Bachelor of Ministry and Theology

Course Code4876
CRICOS Code059851C
International students must be at least 18 years of age before they arrive at Avondale ahead of the relevant teaching period commencing to be eligible for enrolment at Avondale University.
Course duration /
Study mode

Course duration: Four years full-time (or part-time equivalent)
Study mode: On-campus with distance education available for all theology units except for chaplaincy units

LocationAvondale Campus - Lake Macquarie
Fee Support

FEE-HELP*

*for eligible students, see www.studyassist.gov.au.

About


Avondale’s Bachelor of Ministry and Theology (BMinTh) prepares students for employment in ministry in Seventh-day Adventist churches and organisations, and other Christian denominational churches. Within the bachelor degree, an elective in chaplaincy is also available, extending career opportunities.

 

The ministry qualifications equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to build a strong church and community. The Bachelor of Ministry and Theology is offered either on campus or via distance education, allowing you to balancer study with work, social or family commitments. With practical experience opportunities, strong industry contacts and one-on-one support, you will be work-ready upon graduation.¿ 

 


Learning Outcomes


Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Ministry and Theology, graduates will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a broad and coherent knowledge in the disciplines of biblical studies, theology and pastoral ministry and their underlying methodologies;
  • articulate a clear historically informed understanding of Seventh-day Adventist theology, identity, and mission;
  • independently analyse and critically evaluate Biblical, theological and pastoral ministry concepts and methodologies, and demonstrate how they relate to a Seventh-day Adventist world view;
  • communicate acquired Biblical and theological knowledge, and pastoral ministry skills in a contextualised manner to a diverse range of audiences through preaching, evangelism and technology;
  • model and articulate the relevance of a relationship with Christ and Christian beliefs to the practice of ministry and Christian living;
  • exhibit the skills and capacities expected of a growing, reflective Christian ministry practitioner and/or scholar in a pastoral capacity.

Career Opportunities


The BMinTh provides the foundations for a career as a:

  • Church pastor
  • Youth minister
  • Evangelist
  • Church administrator
  • School chaplain
  • Pastoral educator

Admission Criteria


GENERAL ADMISSION CRITERIA

To qualify for admission, you must meet one of the following criteria:

Applicants with higher education study
  • Completion or partial completion^ of an Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 7 qualification at an accredited university or higher education provider; or
  • Successful completion of bridging or enabling course, or another recognised tertiary preparation course
^You must pass at least two units/subjects. Show Cause is required if you failed 50% or more overall.

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
  • An Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 4 qualification or higher; or
  • A New Zealand Qualifications Framework NZQF Level 4 qualification or higher

Applicants with work and life experience
Applicants with recent secondary education (within the past two years)

Applicants with overseas qualifications
  • An overseas qualification comparable to an Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 4 or higher

SPECIFIC ADMISSION CRITERIA

The following are the specific criteria for admission:

  • Satisfactory Pastoral Recommendation Form, which may entail an interview with the pastor; and
  • Complete and submit Avondale Seminary's Acceptance of the Code of Professional Ethics; and
  • A National Police Check (issued within the last six months). Applicants with offences or pending charges may be required to undertake a further assessment; and
  • A current Working with Children Check for the state/territory you are located while undergoing your study; and
  • Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) applicants: Baptised for two years or more and evidence of being actively involved in a local SDA church; or
  • Non-SDA applicants: Evidence of being actively involved in a local church of their denomination

POST ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The post-admission requirement for this degree is:
  • An AdSafe certificate of completion for Safer Churches Training

For more information, refer to the post-admission requirements for Ministry & Theology.

ADVANCED STANDING

Applicants with an Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 5 qualification (or higher) in a cognate area may be eligible for advanced standing (credit recognition). Refer to the Advanced Standing Policy for more information.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

International applicants must meet the Australian Government's visa requirements to reside in Australia while studying at Avondale University.

For more information, visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder/study

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency in one of the ways outlined in Appendix 2 of the Admission to Higher Education Undergraduate Courses Policy.

Course Structure


Course duration: Four years full-time (or part-time equivalent)
Study mode: On-campus or distance education are available for units offered by the Seminary.
Maximum time to complete: Ten years

32 units of 6 credit points spread over 4 years of full-time study
2 units of Biblical languages
1 Well being unit
1 unit of Seventh-day Adventist History and Heritage
1 unit of Youth Ministry
8 units (a major) in Biblical Studies
8 units (a major) in Theology
8 units (a major) in Church Ministry
3 elective units

All students complete a major in Biblical Studies, Theology, and Church Ministry. 

Options:

1. Elective units may be chosen randomly.

2. Students may convert their Church Ministry major to a specialisation by using all three electives for CHMN, CHPL or CNSL coded units.

3. Alternatively, students may elect at year three to add a Chaplaincy major.  This requires the use of all three electives for CHPL coded units (including Clinical Pastoral Education), and the substitution of CNSL11100 instead of THEO26130 and the substitution of CHPL21120 instead of CHMN36130.

Core units

WHPE10101 Foundation of Well being (Year 1 - Semester 1)

THEO16120 Introduction to Adventist Heritage (Year 1 - Semester 1)

BBOT16110 Hebrew A (Year 1 - Semester 2)

BBNT26110 Greek I (Year 2 - Semester 1)

 Biblical Studies Units

BBNT16120 New Testament Epistle 1 (Year 1 - Semester 2)

BBOT26120 Torah (Year 2 - Semester 1)

BBOT26110 Hebrew Prophets (Year 2 - Semester 2)

BBNT36110 Exegesis in John Prereq: BBNT26110 (Year 2 - Semester 2)

BBNT36120 Exegesis in Matthew Prereq: BBNT26110 (Semester 1, odd years)

BBNT36150* New Testament Epistle 2 Prereq: BBNT26110 (Semester 2 odd years)  

BBOT36110 Daniel Prereq: BBOT16110 (Semester 1, even years)

BBNT36140 Revelation Prereq: BBNT26110 + 1 X 300 level BBNT unit (Semester 2, even years)

 Theology Units

THEO16110 Theology & Faith (Year 1 - Semester 1)

THEO16130 Survey of Ethics & Philosophy (Year 1 - Semester 2)

THEO26110 Revelation, Inspiration & Hermeneutics Prereq: THEO16110 (Year 2 - Semester 1)

THEO26130 Religion & Belief in Australasia Prereq: THEO16110 (Year 2 - Semester 2)

THEO26120 Early & Medieval Christianity Prereq: THEO16120 or any HIST unit (Semester  1, Odd Years)

THEO36110 Salvation & Eschatology Prereq: 1 X 200-level THEO unit (Semester 2, odd years)

THEO36130* Ecclesiology & Sabbath Prereq: 1 X 100-level THEO unit (Semester 1, even years)

THEO36120 The Doctrine of God & the Work of Christ Prereq: THEO26120 (Semester 2, even years)

 Church Ministry Units

CHMN16110 Biblical Spirituality & Ministry (Year 1 - Semester 1)

CHMN16140 Introduction to Psychology for Ministry (Year 1 - Semester 2)

CHMN26110 Ministry & Church Leadership I Prereq: 1 X 100-level CHMN unit (Year 2 - Semester 1)

CHMN26140 Preaching Prereq: CHMN16120 (Year 2 - Semester 2)

CHMN26130 Discipleship Evangelism Prereq: 1 X 200-level CHMN unit (Semester 1, odd years)

CHMN36110* Ministry & Church Leadership II Prereq: CHMN26110 (Semester 2, odd years)

CHMN36130 Evangelism & Church Planting Prereq: 1 X 200-level CHMN unit (Semester 1, even years)

CHMN26170 Contemporary Youth Ministry (Semester 1, even years)

CHMN36120 Contemporary Ministry to Families Prereq: 1 X 200-level CHMN unit (Semester 2, even years)

 Chaplaincy Major

CHMN16140 Introduction to Psychology for Ministry (Year 1 - Semester 2)

CNSL11100 Foundational Counselling Skills (Semester 1, odd years)

CHPL31100 Clinical Pastoral Experience I (Semester 1, odd years)

CHPL31110 Clinical Pastoral Experience II (Semester 2, odd years)

CHPL21120 Emotional & Behavioural Responses (Semester 1, odd years)

CHMN26170 Contemporary Youth Ministry (Semester 1, even years)

CHMN36120 Contemporary Ministry to Families Prereq: 1 X 200-level CHMN unit (Semester 2, even years)

CHPL21100 Principles & Practice of Chaplaincy (Semester 2, even years)

Electives which relate directly to Ministry and Theology

CHMN26160 Small Group Ministry (Even years - Semester 2)

BBNT16110 Mark & Luke (Every year - Semester 1)

ENGL21100 Literary Studies of the Bible  (offered by the Discipline of Humanities and Arts)

BBTR26100 Study Tour - Bible Land

Any CHPL (chaplaincy) or CNSL (counselling) units  (offered by the Discipline of Humanities and Arts)


To find out more about any of the units listed here, copy the unit code and then search for that unit here.

Practical Experience


CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AND CHAPLAINCY PLACEMENTS AND EXTERNSHIP

Supervised field education is central to ministry formation and employment within the Seventh Day Adventist Church. It permits ministry students to be engaged in supervised ministry settings as trainee pastors under the guidance of a mentor. The mentoring allows students to integrate theological content with practical ministry and provides students with the opportunity to experience ministry in various circumstances.

All Church Ministry units are associated with supervised field education. Field education is a type of internship or apprenticeship experience whereby ministry students will team with SDA pastors or chaplains who supervise, support and mentor the student throughout the ministry placement in a local congregation. Their supervised Field Education can either be a church placement, school placement, or a ministry practicum externship. The supervised Field Education experience comes with a grade weighting for the unit.

At the end of the semester, the student is asked to write a theological reflection paper on their placement. The Theological Reflection paper helps students develop knowledge of their gifts, strengths, and weaknesses.

Students experience two types of Supervised Ministry development. 

Placements: Placement places students for ten consecutive weeks in a local church or school under the supervision of a pastoral mentor.

Externship: Externship places students in an evangelistic context for ten consecutive days, inclusive of two weekends.

Assessment includes a ministry report form signed by the mentor and a ministry reflection paper.

In Week 10, a 20-30 minute interview with seminary staff helps assess the student's placement experience.

Church placements are associated with the following units:

CHMN16110 Biblical Spirituality and Ministry
CHMN26110 Ministry and Church Leadership 1
CHMN26140 Preaching

CHMN26170 Contemporary Youth Ministry
CHMN36110 Ministry and Church Leadership 2
CHMN36120 Contemporary Ministry to Families

School placements are associated with the following unit:

CHMN16140 Introduction to Psychology for Ministry

BMinTh students undertaking the chaplaincy major have the option of chaplaincy practicums which are managed in the same way as church placements.

Ministry practicum externships are associated with the following units:

CHMN26130 Discipleship Evangelism
CHMN36130 Evangelism & Church Planting

Management of Placements

Suitable mentors are chosen in a dialogue between the Field Education lecturers and Conference Presidents. Chosen mentors are then trained on an annual basis, and are in regular email communication with the Field Education Lecturers.

All students must have completed Safe Places training, Working with Children Check, and a Police Check before placement.
To secure a church placement, students undertake an interview with a Field Education Director to match the student’s individual development and needs with a suitable church and pastoral mentor. The Field Education Director approaches the chosen pastor to arrange an introductory interview in which the student will discuss the terms of a contractual arrangement that will permit them to function as a student pastor under their mentorship.

Students meet with their mentor monthly during their placement and conduct ministry in line with the expectations outlined in their contract.

Assessment includes a ministry report form signed by the mentor, a ministry reflection paper, and a 20-30 minute interview with the Ministry Practicum Director.

Management of externship occur in a similar manner with students indicating their preferred experience (e.g. pastoral ministry, church planting, youth ministry, cross-cultural ministry, or school chaplaincy) and the Field Education Director communicating with the chosen mentor, and their line manager to set up the experience.

Students keep a log of their experience which must be co-signed by the mentor. The Ministry Practicum Director receives a report from the mentor, and an externship reflection paper from the student upon completion of the externship.

Full details of the management of placements and externships, including relevant forms can be found in the Ministry Practicum Handbook in http://www.avondale.edu.au/academic-disciplines/school-of-ministry-theology/


Accreditation


This course is accredited under Avondale’s self-accrediting authority, within the terms of the Australian Qualifications Framework, and is nationally registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). In 2014 Avondale was granted self-accrediting status by TEQSA.

The course is recognised by the Board of Ministerial and Theological Education of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Avondale is also a member of the Australia/New Zealand Association of Theological Schools.


Registration and Self-Disclosure


All BMinTh students must submit a Police Check and a Working with Children Check with their admission.
 


Where to get further information


Course Enquiries

Student Administration Services

Phone: +61 2 4980 2377
Email: [email protected]
Monday-Thursday, 9.00am-5pm
Friday, 9.00am-12.00noon

Fees

FEE-HELP is available for eligible students, see www.studyassist.gov.au


View current information on tuition fees

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for Avondale students. View all scholarship information. http://www.avondale.edu.au/scholarships/

Testimonials

"I chose Avondale because it has the best course for theology, has a supportive and intimate community, and is situated in a beautiful place.” 
- Daniel Petersen Bachelor of Ministry and Theology.