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M.A. in Specialized Ministry Church Planting Track

(Sacramento Campus)
The Church Planting track is designed to provide specialized training in effectively launching new local churches. The student will develop skills in assessing and strategizing the resources and factors implicated by the successful church plant, ranging from assessing one’s own spiritual and emotional compatibility for church planting to strategizing the financial plan for a church plant. It will be the recommended MA specialization for future church plant team leaders and team members, and others within parachurch or denominational leadership who will be supporting church planting efforts.

In addition to the Master of Arts in Specialized Ministry Core Outcomes, the Church Planting Track attempts to achieve specific outcomes:

  1. Understand effective financial practices and strategies for church plants.
  2. Understand effective strategic relationships between the church planting pastor and denominational and community resources.
  3. Understand character development and spiritual gifting relative to the effective church planting pastor, and one’s own compatibility for the role.
  4. Understand the biblical principles regarding evangelism and church growth.
  5. Be able to assess any community for its church planting potential.
  6. Be able to develop tailored purpose, vision, and mission statements for a church plant in a given community.

The program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours:

Spiritual formation: 6 hours
SFS 501 Learning to Love God and Others (2)
SFS 502 Practicing Prayer and Other Key Disciplines . (2)
SFS 504 Growing into Ethical Maturity (2)

Biblical interpretation studies: 16 hours
DBS 506 Learning to Interpret Scripture (4)
BLS 501X Interpreting Old Testament I: Genesis - 2 Samuel (2)
BLS 501Y Interpreting Old Testament II: 1 Kings - Song of Solomon (2)
BLS 502X Interpreting Old Testament III: Isaiah to Malachi (2)
BLS 502Y Interpreting New Testament I: Gospels (2)
BLS 503X Interpreting New Testament II: Epistles 1 (2)
BLS 503Y Interpreting New Testament III: Epistles 2 (2)

Theological studies: 10 hours
THS 501 Knowing the Triune God: Theology I (4)
THS 502 Glorifying the God of our Salvation: Theology II (4)
THS 503 Living as the Community of the Spirit: Theology III (2)

Ministerial studies: 12 hours
Required—4 hours:
DMS 501 Thinking Theologically about Ministry (2)
DMS 506 Developing Godly Leadership 21st Century (2)
Restricted electives—Select 8 hours from among the following:
DIS 501 Communicating Christ in Culture (2)
DMS 502 Introducing Theology and Practice of Worship (2)
EMS 505 Growing Disciples Intentionally (2)
PTS 503 Practicing Evangelism and Apologetics (2)
PTS 504 Maximizing the Church’s Redemptive Influence (2)
PTS 507 Providing Pastoral Counseling (2)
PTS 508 Developing Strong Families (2)
PTS 510 Preparing and Preaching Expository Sermons (2)

Mentored Ministry: 6 hours
MFM 500 Discovering/Developing Your Ministry Potential (2)
MFM 501/504 Mentored Field Ministry (1+1+1+1)
(see program advisor for MFM/practicum details)

Specialization track: 8 hours
CPS 501 Character and Skills for a Church Planter (2)
CPS 502 Preparing for a Church Plant (2)
CPS 503 Church Plant Assessment (2)
CPS 504 Church Plant Training (2)

Open electives: 2 hours

Total: 60 hours

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