Required Classes
These are the courses required to complete toward ordination. The Pittsburgh District follows the Non-Degree Course of Study set forth by the Church of the Nazarene. Courses can be taken online through Nazarene Bible College. In addition, for a limited time, there is an opportunity to take courses through the East Coast School of Ministry. This is a compilation of multiple districts joining together to offer classes online with a required zoom component.
Classes can be taken in any order.
Books can be purchased from the Foundry. There may be a discount available by being an NCOS student. See more information here: https://www.thefoundrypublishing.com/ncosbookstore A button link is also listed below.
all courses/required books are subject to change as the respective syllabus changes
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An exploration of the call to Christian ministry in light of the holy God who calls. This course provides the ability to articulate the sacred nature of the call to ministry and to nurture that calling through intentional practices of the classical Christian disciplines
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This course equips students with the ability to exegete Christian Scripture for the sake of faithful proclamation and preaching. Attention will be given to the development of the canon, historical models of biblical interpretation, their application to contemporary cultural contexts and a distinctly Wesleyan understanding of the function of Scripture in Christian life, theology and ministry.
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An exploration of the timeline of the Old Testament, its literary structure and its theology. Special attention will be given to developing the ability to communicate the major turning points, figures and the history of Israel.
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An exploration of the timeline of the New Testament, its literary structure and its theology. Special attention will be given to the spread of the gospel as recorded in the New Testament and the forms of preaching and evangelism expressed therein
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Exhibit a working knowledge in conversation with parishioners and ministry peers (Nazarene and other Christian traditions) of the history of the Church of the Nazarene, our roots, the formative events and persons, etc. of our Wesleyan heritage and denomination (with global awareness) along with a capacity to relay past history to the possibilities of the present.
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A theological exploration of the God who is holy and the call to be a holy people. This course will include a survey of OT and NT history and texts concerning a theology of holiness, the historical development of the theology of holiness and a Wesleyan understanding of the doctrine of Christian perfection.
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This course explores the development of the Christian confession, worship and practice across history. Looking to the major points of development, it will take account of the ecumenical councils, major turning points in ecclesiastical history and the relationship of church history to major world events.
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A biblical, historical and theological exploration of women in the life of the church and Christian ministry. Special attention will be given to celebrating the ministry of women in the Church of the Nazarene.
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A biblical, theological and philosophical exploration of Christian ethics and role of the Christian minister as a moral theologian. Drawing on the resources of the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, special attention is given to skills and insights for making complex moral decisions in Christian ministry.
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Considering the postmodern challenges to discipleship, this course explores the ways pastors and churches can create an effective discipleship strategy. Emphasis will be given to a clear and biblical definition of discipleship that addresses the pastor as disciple and the church as God’s disciple-making entity in the world.
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Leadership theory and theology will serve as the foundation of the fundamentals of leadership. Personal leadership styles and character development will be assessed. Leading teams, groups, other leaders and organizations will be a progressive focus while also learning to use tools to cast vision, develop strategy and mission and develop greater stewardship. Culture and change will also be considered in the context of a missional community. Upon completion, students will have knowledge of leadership with tools to guide organizations to transformational change and organizational health.
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This course explores the dynamic relationship among the elements of Christian worship, providing students the ability to plan, evaluate and execute the liturgical elements of a Christian worship service.
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This course equips students with the ability to work exegetically in a biblical text, plan and deliver sermons, making use of various homiletical models. Students will also gain the capacity to evaluate various models of preaching for the sake of faithful ministry.
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Exploration of theological sources and method, the doctrine of God, doctrine of the Trinity, Christology, Pneumatology.
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A course that guides students to reflect theologically on life and ministry by exploring various sources of theological reflection. In particular, dominant themes and figures in contemporary theology will be explored. In this exploration, students will compare and contrast distinctive characteristics of Wesleyan theology and specifically looking at Theological Anthropology, Hamartiology, Soteriology-Atonement-Holiness, Ecclesiology and Eschatology.
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This course explores the local church in the context of its community. Students will gain the ability to discern sociological dynamics, power dynamics and exegete congregations and communities for the sake of mission, and explore movements related to church planting and revitalization.
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In this course, students will develop a holistic theological vision of compassionate ministry and evangelism that is biblically sound and culturally sensitive. Students will learn to make use of models of community exegesis for the sake of hospitable engagement.
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Beginning with a Wesleyan theology of mission, this course provides the student the ability to draw together hospitable engagement and intercultural understanding as the basis for ministry in intercultural contexts.