The Master of Arts in Discipleship and Christian Formation (MADCF) degree is a professional degree designed to prepare men and women for specialized ministries in the church’s mission of making disciples. The degree is intended for persons desiring to serve local congregations as an Associate Pastor, Minister of Education, Minister of Discipleship, Minister of Youth, Minister of Children, Minister of Families, Minister of Singles, or any combination of the above. It is also designed for persons who will be responsible for mentoring and training church leaders through theological education (including day schools, Bible Institutes, Christian colleges, and Theological Education by Extension) and for persons desiring to serve in denominational ministries for Youth and Christian Education. The program consists of courses in (1) basic theological education, (2) personal formation for ministry, (3) core studies in discipleship and Christian formation, and (4) an approved ministry focus.
The MADCF degree requires a minimum of fifty credit hours of prescribed graduate study. It is a two-year degree because it requires a minimum of two years as a fulltime student to complete the degree. The MADCF degree program is considered a professional degree in ministry leadership.
The MADCF degree is designed to prepare women and men for professional ministry in the area of discipleship and Christian formation. Graduates of the program should:
1. Have an established testimony of personal discipleship demonstrated in commitment to live under the lordship of Jesus Christ as expressed through the exercise of spiritual disciplines, submission to the authority of the Scriptures, surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit, unity with the Body of Christ, and faithful stewardship in a local congregation.
2. Be able to "rightly divide the Word of Truth" through the proper application of the inductive approach to Bible study.
3. Be able to tell the story of the Christian people.
4. Be able to articulate the historic doctrines of the Christian faith and communicate the unique contributions of the Wesleyan-Pentecostal expression of that faith.
5. Be able to describe the origin, preservation, structure, and essential content of the Old and New Testaments.
6. Be able to defend a biblically, historically, and doctrinally informed, understanding of:
a. Ministry;
b. the foundational processes of Christian discipleship and formation; and
c. the nature and mission of the Church.
7. Be able to lead others in direct study of the Scriptures in a small group context
8. Be able to describe the patterns of human growth and development throughout the stages of life and to apply that information to the interpretation of individual discipleship needs.
9. Be able to mentor others in Christian discipleship.
10. Be able to critically assess strengths and weaknesses of the discipleship ministry of congregations.
11. Be able to lead a congregation in the development and administration of a comprehensive program of discipleship ministries.
12. Be able to demonstrate competence in a chosen area of ministry focus.
Persons entering the program should have an established testimony of commitment to Christ and personal discipleship demonstrated through faithful membership and service in a local congregation. They should also be able to demonstrate a general knowledge of the structure and content of the Scriptures. Entering students (a) should be able to demonstrate a general knowledge of the arts and sciences; (b) effectively express original ideas through written and spoken forms; and (c) have a critical awareness of contemporary world issues.
The MADCF degree requires the successful completion of 50 semester hours with a GPA of 2.0 or above on a 4-point scale. The program requires students to be active in a local congregation in their chosen area of ministry focus throughout the course of study. Credits may be transferred into this degree from other accredited graduate schools in accordance with the Seminary’s policies governing the transfer of credit. The transfer of credit into the area of discipleship studies is subject to review by the program chair.
Each MADCF student is expected to complete a capstone experience that (1) demonstrates the student has achieved the degree outcomes, and (2) demonstrates the integration and application of his or her theology of discipleship ministry. Two capstone projects are available within this degree: (1) a ministry practicum in the student’s area of ministry focus, or (2) an integrative thesis.
Should the student choose to complete a practicum, the following standards and policies apply. The practicum must be completed at a site relevant to the student’s area of ministry focus and approved by the student’s faculty advisor and the director of the MADCF degree program. The practicum must include a component of care ministry. The student must make a public summative presentation of the practicum experience. That presentation must also include a presentation of the student’s portfolio demonstrating successful achievement of the degree outcomes.
For students who choose to write an integrative thesis, the MADCF Thesis provides the student the opportunity to demonstrate (1) a critical awareness of his or her personal call to ministry, (2) advanced knowledge and understanding of a chosen area of ministry focus, and (3) the ability to creatively project the practical application of scholarship. It is an exercise of theoria aimed at praxis. As such, it should establish the student’s ability to integrate his or her story of personal faith with scholarly research and to use that integration to creatively project ministry practice. Through this process the student will address a theoretical problem within discipleship ministry and offer a solution for the problem.
Students should consult with his or her academic advisor during the term prior to registering for the thesis regarding the thesis topic. The student must make a public summative presentation of the thesis. That presentation must also include a presentation of the student’s portfolio demonstrating successful achievement of the degree outcomes.
Students must register for their Thesis. A fee for binding the required three copies of the Thesis will be applied to the student's account at that time. This includes two copies for the library and one copy for the student. Additional copies may be bound for an additional fee. For students graduating in the spring, March 1 is the deadline for the student to submit the first draft to the advisor/reader. April 1 is the deadline for the student to submit the final revised copy to the advisor/reader. The grade may be affected if deadlines are missed. The professor may refuse to read the Thesis if it is submitted after the deadline, which could delay graduation. For students desiring to graduate in December the due dates are October 1 and November 1 respectively.
To view more information on MADCF required courses and program sequence, click here.