Master of Divinity (M.Div.) New Faith Communities Emphasis

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Episcopal/Anglican Studies

Forming New Faith Communities

Cohort Models

Associate Dean of Students the Rev. Ayana Teter discusses the importance of cohort models in forming faithful leaders.

About the Master of Divinity Emphasis in Leading New Faith Communities

Through coursework and contextual practice, students will implement ideas and reflect on their leadership in community.

Internships with local planters in a variety of traditions and environments provide laboratories to observe, experiment, and convene new expressions of faithful Christian community. Funded internships to launch new communities invite creativity and offer just-in-time training, so that best practices are not just learned but utilized. The student cohort offers a holistic and reflective learning community and provides regular rhythms for the spiritual formation of participants. Through all these components, students cultivate their ability to listen and respond to the Holy Spirit’s direction as they prepare to gather in new communities.

The hybrid M.Div. with Emphasis in Forming New Faith Communities at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary provides theological training in both tactical and transformational skills. The Emphasis is designed to be collaborative and transformative, practice oriented, and marked by real time ministry action and reflection in community.

Key Resources

One-on-One Collaboration with AIM Director

Field Education Internship with Local Partners

Monthly Cohort Lunches

Funded Launch Internships

Connection to a Collaborative Ecosystem

New Faith Community Intercultural Trip

M.DIV. NEW FAITH COMMUNITIES EMPHASIS CORE STUDENT COMPETENCIES

Students who complete the M.Div. Emphasis will:

Develop, describe, and make use of a theologically-informed, contextually-aware, mission-shaped vision for ministry.
Form a community in the student’s ministry context which is rooted in Christian practices and lead the community in spiritual discernment.
Engage in practices that support ongoing vocational discernment and articulate a deepening sense of call.
Demonstrate the ability to participate in God’s work of enacting racial justice by describing and resisting the sin of racism.

M.DIV. WITH NEW FAITH COMMUNITIES EMPHASIS PROGRAM STRUCTURE

APPLICATION

Specialized Essay
Interview with Director

JUNIOR YEAR

WS 110: Worship Seminar (Fall Semester, required in M.Div.)
- Consultation with AIM Director (Two per year)
- Begin Portfolio
CS 110: Contextual Analysis (Spring Semester, required in M.Div.)
- Consultation with AIM Director (Two per year)
- Build Portfolio
SP 110: Spiritual Formation (Fall and Spring Semester, required in M.Div.)
Field Education: Observation Assigned in WS 110 and CS 110 (Fall and Spring Semester)
Monthly Lunches (Seven per year)

MIDDLER YEAR

FE 210/FE 220: Field Education I and II (Fall and Spring Semester, required in M.Div.)
- Consultation with AIM Director (Two per year)
  - Placement
  - Learning Goals
  - End of the Year Evaluation
- Build Portfolio
DML Assessment (recommended)
Monthly Lunches (Seven per year)

SENIOR YEAR

EV 455: Planting and Leading New Churches
Short-term Inter-cultural Experience (J-Term, required in M.Div.)
Field Education: Apprenticeship with 1001 or Launch Internship
- 10 hours per week
- Monthly Coaching
- Faith-based Non-profit Training (Three-part)
- Manage Budget
- Monthly Reports to AIM Director
Monthly Lunches (Seven per year)
Exit Interview
Portfolio Exposé

LEARN MORE ABOUT PITTSBURGH SEMINARY’S HYBRID M.Div. Emphasis in Forming New Faith Communities

Through coursework and contextual practice, students sharpen theological, local, and scriptural awareness, while learning how to receive and proclaim the good news of God in Christ in context. The hybrid M.Div. with Emphasis in Forming New Faith Communities can be taken either part or full time, with day and evening classes available. Because the program is hybrid, students can complete courses in person and online.

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