Christian Ministries and Leadership (B.A.) with Community Engagement Concentration

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.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

BIBL 202Interpreting the Bible for Majors

3

BIBL 239The Biblical Text

3

CHRM 222Foundations in Christian Leadership

3

CHRM 330Organization and Leadership for Ministry

3

CHRM 356Mobilizing Congregations for Justice

3

CHRM 361Interfaith Leadership

3

RELI 205Religions of the World

3

RELI 355Christianity in North America

3

THEO 238Theology I

3

THEO 305Theology of Religions

3

THEO 338Theology II

3

THEO 487Biblical and Religious Studies Seminar

3

Three credits from the following:

BIBL 307Biblical Backgrounds

3

BIBL 312Selected Old Testament Books

3

BIBL 313Selected New Testament Books

3

BIBL 381Biblical Interpretation and Criticism

3

BIBL 382Topics in Biblical Theology

3

Three credits from the following:

CHRM 391Practicum

1-3

INTE 391Internship

1-3

INTE 391 must be taken for a letter grade to fulfill major.

Community Engagement Concentration (12)

PACS 201Basic Conflict Mediation

3

SOAN 335Social Conflict and Reconciliation

3

SOAN 356Social Inequality

3

 

Three credits from the following:

COMM 307Rhetoric of the Civil Rights Movement

3

RELI 342Religious Pluralism in America

3

 

General Education Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement   0
General Education requirements   Credits
First Year Seminar IDFY 101/102H  3
Written Communication ENGL 110/110H 3
Oral Communication COMM 105 3
Mathematical and Scientific Ways of Knowing Mathematics 3 or 4
Science with Lab  3 or 4 
Social Scientific Ways of Knowing
Social Science 3
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing 24GE History 3
Literary & Aesthetic Ways of Knowing
Literature or Arts 3
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing
Philosophy or Religion (RELI 205) met/major
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing 1st and 2nd Level Language 6
Intercultural Perspectives Intercultural Global or International Cross-cultural or 3rd Level Language 3
Bible
BIBL 202 met/major
Christian Beliefs
THEO 238 met/major
Holistic Wellness
WELL 1xx 1
Ethics and the Common Good
24GE Ethics and the Common Good  3
Intercultural Perspectives
Intercultural U.S. (RELI 355or Domestic Cross-cultural met/major
Common Learning
Experiential Learning (CHRM 391, INTE 391)  met/major 
General Education requirements   37-39
Major requirements (inclusive of concentration)   54
Free Electives    30-32
Total credits   123