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Curriculum Summary

Meeting the multi-cultural contextual needs of 21st Century America and the needs of the LCMS, the Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC) provides academic and practical training, forming missionary pastors and church leaders who are skilled at crossing cultures and reaching the lost with the Gospel.

Together, the academic and practical portions of the curriculum total 106 semester hours. Additionally, students whose primary language is English must become familiar with a modern spoken language other than English by successfully completing 6 semester credits (or equivalent) of undergraduate level language courses. The language must be one that will help the student with the New Ministry Start required in his vicarage. Students typically complete the program in 4 years.

Academic

The academic portion of the curriculum consists of two interlinked components. Students take 29 semesters hours of coursework that lead to an M.A. Theology with an emphasis in Theology & Culture. They also take 54 semester hours of additional coursework that lead to full certification and ordination in the LCMS. Here is a list of required courses:

Practical

All course work in the CMC is embedded in real-life ministry and mission experience. We call this embedded learning experience the “CMC Missional Vicarage.” It is four years of in-field mission and ministry experience, is required for both the M.A. Theology and Certification, and runs concurrently with your coursework. Students register for a vicarage "course" every semester until they have completed all eight of them. In each vicarage "course" you plan activities, carry out those activities, and then journal your progress. Typically, in the first half of the Missional Vicarage, you carry out basic mission and ministry activities at a local church. In the second half, you plan and finally launch a new ministry in the community that crosses a significant cultural barrier and reaches the lost outside of the church in the surrounding community. All of this is closely coordinated with district facilitators and carried out under the guidance of a local congregation, a Mentor Pastor, and a CUI Faculty Supervisor. The vicarage "courses" are:

Missional Vicarage

  • Missional Vicarage Courses
  • 23 Units
  • TVIC 501: Vicarage I: Practicum I
  • 2

This vicarage (internship) embeds the students' missionary-pastoral formation in the context of hands-on ministry and mission providing the student with opportunities for spiritual formation, personal growth, and professional development. The student will develop mission awareness and leadership which will shape his future ministry. Through mentorship, observation, and participation, he will learn about ministerial and missional functions and how to carry out those functions effectively as a faithful Lutheran missionary pastor. Offered as a Pass/No Pass course.

  • TVIC 502: Vicarage I: Practicum II
  • 3

This vicarage (internship) embeds the students' missionary-pastoral formation in the context of hands-on ministry and mission providing the student with opportunities for spiritual formation, personal growth, and professional development. The student will develop mission awareness and leadership which will shape his future ministry. Through mentorship, observation, and participation, he will learn about ministerial and missional functions and how to carry out those functions effectively as a faithful Lutheran missionary pastor. Offered as a Pass/No Pass course. Prerequisite: TVIC 501.

  • TVIC 503: Vicarage II: Internship I
  • 3

This vicarage (internship) embeds the students' missionary-pastoral formation in the context of hands-on ministry and mission providing the student with opportunities for spiritual formation, personal growth, and professional development. The student will develop mission awareness and leadership which will shape his future ministry. Through mentorship, observation, and participation, he will learn about ministerial and missional functions and how to carry out those functions effectively as a faithful Lutheran missionary pastor. Offered as a Pass/No Pass course. Prerequisite: TVIC 502.

  • TVIC 504: Vicarage II: Internship II
  • 3

This vicarage (internship) embeds the students' missionary-pastoral formation in the context of hands-on ministry and mission providing the student with opportunities for spiritual formation, personal growth, and professional development. The student will develop mission awareness and leadership which will shape his future ministry. Through mentorship, observation, and participation, he will learn about ministerial and missional functions and how to carry out those functions effectively as a faithful Lutheran missionary pastor. Offered as a Pass/No Pass course. Prerequisite: TVIC 503.

  • TVIC 505: Vicarage III: Mission Plant I
  • 3

This vicarage (internship) embeds the students' missionary-pastoral formation in the context of hands-on ministry and mission providing the student with opportunities for spiritual formation, personal growth, and professional development. The student will develop mission awareness and leadership which will shape his future ministry. Through mentorship, observation, and participation, he will learn about ministerial and missional functions and how to carry out those functions effectively as a faithful Lutheran missionary pastor. Offered as a Pass/No Pass course. Prerequisite: TVIC 504.

  • TVIC 506: Vicarage III: Mission Plant II
  • 3

This vicarage (internship) embeds the students' missionary-pastoral formation in the context of hands-on ministry and mission providing the student with opportunities for spiritual formation, personal growth, and professional development. The student will develop mission awareness and leadership which will shape his future ministry. Through mentorship, observation, and participation, he will learn about ministerial and missional functions and how to carry out those functions effectively as a faithful Lutheran missionary pastor. Offered as a Pass/No Pass course. Prerequisite: TVIC 505.

  • TVIC 507: Vicarage IV: Church Planting I
  • 3

This vicarage (internship) embeds the students' missionary-pastoral formation in the context of hands-on ministry and mission providing the student with opportunities for spiritual formation, personal growth, and professional development. The student will develop mission awareness and leadership which will shape his future ministry. Through mentorship, observation, and participation, he will learn about ministerial and missional functions and how to carry out those functions effectively as a faithful Lutheran missionary pastor. Offered as a Pass/No Pass course. Prerequisite: TVIC 506.

  • TVIC 508: Vicarage IV: Church Planting II
  • 3

This vicarage (internship) embeds the students' missionary-pastoral formation in the context of hands-on ministry and mission providing the student with opportunities for spiritual formation, personal growth, and professional development. The student will develop mission awareness and leadership which will shape his future ministry. Through mentorship, observation, and participation, he will learn about ministerial and missional functions and how to carry out those functions effectively as a faithful Lutheran missionary pastor. Offered as a Pass/No Pass course. Graduation Application Fee: $185. Prerequisite: TVIC 507.

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