Studies & Actions
of the General Assembly of
The Presbyterian Church in America
[7th General Assembly (1979).]
GUIDELINES FOR THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION
IV. THEOLOGICAL SUB-COMMITTEE
In accordance with the instructions of the 1978 General Assembly on page
219 of the Assembly Minutes the Committee sent the following letter
to all presbyteries in March:
"The purpose of this letter is to elicit a written response from
each presbytery in the matter of its plans and intentions with
regard to implementing the Uniform Curriculum adopted by the Sixth
General Assembly as a part of its obligations in preparing candidates
for the Gospel ministry for ordination. Specifically, the material
requested is needed in order that this Sub-Committee may carry
out the injunction to give preliminary approval to presbytery
training programs so that the presbyteries may be able to elect
representatives to the certification committees (Minutes of the
Sixth General Assembly, Item III, 13, 61, p. 87).
"Please review actions taken by the Sixth General Assembly which
are pertinent to this matter: Minutes, Appendix G, Section IV.
Theological SubCommittee on Uniform Curriculum (pp. 214-217);
the Report on the Committee of Commissioners, Recommendations
III, 9 - 13 (pp. 86-87). Part IV of the Report of the Committee
of Commissioners on Judicial Business contains material regarding
necessary changes to the Book of Church Order to implement a mandatory
year of licensure and probation before ordination (pp. 115-119).
This material should also be studied as it is integrally related
to the concept of ministerial training.
"As you study the Uniform Curriculum which has been adopted and
compare it with the stipulated course requirements set forth by
any of the four recognized seminaries, you will observe that the
Uniform Curriculum is broader in scope than the graduation requirements
of these seminaries. In addition, upon examination, many seminary
graduates are found to be weak in some particulars to such a degree
that remedial studies are indicated. These two conditions illuminate
the fact that each presbytery is going to have to plan for some
academic instruction, as well as practical instruction, to be
carried out during the period of supervised probation.
"Another factor to be considered is that the Uniform Curriculum
must now be met unless an individual is to be ordained under the
extraordinary clause (cf. Minutes, Item III, 13.4, p. 87). However,
a presbytery cannot certify that a candidate has met the Uniform
Curriculum requirements until the presbytery program itself has
been approved by the Certification (Accrediting) Committee. Presbytery
programs will initially gain certification by the 22-man Theological
Education Sub-Committee. This preliminary approval will give the
presbytery the right to place a man on the Certification (Accrediting)
Committee, which becomes the permanent overseer of quality and
uniformity in regard to each presbytery's program.
"To gain this initial approval, presbytery must present a written
plan to this Sub-Committee. To assist you in drafting this preliminary
plan, some guidelines have been approved by this Sub-Committee.
These are designed to help you understand your options and to
indicate some of the categories to which consideration must be
given in preparing your plan. These guidelines include typical
models of the 3 + 1 and 2 + 2 plans, as well as some planning
criteria. Enough detail should be included in your submittal to
allow this SubCommittee to determine the adequacy and the quality
of your activities in the preparation of probationers for ordination."
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The Committee also recommends that each presbytery supervise this program
through joint efforts of the Christian Education Committee and a membership/candidates
committee.
The introductory portion has explained the direction and purpose of this
suggested guideline paper. It is suggested only because each presbytery
may wish to include a different type plan altogether which would then
be submitted to the 22-man Sub-Committee for tentative approval or the
Certification (Accrediting) Committee which will finally replace the 22-man
Sub-Committee.
The Sub-Committee has suggested three possible models for each presbytery
to consider in developing its own program: If the Book of Church Order
is changed to require the one-year mandatory training period of probation
then every presbytery will be required to have its particular plan.
A. Model One - Three plus One.
The first suggestion of a model will deal with the 3 + 1 plan. This indicates
that a candidate has received his M.Div. from a particular seminary but
then is required to have one year of probationary training under the presbytery
that would seek to ordain him at the end of that period or at some later
period.
The presbytery would have the responsibility to examine the candidate
in the required areas of training. If he is found to be deficient in any
area, e.g. English Bible, then during that year the presbytery would have
the responsibility to work with him in that particular area as well as
in the pastoral areas.
The candidate could be assigned to a supervising pastor or pastors having
expertise in certain'areas. Remuneration for this year of probation is
left to the discretion of the presbytery and candidate. He could work
as a licentiate in serving pastorless churches, or as an assistant to
another pastor.
During this year there are eight areas that would need particular attention
from the presbytery. They are:
1) English Bible. He would be given opportunities to apply his
knowledge in supervised, live teaching situations. Knowledge of the original
languages is assumed because of his M.Div. degree.
2) Devotional Life. The licentiate should have regular times of
prayer with his supervising pastor/pastors. The pastors should disciple
the licentiate in his personal devotional life and his family's as well.
3) Worship. The licentiate should have training in leading and
preaching in worship services. He should be critiqued by the supervising
pastor. Instruction in baptism, Lord's supper, weddings and funerals must
be given.
4) Evangelism. The candidate should have an opportunity to observe
supervising pastors in personal evangelism and be given opportunities
to participate in personal evangelism and other expressive methods of
evangelism.
5) Missiology. He should study the area of church growth both at
home and throughout the world. He should demonstrate a working knowledge
of the mission programs of the PCA.
6) Presbyterian Polity. The candidate should be given opportunity
to sit in on major committees of Presbytery, and attend General Assembly.
He should be developing a working knowledge of the Book of Church Order
as he attends the meetings of the courts of the Church. Robert's Rules
is another area in which the licentiate is to demonstrate a working knowledge.
He is to be exposed to good church administration during this year and
take responsibility in developing administrative abilities.
7) Counseling. He should be given opportunities to sit in on counseling
situations and given some opportunity under direction to do some actual
counseling.
8) Christian Education. The candidate should during this year also
have an opportunity to work with the Sunday School program, to participate
in teaching training courses, in instructing the youth in catechism and
having some input with the youth work.
B. Model Two - Two Extensions plus Two Serving.
If the Presbytery has allowed a man to go the 2 + 2 route, i.e. two years
of academic training at an established institution, then he would receive
two years of tutorial training. We suggest one of two methods in fulfilling
the 2 + 2 program. First:
The presbytery may allow a candidate first to attend an extension seminary
in his area or some other approved area. During this time he remains closely
connected to the local church and could even continue employment in other
areas. Then after two years, he would attend a resident seminary.
Those already using this method do something like this:
YEAR ONE |
First Quarter |
Second Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Bible Content |
Bible Content |
Bible Content |
Greek Grammar |
Greek Grammar |
Greek |
Church History |
Church History |
Church History |
Reformed Theology |
Reformed Evangelism |
Personal Life |
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YEAR TWO |
First Quarter |
Second Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Bible Content |
Bible Content |
Bible Content |
NT Interpretation |
History of Reformation |
Teaching Bible Courses |
Polity |
Principles of Preaching |
Pastoral Administration |
Pastoral Care |
Hebrew |
Hebrew |
Hebrew |
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The last two years of resident training would follow this general course
direction, as adapted from the 1977-78 Catalogue of Reformed Theological
Seminary. Courses listed in the RTS Catalogue in Junior Year.
YEAR THREE |
First Quarter |
Second Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Hebrew Exegesis |
Hebrew Exegesis |
Old Testament Theology I |
Advanced New Testament Inter- |
Prophets |
New Testament History |
pretation |
NT Introduction |
Missions |
Church History |
Educational Ministry |
Ministry of Teaching |
Evangelism Clinic |
Preaching Clinic |
Pastoral Counseling Clinic |
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YEAR FOUR |
First Quarter |
Second Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Old Testament Theology Intro- |
Old Testament Introduction I |
Old Testament |
duction II |
Poets |
Theology II |
Systematic Theology |
NT Theology |
Systematic Theology |
History of Christianity in America |
Systematic Theology |
Ethics II |
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Ethics I |
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C. Model three - Two Seminary plus Two Tutorial.
This approach would allow a man to attend a resident seminary for the
first two years and possible work towards a Master of Religious Arts,
such as is available at Westminster Theological Seminary, or the Master
of Theological Study at CTS, or equivalent at RTS or TPTS. The Presbytery
would then pick up the third and fourth years of tutorial training.
It would work like this. On page 215 of the 1978 Minutes of the Sixth
General Assembly, where the approved curriculum is located:
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To be taught by: |
Under Scripture: |
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I. Bible Content |
Presbytery |
II. Languages |
Seminary |
III. Methods of Interpretation |
Seminary |
IV. Supervised Practical Opportunities |
Presbytery |
Under Doctrine: |
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I. Church History |
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A. Survey of Church History
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Seminary |
B. American Church History
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Presbytery |
C. History of Reformation
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Seminary |
D. Presbyterian Church History
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Presbytery |
II. Apologetics |
Seminary |
III. Theology and Ethics |
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A. Systematics
|
Seminary |
B. Ethics
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Seminary |
IV. Polity |
Presbytery |
V. Practical Theology |
Presbytery |
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(Except possibly Christian Education and Missiology) |
As the presbytery picks up the third and fourth years of tutorial training
it would follow this progression:
Third Year |
Fourth Year |
Prophetic Books |
Bible Content (English) |
General Epistles & Revelation |
Supervised Practical Opportunities |
The Reformation |
American Church History |
Doctrine of the Holy Spirit |
Presbyterian Church History |
Sermon Content |
Theology of the Church |
Pastoral Theology |
Theology of Westminster Standards |
Poetic Books |
Polity and Parliamentary Procedure |
Modern Age |
Practical Theology |
Doctrine of Christian Life |
Personal Theology |
Church Mission and Ministry |
Pastoral Administration |
Sermon Delivery |
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The Sub-Committee has met with the presidents
of the above four seminaries and reviewed these plans. A general spirit
of cooperation and encouragement was given to the Committee in its assignment
and execution of it.
Not only do the seminaries have the regular three-year
M. Div. degree program that would continue to be used, but several of
them have a two-year degree program that would meet the 2 + 2 approach,
if that is the method desired. The Committee offers
as its recommendations the following: see numbers 16- 21. |