My undergrad alma mater (Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN) just rolled out a five-year blended B.S./M.A. program for training pastors. B.S. or B.A. course work would be completed the first 3 years and the M.A. course work the last 2 years, with the final year's course work completed while ministering in a local church under the supervision of an assigned pastor.
That is the key. The local church has to be meaningfully involved with training pastors. Kudos, IWU.
This sounds like a great program. When IWU launched their Seminary a few years ago they were very innovative--the program required students to be engaged either in part-time or full-time ministry within context of the local church. I'm glad they've found a way to compress the overall time it takes to train ministers without compromising involvement in local church.
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