Catalog 2012-2014 - Anderson University School of Theology

Faculty and Student Organizations, continued
COMMUNITY LIFE
• Seminary Community Council: The Seminary Community Council is the vehicle
through which the School of Theology plans its common life of fellowship and service.
Task groups implement corporate expressions of witness and service, devotional, social,
recreational, and publication activities. This Council is guided by the Office of Student
Development.
• Qara (Women in Ministry): Qara provides opportunities for women to become an
integral part of the seminary community, to relate with all individuals within the community,
to reflect on what it means to be a woman and a minister in the church, and
to explore and communicate crucial issues regarding individuals in ministry. The seminary
website contains detailed information and resources about this ministry program
to the church.
Pre-Seminary Education
It is not possible to prescribe one pattern as normative for all pre-seminary education.
Widely varying emphases and settings of ministry encourage a variety of educational backgrounds.
Nonetheless, it is possible and desirable to identify categories of learning which typically are foundational
for graduate theological education.
• Effective communication skills: Effective communication skills are essential for both
interpreting and communicating the faith of the church. The ability to read, write, and
speak standard written English is vital. Students are also encouraged to have a reading
knowledge of at least one language other than English. It is highly desirable that a reading
knowledge of Greek and Hebrew be developed as a basic tool for meaningful graduate
theological education. Additional language skills might be essential, depending on vocational
intent and the setting of potential ministry.
• Liberal arts or humanities: General understandings of human selfhood and existence,
modern social institutions and problems, culture and religion, science and technology,
and the modes of understanding are helpful in theological education. A considerable
degree of competence should be developed in one or more of the categories of learning
noted above. Such competence often is represented by a major in a field such as philosophy,
sociology, psychology, or history of civilization. Students are expected to have
had some academic experience in the fields of philosophy, sociology, psychology, and
history.
• Theological or religious studies: Theological understandings of major religious traditions
and the contemporary questions of values and faith in the context of the humanities
and communication skills is important. Knowledge of the nature and content of the biblical
materials is of particular significance as a foundation for graduate training in Christian
ministry.
Anderson University School of Theology Catalog, 2014-2015 17