Chapter 10

MINISTERIAL CURRICULUM

I. LIFE'S OBJECT

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Cor. 2:9. {MCTC: 4.1}

"To dwell forever in this home of the blest, to bear in soul, body and spirit, not the dark traces of sin and the curse, but the perfect likeness of our Creator, and through ceaseless ages to advance in wisdom, in knowledge, and in holiness, ever exploring new fields of thought, ever finding new wonders and new glories, ever increasing in capacity to know and to enjoy and to love, and knowing that there is still beyond us joy and love and wisdom infinite, -- such is the object to which the Christian's hope is pointing, for which Christian's education is preparing. To secure this education, and to aid others to secure it, should be the object of the Christian's life." -- Counsels to Teachers, p. 55. {MCTC: 4.2}

1. Vocational

The manual phase of the student's training. It is gained through daily pursuit of one or more of the institution's various employments. Both in theory and in practice, right methods and procedures are constantly inculcated for right results. Efficiency is stressed as the result of energetic application and concentration, carefulness, thoroughness, speed, and proficiency. The irrepressible desire for some greater good, the indomitable will to success, the strenuous exertion, the untiring perseverance are cultivated as the elements of character which make a man successful and honored among men, and which will win for him the highest of all promotions and commendations,

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Matt. 25:21. Work is thus dignified and restored to its original primacy in the redemptive processes. {MCTC: 10.3}

Therefore the basic and most potent factor of discipline and growth in the student's training experience (as well as the means of his livelihood), it is accordingly exploited as the most productive source and means of symmetrical character development. {MCTC: 11.1}

2. Spirit of Prophecy

A perspective study of the prophetic gift, its vital place and purpose in the church, past, present, and future. Special attention is directed to its climactic manifestation, work, and fruits. {MCTC: 11.2}

3. Prophetic Eschatology

An intensive study of end-conditions and end-events as revealed in correlative and convergent lines of prophetic testimony, parable, ceremony, and number. Predominant emphasis is upon their pragmatic integration in the believer's credenda. {MCTC: 11.3}

4. Revealed Philosophy

A strictly non-speculative inquiry into the divine scheme of things, into the Absolute and Its unities. Approach is made objectively in the light of revealed knowledge. The aim is progressive elevation and enlargement of the soul's horizons, and its consequent activation on the divine plane of living, as the only truly good and more abundant life -- that which is measured by the life of God. Accordingly, its primary foci of exploration are the immensity and diversity of the love of God. {MCTC: 11.4}

5. Revealed Psychophysics

A Scriptural study of the great psychophysical laws governing the physical, mental, and moral balance of true Christian growth. This threefold development and integration of the personality is carefully viewed in its consummate embodiment in the man, Jesus. The ideal of the Christ poise and power is assiduously inculcated and pursued. Animated application is keynoted. {MCTC: 12.1}

6. Revealed Sociology

An examination of the true social structure (the Edenic man, in his Edenic home in the Edenic school, in the Edenic state -- the kingdom of the first dominion), the causes of its fall, and the conditions of its restoration. Most intensive study is devoted to the third phase of the course -- to the social reforms involved in the regeneration, and in the transformation into the Kingdom of God, of the individual, the family, the school, and the church among those elements of society which elect to identify themselves with the divine purpose. {MCTC: 12.2}

7. Revealed History

A survey of history from the divine point of view. Causes underlying the rise and fall of empires and nations from creation to the present are incisively traced. Types and cycles are especially noticed. Main attention is fixed on the agencies of the all-merciful Providence silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will behind, above, and through all the vast play and counterplay of human interests and power and passions. Final focus is upon the climactic scene in the drama -- the restoration of the Kingdom of God in the light of the great lessons brought to view. {MCTC: 13.1}

8. Sacred Poetry and Song

An excavation into the poetic veins of revealed truth. The course includes a brief non-technical study of the form and the kinds of poetry in the Bible, while chief concern is with the spiritual esthetic of the sacred poems and songs. {MCTC: 13.2}

9. Homiletics

A study of the art and science of effective composition and delivery of Scriptural discourses. Ministerial ideals are woven in throughout the course. The spiritual element is held aloft as the most important in all stages of the discourse. Varied opportunity is given for delivery. {MCTC: 13.3}

10. Christian English

Remedial drill in the fundamentals of grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, punctuation, and oral and written composition. Constant emphasis is upon language study from the higher point of view, that it "be always with grace, seasoned with salt," "the outward expression of an inward grace." {MCTC: 14.1}

II. The Student's Pledge

As Christian students in ____________________, devoted to God, and consequently loyal to the just principles of this free "government under God," we pledge our hearts, our minds, our hands, our all, first to the [flag] of God's eternal kingdom, and to the Theocracy for which it stands, one people made up of all nations, and bound by the cords of everlasting love, liberty, purity justice, peace, happiness, light and life for all, and second "to the [flag] of the _____________________, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all." {MCTC: 14.2}

REFERENCES

AA – The Acts of the Apostles, 1911

AH – The Adventist Home, 1952

AG – God’s Amazing Grace (1973)

4BC – S.D.A. Bible Commentary vol. 4 (1955)

BLJ – To Be Like Jesus (2004)

CC – Conflict and Courage (1970)

CCh - Counsels to the Church (1991)

CE – Christian Education (1893, 1894)

ChS - Christian Service (1925)

CG – Child Guidance (1954)

Christian Educator, Aug. 1, 1897

COL - Christ’s Object Lessons (1900)

CSA – A Call to Stand Apart (2002)

CT - Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students (1913)

CTr – Christ Triumphant (1999)

CW – Counsels to Writers and Editors (1946)

DA – The Desire of Ages (1888)

Ev - Evangelism (1946)

EW - Early Writings (1882)

FLB – The Faith I Live By (1958)

GCB - General Conference Bulletin, 1913

GC – The Great Controversy (1911)

GC88 – The Great Controversy 1888 edition

GCS – 1950 General Conference Special

GW - Gospel Workers (1915)

HM – The Home Missionary, Nov. 1, 1893

HP – In Heavenly Places (1967)

HS - Historical Sketches of the Foreign Mission (1886)

Letter 28, 1883

Letter 25b, 1892

Letter 38, 1894

Letter 63, 1893

Letter 69, 1896

Letter 92, 1900

Letter 106, 1907

Letter 147, 1897

Mar. - Maranatha (1976)

2MCP - Mind, Character and Personality vol. 2 (1977

Messenger of the Lord by Herbert E. Douglass

MR – Manuscript Releases vol. nos. 63, June 29, 1906

2MCP - Mind, Character and Personality vol. 2 (1977)

MCTC - Mount Carmel Training Center (1942)

NL – A New Life (Revival and Beyond (1972)

NYI – The New York Indicator, February 7, 1906

PHO28 - Elder Daniels and Fresno Church ( 1890)

PK - Prophets and Kings (1917)

PP. Patriarchs and Prophets (1890)

Pr - Prayer 2002

RC – Reflecting Christ (1985)

Review and Heralds, June 24, 1884; Mar. 8, 1887; Oct. 8, 1889; May 6, 1890; Nov. 18, 1890; Dec. 23, 1890; January 6, 1891; Feb. 10, 1891; Mar. 1, 1892; Mar. 29, 1892; Aug. 16, 1892; Apr. 10, 1893; Apr. 25, 1893; May 8, 1894; Nov. 5, 1895; Feb. 18, 1896; June 30, 1896; May 16, 1899; July 18, 1899; July 21, 1903; May 25, 1905; July 26, 1906

SM - Selected Messages vols. 1(1958); 2 (1958); 3 (1980)

Signs of the Times, Sept. 28, 1882; Aug. 17, 1891; Dec. 28, 1891; July 11, 1892; Oct. 3, 1892; Feb. 13, 1893; Nov. 6, 1893; Dec. 25, 1893; June 11, 1894; Nov. 5, 1896; Jan. 20, 1898; Mar. 15, 1910;

Spirit of Prophecy vol. 2

SpM – Spalding and Magan Collection (1985)

SC - Steps to Christ (1892, 1893)

2SC - Symbolic Code vol 2 page 9 par. 2

1T - Testimonies for the Church vol. 1 (1855-1868)

2T - Testimonies for the Church vol. 2 (1868-1971)

3T - Testimonies for the Church vol. 3 (1872-1875)

4T - Testimonies for the Church vol. 4 (1876-1881)

5T - Testimonies for the Church vol. 5 (1882-1889)

6T - Testimonies for the Church vol. 6 (1901)

7T - Testimonies for the Church vol. 7 (1902)

8T - Testimonies for the Church vol. 8 (1904)

TM - Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers ( 1923)

MB - Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing (1896)

2TG - Timely Greetings vol. 2 No. 31 page 4 par. 1

TSA – Testimonies to Southern Africa (1977)

6Tr - Tract 6 (1936, 1941, 1942)

WM - Welfare Ministry (1952)

WLF – A Word to the Little Flock, 1847

YRP – Ye Shall Receive Power (1995)

17 Manuscript Releases

1888 – The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials (1987)

2SAT - Sermons and Talks vol. 2, (1994)

20MR - 20 Manuscript Releases

28 Fundamental Doctrine of SDA

6MR - 6 Manuscript Releases