graduate education.
The Congregational Ministries concentration prepares students for traditional church ministry upon graduation. A strong foundation in biblical and theological studies, training in professional skills, and diverse experiential opportunities ensure that students are prepared for long-term congregational service.
The Community Engagement concentration uniquely prepares students for moral and ethical leadership in a variety of vocational contexts. This interdisciplinary program combines a foundation in Biblical Studies, Theology, Religion, and Christian Ministries, with coursework from across the Messiah University curriculum, providing students with the necessary skills for building and leading organizations that advance God’s justice and the common good.
In addition to meeting the major’s curricular requirements, all Christian Ministries and Leadership majors are required to participate in the Department’s Fitness for Ministry program — cocurricular activities and expectations that assess and increase students’ fitness to pursue careers in Christian ministry. Program requirements include mandatory participation in spiritual formation groups during the sophomore and senior years, and the development and maintenance of a ministry portfolio that will be reviewed regularly by department faculty members. For more information on the Fitness for Ministry program, visit the Department website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates from Messiah’s Christian Ministries and Leadership program:
1. Develop skills necessary for interpreting and applying the biblical text responsibly by understanding the basic content and historical contexts of the Bible, and by utilizing appropriate interpretive methodologies.
2. Construct and evaluate theological arguments within the historical and global contexts of Christian belief and practice.
3. Analyze religious beliefs and practices and how they affect individuals and societies.
4. Describe the church as a contextually situated body.
5. Develop appropriate professional competencies:
a. Develop intercultural and contextual awareness by engaging the complex history and legacy of Christianity as a force for good and evil, including colonialism, white supremacy, and liberating responses.
b. Develop competency in contextual leadership and writing for leadership and ministry contexts
c. Evaluate one’s gifts, strengths, and limitations with respect to a particular leadership context in order to explore employment, voluntary service, and/or graduate opportunities.