Nov 26, 2024

Academic Catalog - Spring 2014

Academic Catalog - Spring 2014 [ARCHIVED]

International Church Planting Track, M.Div.

The International Church Planting (M.Div. -ICP) is a specialized 90 hour degree track offered by Southeastern in partnership with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (IMB). The M.Div. -ICP combines a campus-based curriculum with a term of field service where academics are applied in an international church planting context. The campus curriculum can be completed in two years of full-time study. Students may opt for a two-year or three-year assignment with the IMB to complete the field curriculum.

Selection into the International Church Planting program is contingent upon acceptance by Southeastern and the IMB, and consideration is given to the number of applicants that may be deployed to the designated field site in a given year. Once accepted by Southeastern, students and their spouses enter the application process for service with the IMB. Those opting for a two-year term will apply for the IMB’s International Service Corps, and those anticipating future career service are encouraged to apply for the three-year Career Apprenticeship. More information on these requirements is available from the Lewis A. Drummond Center for Great Commission Studies on Southeastern’s campus.

Curriculum Design

Students complete 63 hours of campus-based course work, including the 51-hour M.Div. -ICP core, while working through the IMB application process. Upon completion of the campus curriculum and IMB approval, students are deployed as a group to their overseas assignment within the region mutually designated by Southeastern and the IMB. The IMB provides the laboratory wherein students learn how to plant churches by actually serving as church planters. Southeastern professors travel to the field to teach modular courses, and students complete practicum courses under the supervision of experienced church planters, gifted nationals, and proficient language coordinators. M.Div. -ICP students earn their degree while acquiring language skills, developing cross-culturally effective lifestyles, and planting churches among the least reached peoples of the world. Students must complete both the campus and field curriculum with a GPA of 2.0 or better. The student who successfully completes the M.Div. -ICP is an equipped and experienced church planter who may apply for career status with the IMB.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the M.Div. Core *, students specializing in International Church Planting must complete the following courses:

Campus Curriculum - 63 Hours

**M.Div. Core with the exception of MIS 5100 Christian Missions and one biblical language. The student may take MIS 5100 Christian Missions of campus but it is recommended to earn this credit through the IMB Orientation (see Field Curriculum).
**For this degree, students choose either Hebrew or Greek. MIS 7611 Linguistic Practicum fulfills the remaining language requirement.

I.C.P. Track - 9 Hours

MIS 6570 - Global and Cultural Studies 3 semester hr(s).
MIS 6520 - Anthropology for Cross-cultural Understanding 3 semester hr(s).
MIS 6590 - International Church Planting 3 semester hr(s).
MIS 7870 - Studies in Contextualization Theory 3 semester hr(s).

Field Curriculum - 27 Hours

**MIS 5100 Christian Missions completed by attending IMB Orientation (FPO) and completing additional academic requirements.
** Field-based courses fulfill the supervised ministry requirement for this M.Div. degree.

Modular Courses (taught by Southeastern faculty on the field during the J-term) - 6 Hours

MIS 7510 - Cross-Cultural Communication 3 semester hr(s).
MIS 6970 - Current Topics in International Missions 3 semester hr(s).

Practicum Courses (under IMB mentorship) - 18 Hours

MIS 7611 - Linguistic Practicum 6 semester hr(s).
MIS 7671 - Practicum in Intern Church Planting I 6 semester hr(s).
MIS 7672 - Practicum in Intern Church Planting II 6 semester hr(s).