School of Ministry

The School of Ministry provides courses and educational programs of value to Seventh Day Baptists, especially Pastors and those preparing for the Pastoral Ministry.

Summer Institutes

These courses are offered to teach about the History, Polity and Biblical belief regarding the Sabbath of Seventh Day Baptists. One course is offered each summer. Courses include advanced reading, online interaction/coursework and one week at the SDB Center. Requirements are specific to each course. These courses are required for those participating in the Seminary Education Program, the Bible College Pastoral Ministries Program, the Training in Ministry by Extension Program (T.I.M.E.) and are required for Accreditation by the SDB General Conference. With the proper arrangements seminary students have been able to receive a minimum of 2 semester hours credit for these courses at their graduate level seminaries. These arrangements often take up to a year to complete so check with the COM Dean early.

SDB History
This graduate-level course is designed to give the student a working knowledge of Seventh Day Baptist history. Through reading, lecture and discussion, the student will explore the historical developments of Seventh Day Baptists in England and America, with particular interest in discovering how such history applies to the present and future. Assimilation and integration of information is verified during discussion and with tests and written assignments. A paper on an aspect of SDB history is to be completed during the course using the resources of the SDB Historical Society's library. See below for registration form. Registration deadline is January 20, 2012. Online coursework begins in February, and there will be a week at the SDB Center August 12-17, 2012. Check back for more information.
Click here for Institute registration form to fill in, print, sign and return (Opens in new window).
SDB Polity
This graduate-level course is designed to give the student a working knowledge of Seventh Day Baptist polity. Through reading, lecture and discussion, the student will study the history of church polity and in particular Seventh Day Baptist polity. Assimilation and integration of information is verified during discussion and with tests and written assignments. Polity and History were taught together from 1978 through 2004. 2006 began a cycle of Summer Institutes where each topic is treated in a separate course. This course was held June 14-25, 2010.

Pictures of Summer Institute 2010: Click on each image to enlarge.

Sabbath Theology
This graduate-level course is designed to give the student an understanding of a major distinctive of Seventh Day Baptists, the seventh-day Sabbath. Reading and discussions will center on an understanding of the Biblical character of the Sabbath, the history of the Sabbath, the theological implications of Sabbath observance, and a modern day practical application of Sabbath worship and experience. A comparative study of Sunday observance and its meaning will be part of the course. Assimilation and integration of information is verified during discussion and with a major paper dealing with this topic.
This course concluded with one week at the SDB Center AUGUST 14-19, 2011.

Pictures of Summer Institute 2011 (Sabbath Theology): Click on each image to enlarge.

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Education Programs
- Seminary Education Program
  The Seminary Education Program is to provide educated and trained pastoral leadership, missionaries and church planters for the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference by helping students obtain a Master of Divinity degree. For further information, contact the Dean.
- Bible College Pastoral Ministries Program
  The Bible College Pastoral Ministries Education Program is to provide educated and trained pastoral leadership for the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference by helping students obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Pastoral Ministries when they are unable to attend seminary. This is accomplished through attending on campus one of two schools approved by the Council on Ministry. The schools are Taylor University in Upland, IN, and Columbia International University in Columbia, SC. For more information contact the Dean.
  
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- Training in Ministry by Extension
  The purpose of Training In Ministry by Extension (T.I.M.E.) is to provide theological and ministry training for pastors of Seventh Day Baptist Churches (and their spouses) who are past their 25th birthday and are not able to go to seminary. Current TIME students, contact the Deanfor the password and click here for a TIME course registration form in PDF format, which you may fill out and E-mail or snail mail.
- Certificate Education Program
  To provide opportunity for Seventh Day Baptist pastors without seminary education to pursue a certificate program at an accredited theological seminary.
  
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In-Service Education

To help continue the education of pastors who are currently serving SDB Churches, financial aid is available for (click on any link below to see description, will open in new window):
These are PDF files
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Pastor's Conference
Every two years a Pastor's Conference is held to train pastors, and to promote communication between pastors. It is usually held in March, April or May and hosted by a local SDB Church. Pastor's Conference 2011 was held April 26-30, 2011, at Camp Wakonda in Milton, WI. Check under "PASTORAL SERVICES" then "TO PASTORS" for pictures.

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Students

These are the students that currently are participating in the Center on Ministry education programs.

Seminary Students
- Nick Kersten. Part-time at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School while employed as the SDB Historian/Librarian
- Mike Spearl. At Columbia Biblical Seminary (first year 06-07)
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TIME Students
- Ericesson Cooper, Pastor New York City SDB Church in Brooklyn, NY
- Saul Alonzo, Associate Pastor Central SDB Church, MD
- Haywood Floyd, Assistant Pastor White Cloud, MI
- Edson Barrett, Associate Pastor Hope SDB, Philadelphia, PA.
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DMin Students

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New Worker Orientation
- Marc Baker. Lake Elsinore, CA
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