Master of Arts in Church Leadership | Graduate

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

— Luke 10:2

The culmination of the Center for Church Leadership’s Entrepreneurial Ministry Leadership major, the Master of Arts in Church Leadership includes courses on spiritual care, communicating the gospel, missiology, worship, ministry internship, and a year of residency. The program equips and forms the next generation of pastors and ministry leaders who understand the complexities of the world we live in and will continue to lead the church with boldness and conviction in the gospel.

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Five-Year Program

Dual degree 4+1 program for incoming first-year students (freshmen)

Students complete a BS in Entrepreneurial Ministry Leadership and an MA in Church Leadership in 5 years. Many traditional routes for pastoral education require students to complete four years of undergraduate education on top of an additional three to four years of graduate school education. By careful curriculum restructuring, redundancies are eliminated and classes optimized. Combined with course and practical ministry experiences during the summer term, this program allows you to complete both a BA and a MA degree in just five years, followed by a one year residency. The accelerated format will enable students to enter full time ministry three years earlier than in traditional programs.

Why Entrepreneurial Ministry Leadership?

Students in the Center for Church Leadership will be well formed theologically, but they will also be well prepared to lead. Courses in organizational and nonprofit leadership will equip them for the day-to-day management and leadership of a ministry organization. These ministers will better understand the various vocations of their church members and see them as integral partners in ministry.

Graduates will also be equipped contextually in a region of global enterprise and ethnic and cultural diversity. The nations come to the greater Los Angeles region. This is an excellent place to equip ministry leaders who understand the changing culture of the United States and the world. Well-equipped ministers help fulfill God’s mission of proclaiming the Gospel and equipping the saints.

We’ve really enjoyed the Concordia talent that God has brought to our internship program. My intern was an exceptional student who was eager to learn and lead, had a 'whatever it takes' servant attitude, and contributed to our ministry in significant ways. Her diverse skill set, heart for the Church, and fresh perspective made our church stronger, and the questions she asked and ways she pushed herself to grow inspired me to be a better leader.

Lisa Birle
Intern Program Manager
Saddleback Church

Curriculum

The 4+1 track allows students who have completed the Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Ministry Leadership to apply for our one-year Master of Arts in Church Leadership graduate program. Up to 23 units of the BS program will satisfy MA course requirements, which will enable students to complete both their BS and MA coursework in five years, with a year of residency to follow.

Sample Church Leadership Courses

MACL 502: Spiritual Care
3

MACL 502: Spiritual Care

MACL 530: Communicating the Gospel I
3

MACL 530 – Communicating the Gospel I

MACL 531: Communicating the Gospel II
3

MACL 531 – Communicating the Gospel II

THL 540: Entrepreneurial Mission Planting
3

Explores business and entrepreneurial methods as they apply to church planters and new mission starts. Practical emphasis upon understanding entrepreneurial leadership, team ministry, learning from success, dealing with risk, reaching new people, developing marketing materials, financial planning and cash flow, and balancing a busy life will be presented by guest lecturers experienced in entrepreneurial church leadership.

THL 540: Pastor as Missionary
3

THL 540 – Pastor as Missionary

View Full Curriculum

Residency

After a student has completed all of the MA coursework, they will need to complete a one-year, full-time ministry residency. The residency is the capstone experience for the program. It allows the student to put into practice – in a deeper and more intentional way – all that they’ve learned and experienced in the Center. Completion of a residency enables a student to be better prepared for a lifetime calling in ministry, as well as gives them a competitive edge when seeking a full-time career.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition/Fee	Cost
Application Fee	$50
Tuition	$625/unit

Generous scholarships are available for students who are part of the Center for Church Leadership. Our Financial Aid Office and the Center's Program Director are available to answer any questions you might have about financing this investment in your education.

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Personalized Coaching and Mentorship

Formation is a critical part of this program. It is embedded throughout our ministerial curriculum and is particularly emphasized in the CCI Ministry classes, CED Fieldwork seminars, and in the summer terms. Each student who comes into the program will receive personalized coaching and mentorship. The coaching will be holistic in nature focusing on the entire person in the areas of academics, spirituality, personal growth, and ministry.

Prof. Jonathan Ruehs
Program Director
jonathan.ruehs@cui.edu
(949) 214-3114