Posted: 8/13/04
Seminary, BGCT to provide bivocational classes
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
BELTON—The Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond is partnering with the Baptist General Convention of Texas Office of Bivocational/Smaller Membership Church Development to offer specialized online classes tailored for ministers of smaller churches.
This fall the seminary will offer courses on the biblical foundation for bivocational ministry, an introduction to team building and leadership, as well as social dynamics in ministry as the initial classes in a certificate program. Experienced Texas Baptist bivocational ministers will facilitate each online course.
Kim Siegenthaler, program coordinator for the seminary’s school of Christian ministry, said the classes are an effort to meet smaller church ministers’ desire for theological education without giving up their pastorates.
The program allows ministers to become better equipped for God-given tasks at their own pace, Siegenthaler added. Students can work around their schedule in doing homework and studying.
“It’s really designed for the adult longing to get what they need to be more effective in ministry,” Siegenthaler said.
Bob Ray, director of the BGCT Office of Bivocational/Smaller Church Development, said the courses will be contextualized to Texas bivocational ministry as the qualified teachers draw on their years of bivocational experience.
“This gives our bivocational ministers a chance to take very practical courses that they are going to use in their everyday ministry,” he said.
The partnership is the latest cooperative effort between the seminary and Texas Baptists. The school also is working with the Baptist University of the Americas to produce an online Hispanic certificate program and with the Texas Baptist Laity Institute to develop online courses designed to equip laypeople.
All three programs are part of the seminary’s vision of taking training to congregations, not relying on churches to send members and leaders to the school, Siegenthaler said.
“We recognize there is a need among laity and leadership for theological education,” she said.
For more information, visit www.btsr.edu.
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