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:

MA Theology (Theology & Culture)

MA Theology Courses
29 Units

THL 501: Introduction to Theological Research
2

This course will examine the essential methods and resources for the academic study of theology with attention given to research methods for projects that do not require an academic thesis. Procedures for identifying, proposing, researching, organizing, writing, and defending the thesis or project will be covered as students are guided in beginning their research.

THL 502: Ministry in Cultural Context
3

This course will utilize a sociological/anthropological framework to examine religious systems as students investigate the impact of social and cultural processes on the expression of faith with the goal of increasing their effectiveness in ministering to people from a variety of cultures.

TPRC 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 504: Survey of Historical Theology
3

This course will give an introduction to historical theology and a survey of the development of the theological formulations of the church with an emphasis on "challenges to orthodoxy" laid upon the church at various times and the role such events played in the church's confessional responses to enhance the student's understanding of the church's theological and doctrinal tasks today.

THL 510: Lutheran Confessions
3

A study of the Augsburg Confession, The Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Luther's Large and Small Catechisms, the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, and the Formula of Concord will be discussed in this course in terms of their historical setting and theological content along with the relationship of the Confessions to Scripture and the confessional application of their teaching in the context of the 21st century.

THL 521: World Religions
3

This course will survey the world's major, non-Christian religions including their origin, development, sacred writings, major motifs, belief patterns, ritual and worship, social patterns, and ethics with attention given to the similarities and differences between these and the Christian faith, especially in the context of the multi-religious communities of 21st century America.

THL 529: Lutheran Hermeneutics and the Theology of Scripture
3

This course will study the Lutheran understanding of the nature of Scripture followed by an examination of its major themes with an emphasis on interpretive principles (e.g., Law and Gospel) for use in congregational ministry.

THL 565: Christianity, Ethics and Contemporary Culture
3

This course will explore morality and ethics in light of scriptural teachings concerning creation and redemption as students are oriented to the main approaches, both traditional and contemporary, of non-biblical philosophical ethics and how Christian faith interacts with these approaches. The significance for ethics of the Lutheran confessional distinction between GodÃ¢â¬â¢s left and right hand rule will be explored in depth as students pursue an ethics research project tailored to their overall master's program.

TPRC 521: Theology and Practice of Mission
3

This course will root the work of "evangelism/outreach" in a thoroughly biblical view of mission and develop practical outreach methodologies to be used in a Lutheran congregation and/or mission setting as students produce an "educational" plan that will allow the identification, training, and deploying of committed Christian leaders for the growth of Christ's church.

TSYS 511: Systematics I
3

The course will examine the nature and function of biblical theology and its application to the questions posed in the post-modern age including the doctrine of God and His Trinitarian nature and attributes; the doctrine of creation and providence; and His creatures, both angels and humans.

Pastoral Certification

Pastoral Certification Courses
54 Units

TEXO 507: Old Testament Isagogics
3

This course will introduce the Torah, Prophets, historical books, and the other Old Testament writings. The history of Israel will be surveyed as each book is studied with an emphasis on the content, form and composition, theological motifs, and relevance of the material.

TEXO 510: Old Testament Book
3

A major Old Testament book is studied in detail to uncover sermonic and Bible study concepts for communication.

TGRE 501: Greek I
3

A study of the fundamentals of New Testament Greek. Morphology, syntax and vocabulary for translation and linguistic analysis of passages of the New Testament.

TGRE 502: Greek II
3

A continued study of the fundamentals of the New Testament Greek. Morphology, syntax and vocabulary for translation and linguistic analysis of passages of the New Testament. Will also overview appropriate use of Bible study software for Greek translation. Prerequisite: TGRE 501 or equivalent.

TEXN 510: The Synoptic Gospels and Acts
3

This course will offer a comprehensive overview of all isagogical information concerning the Synoptic Gospels and Acts. An individual Gospel will be selected and translated with a focus on the theological meaning, emphasis, and its modern application. Prerequisite: TGRE 502.

TEXN 520: Romans/Pauline Literature
3

This course will offer a comprehensive overview of the Pauline corpus (excluding the prison and pastoral epistles) with an in-depth study of correspondence with one of the congregations including an inspection of the literary, cultural, and structural issues with attention paid to the theological content, meaning, and suggested applications for contemporary issues. Prerequisite: TGRE 502.

TEXN 540: Prison, Pastoral, and General Epistles
3

The course offers a comprehensive overview of all isagogical information concerning Paul's Prison Epistles, the Pastoral Epistles, the General Epistles and Hebrews. Individual books will also be selected for in-depth translation and application. Particular attention will be paid to the pastoral and church related issues proclaimed in the epistles towards a practical competency of leading a congregation in the ethnic, multi-cultural context of modern pastoral mission work. Prerequisite: TGRE 502 or equivalent.

TEXN 532: Johannine Corpus
3

This course will offer a comprehensive overview of the Johannine Corpus and an in-depth study of one of the books as the literary genre, exegetical, and interpretational issues are examined and how they enhance one's understanding of the book. Prerequisite: TGRE 502.

THL 505: Polity, Leadership and Team Ministry
3

The polity of the Lutheran church and its relationship to leadership development and team ministry in the congregational setting will be examined in this course using lecture and case studies to biblically examine the history of The Lutheran ChurchÃ¢â¬â¢Missouri Synod's (LCMS) polity as well as the various models that are being utilized today in various parish situations.

THL 530: The Reformation
3

This course will introduce the social, political, and intellectual context of the various 16th century reformations of the churches in Europe as well as the events, ideas, and implications of these reform movements with attention given to both the Ã¢â¬ÅmagisterialÃ¢â¬Â and Ã¢â¬ÅradicalÃ¢â¬Â Protestant reformations as well as the Catholic reformation.

TPRC 502: Pastoral Theology
3

Through lectures, written projects, case studies, and discussions this course, along with pertinent readings in each area will look at the theology and practice of the church in her Word and Sacrament ministry, with biblical and confessional principles identified and applied for evangelical pastoral practice. A variety of pastoral care areas will be considered in order to demonstrate the ministry of addressing and administering the Word and Sacraments to God's people, individually and corporately, in their human situation.

TPRC 503: Pastor as Counselor
3

This course will study the theoretical and practical foundations of counseling, techniques and practices as they pertain to parish and institutional ministries, with a view toward developing a personal methodological approach to pastoral counseling that integrates the Law/Gospel principle.

TPRC 530: Homiletics I
3

Through lectures and written assignments this course will focus on preaching from a text and writing several complete sermons along with the study of communication theories and development of oral communication skills, with special reference to effective proclamation of the full counsel of God (Law and Gospel). Laboratory preaching experience is videotaped for critical evaluation by instructor, students, and speaker.

TPRC 531: Homiletics II
3

This course will look at the purpose, function, and structure of a sermon as a part of liturgy and worship including textual preaching focused on parables, miracles, and Old Testament texts; the polarity of Law and Gospel in all preaching; sermon theory; and delivery. Prerequisite: TPRC 530.

TPRC 542: Christian Worship in Cultural Context
3

This course will examine and assess the historical and theological understanding of worship within the Lutheran context, observing the forms and practice of worship within present, ethnic/multi-cultural communities. Guided by proper theological, historical, and contextual models, students will promote sacramental worship in various, new ethnic/multi-cultural missional settings.

TPRC 541: Mission Planting Institute
3

This course will provide students with the resources and techniques for designing, writing, and implementing a mission plan to be used for planting a new ministry. Students will have the opportunity to develop a mission statement, core values, vision, and strategies for a mission plant along with an examination of missiology, cross-cultural ministry, evangelistic preaching, and entrepreneurial leadership. A detailed written mission plan for a specific ministry site will be required for completion of this course.

TSYS 512: Systematics II
3

This course will examine the person and work of Jesus Christ and its application to the questions posed in the post-modern age including the saving grace of God, the humanity and deity of Jesus Christ, atonement, the offices of Christ, the application of salvation, justification, conversion, and saving faith of sinful humanity.

TSYS 513: Systematics III
3

The course will examine the person and work of the Holy Spirit and its application to the questions posed in the post-modern age including sanctification, good works, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and absolution, Law and Gospel, the Christian church, the office of the public ministry, and eschatology.

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.

Curriculum Summary

Cross-cultural Ministry Center