Nazarene Theological Seminary

In December, Nazarene Theological Seminary hosted a meeting at its Kansas City campus for colleges and universities interested in, or already a part of, its Multi-Campus Seminary (MCS) initiative (see picture below).  Present were faculty and/or administrators from Eastern Nazarene College (ENC), Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU), Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS), Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU), Southern Nazarene University (SNU), and Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU).

NTS is pleased to announce that beginning Fall 2011, courses for its Master of Divinity (M. Div.) Degree* will begin being offered on the campuses of ENC (Quincy, MA) and TNU (Nashville, TN), in addition to that of MVNU (Mount Vernon, OH) and SNU (Bethany, OK), the latter of which have been a part of the program since last fall.  As a part of the MCS program, NTS residential faculty and professors on host campuses, teach one and two-week intensive module courses that are a part of the curriculum for the NTS M. Div. Degree. These module courses, combined with the Seminary’s roster of innovative online course offerings, make it possible for pastors to earn a M. Div. Degree without relocating from their current ministry context—and to do so in as few as 3 or 4 years.

 “We are excited to partner with NTS in educating and forming ministers in the Church of the Nazarene,” shared Dr. Jeffrey Barker, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at ENC.  “We see this as an extension of ENC’s mission of preparing students to serve God, the Church, and the world.  This creative relationship opens another avenue for ministry preparation on the ENC region.”

Trevecca’s President, Dr. Dan Boone commented on the new partnership between NTS and TNU:  “When you attend the wedding of two of your best friends who are marrying each other, you smile a lot; this seems to be a wedding made in heaven.  As a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary, it gives me great joy to know that two of my ‘best friends’ are ‘marrying.’ This is a partnership that will serve the church effectively. I’m smiling a lot these days.”

NTS continues to dialogue with PLNU and Nazarene Bible College (NBC), as well as other educational institutions, about additional MCS locations in the future.  In talking about the growth and excitement surrounding the Multi-Campus Seminary initiative, NTS President Dr. Ron Benefiel shared, “As our Nazarene schools come together—sharing resources and partnering on recruitment and enrollment strategies—we realize that we are better equipped to serve both a broader constituency as well as a broader purpose.  We have already seen that what we can do together is significantly more than any of us can do on our own."

To learn more about NTS and the Multi-Campus Seminary, or to see a list of course offerings at all locations, log on to www.nts.edu/the-new-nts or contact the NTS Admissions Office at 800.831.3011, ext. 5452 or at enroll@nts.edu.

*pending approval from the Seminary's Accrediting Agency