Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership

Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership - 54 Units - 2-3 Years
  • Rigorous and respected Biblical training
  • Faculty who are scholars and experienced ministers
  • Flexible delivery - online, hybrid, and polycom courses
  • Online interaction with professors and other students
  • Deepen your relationship with God by growing in calling, character, competence, and confidence
  • Learning Outcomes
    • Outcome One

      By graduation, the seminarian demonstrates a commitment to a growing spiritual transformation and maturity, moral character, personal disciplines, and vision for ministry necessary for building up a local church and the broader Body of Christ.

      Corresponding Observable Measurements:

      • Graduate has the ability to articulate personal faith in Jesus Christ and describe his journey towards maturity in Christ (MAML 1.1)
      • Graduate has the ability to articulate a call to ministry (MAML 1.2)
      • Graduate practices integrity in personal relationships, including reliability, trustworthiness, and ability to observe appropriate confidentiality (MAML 1.3)
      • Graduate exhibits biblical virtues of character, such as those leadership characteristics listed in I Timothy 3:1-7 and I Peter 5:1-11, and other key characteristics including but not limited to truthfulness, courage, patience, compassion, perseverance, and sexual fidelity (MAML 1.4)
      • Graduate understands, articulates, and practices selective spiritual disciplines that impact and enhance one’s faith and walk with God (MAML 1.5)
      • Graduate can articulate principles of spiritual transformation from various faith traditions within Christianity and understand their values and limitations (MAML 1.6)
      • Graduate exhibits spiritual gift(s) in a manner that is effective and appropriate (MAML 1.7)
      • Graduate gives appropriate attention to personal, emotional, and physical wellness (MAML 1.8)
      • Graduate has the ability to articulate verbally and in writing a personal philosophy of ministry (MAML 1.9)
      • Graduate has developed an expectation for the supernatural seeking to see God at work in life and ministry (MAML 1.10)
    • Outcome Two

      By graduation, the seminarian demonstrates a commitment to the authority of the Scriptures and a coherent understanding of the Bible, orthodox Christian theology, one’s heritage in the Christian church, and church polity, enabling one to make disciples and lead ministry.

      Corresponding Observable Measurements:

      • Graduate studies Scripture regularly and applies it to personal life (MAML 2.1)
      • Graduate can articulate the nature and function of biblical authority for believers (MAML 2.2)
      • Graduate demonstrates a general knowledge of the Old and New Testaments, including a synthetic development of the 66 books of the Bible (MAML 2.3)
      • Graduate interprets Scripture in accordance with acceptable principles of biblical interpretation and humble dependence on the Holy Spirit to enlighten the mind (MAML 2.4)
      • Graduate uses tools to help understand Scripture and demonstrates effective skills in information literacy (MAML 2.5)
      • Graduate demonstrates a passion for evangelism, discipleship, and the mission of God rooted in one’s knowledge of Scripture (MAML 2.6)
      • Graduate expresses a coherent understanding of the content of biblical literature and systematic theology (MAML 2.7)
      • Graduate is passionate and can articulate the “mission of God;” this truth impacts his or her perspective on the ethne’ of the world and their spiritual needs (MAML 2.8)
      • Graduate has a general understanding of the historic development of the Christian church, its structures, doctrines, and practices (MAML 2.9)
      • Graduate has a basic understanding of church polity, ideally from the perspective of the student’s declared denominational home (MAML 2.10)
      • Graduate understands the power of prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit resulting in systematically worshipping God, interceding for people, and requesting specific results from God (MAML 2.11)
      • Graduate is systematically engaged in a discipleship relationship with someone (MAML 2.12)
    • Outcome Three

      By graduation, the seminarian demonstrates competence in leading a local congregation in ministry development and in the administration of various operations of a local church or para-church ministry

      Corresponding Observable Measurements:

      • Graduate can clearly present the gospel and leads others to a saving faith in Jesus Christ (MAML 3.1)
      • Graduate can articulate a vision that helps a congregation achieve balance between “inreach” and “outreach” ministries (MAML 3.2)
      • Graduate exercises effective pastoral care through skills of expressing acceptance, giving and receiving criticism graciously, listening, exercising conflict resolution skills, keeping confidences, visiting parishioners in various settings, and praying with and for parishioners (MAML 3.3)
      • Graduate can effectively recruit, train, direct, and delegate leaders, and can manage meetings of various sizes so that corporate decisions can be accomplished and team members can actively participate (MAML 3.4)
      • Graduate can develop and oversee a congregational or para-church program of biblical education that is age appropriate (MAML 3.5)
      • Graduate can articulate the believer’s position “in Christ” and uses that truth to encourage and comfort believers (MAML 3.6)
      • Graduate articulates a leadership vision for the ministry or organization appropriate with the position in which service is provided (MAML 3.7)
      • Graduate can demonstrate loyalty, receive instruction, and implement directives from senior leadership (MAML 3.8)
      • Graduate exhibits qualities of leadership and servanthood (MAML 3.9)
  • Learning Format Options

    We offer courses in flexible delivery modes:

    • Online courses that include interaction with other students and professors
    • Hybrid-Intensive courses that include a combination of online interaction and a one-week intensive session with other students and professors on campus
    • Polycom courses that include a combination of online interaction and a one-week intensive session with other students and professors at an off campus learning center equipped to bring students together off campus.

    We believe some things can be learned individually and online; but we also believe that we must learn how to interact with other individuals so that we understand the human dynamics of ministry with God’s people.

  • Program Requirements

    MAML Program Requirements: 54 semester units

    • Biblical Studies Courses
    • Theological Studies Courses
    • Ministry Leadership Skills Courses
    • Experiential Learning Courses
    • Specified or Open Electives
  • Program Schedule

    While Tozer Seminary will attempt to offer courses more frequently than listed below; this chart provides an example of the normal sequencing of the M.A.M.L. curriculum for students seeking to finish during a two to three year sequence. Many students double the time to finish a program so that they can balance home life, ministry, and training experiences.

    Year Fall Spring Summer
    Biblical Interpretation
    Spiritual Formation
    1 Bible Stud. (OT or NT)
    Personal Health
    Elective
    Bible Stud. (OT or NT)
    Catalytic Leadership
    Theology Elective (or fall sem.)
    Exegetical Skills
    Church History
    Evangelism & Community
    2 Jesus, H.S. & Church
    Elective
    Elective
    Experiencing Ministry
    Sin, Salvation, & Mission
    Elective
    Elective
    Experiencing Ministry
    Elective
  • Required Courses

    Here is a listing of required courses which includes course title and descriptions. This list does not include elective course offerings.

    BI 6005 Biblical Interpretation (3 units)
    This is a foundational course that serves as a prerequisite to all other courses in Bible. The course is designed to teach students to read the Bible inductively, listening to Scripture itself. Students are introduced to the historical-grammatical method, critical tools, and the core principles of biblical hermeneutics. Students are also given a panoramic picture of the full biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation.

    BI 6030 Exegetical Skills Using Electronic Biblical Research (3 units)
    This course provides an introduction to electronic or digital research software and galleries in biblical and theological studies with information literacy skills to use such platforms. Emphases will be cloud based and online exegesis computer based tools to assist the student in biblical analysis plus an overview of international collections.

    DM 6000 Spiritual Formation and Discipleship (3 units)
    This course focuses on the believer’s position “in Christ” and on the believer’s challenge to abide in Christ and practicing the presence of Christ. It addresses the central issues of spiritual development such as family background, stages of faith, past experiences in church, spiritual disciplines, and expectations of God. Emphasis will be on the role of prayer and how God stirs the heart in transformation; and understanding that maturation is not based on a formula. The course is designed to foster personal spiritual growth and ignite discipleship strategies equipping students to mentor others to receive from God and grow into their capacity to love Him.

    DM 6050 Evangelism & Community Engagement (3 units)
    Sharing the good news of Jesus as individuals and sharing the good news in the context of church ministry united together are critical to fulfilling the Great Commission. This course challenges students to understand the gospel, to express it in a personal way, to think strategically about how to communicate it in multiple cultural settings, and how to develop strategic plans to engage the church in reaching out with aspects of the gospel within a community.

    EL 6000 Orientation & First Year Ministry Experience (1 units)
    Experiential Learning in the context of practical ministry related to exploring one’s calling and gifting. In addition to orientation to experiential learning requirements, the student enters into a mentoring relationship with a seasoned pastor or church leader.

    EL 6005 Exploring Ministry Opportunities (1 unit)
    The seminarian continues in practical ministry related to exploring one’s calling and gifting. The student continues into a mentoring relationship with a seasoned pastor or church leader.

    GS 6015 Personal Health of the Leader (3 units)
    This course addresses the spiritual, psychological, emotional, mental, physical, and relational aspects of being a leader. It addresses aspects of diet, exercise, sleep, time and energy management, and the danger zones that often lead to burnout or moral failures. This course also deals with the complexities of church family life, the great need for self-awareness, the discipline of staying mindful of other people’s expectations, and honoring wise boundaries in relationships. Emphasis will be placed on biblical expectations for the leader and on the role of a shepherd’s prayer life.

    IM 6500 Leadership Strategies for Cultural Transformation (3 units)
    This course synthesizes leadership, ethics, sociology, and theology. The premise of the course is that the rate of disciple-making is related to the plausibility structures of the culture. Students explore the idea of Christians having Kingdom civic responsibilities and talk about ways for a critical mass of people to reform a culture.

    ML 6055 Catalytic Leadership (3 units)
    Explores the role of a leader in terms of guiding and motivating people to do good deeds and how to mentor others into leadership roles; the course teaches students how to cast vision, run effective meetings, develop appropriate organizational structures, mentor others into peer leadership roles, and evaluate organizational effectiveness. Basic conflict resolution skills and negotiation skills will be addressed along with developing the skills as a change agent and life coach.

    TH 6015 Events in Church History (3 units)
    This entry-level course offers students a sweeping overview of church history. It focuses on major events such as the Council of Nicea, the Council of Chalcedon, the Great Schism, the Reformation, and other major events that give students some perspective on why the Church today is the way it is.

    TH 6270 Sin, Salvation, and the Mission of God (3 units)
    This course focuses on the nature of sin and its impact on humanity (Hamartiology), on God’s design for saving mankind (Soteriological core concepts including justification, sanctification, and glorification and adoption into the family of God), and the mission of God (redemption available for all mankind) emphasizing the Great Commission. (Prerequisite: TH 6060 or permission of the instructor)

    TH 6405 Pain, Suffering, and Healing (3 units)
    This course focuses on the problem of evil, and evil’s role in pain and suffering. Students are exposed to testimonies of healing, and they exegete key New Testament and Old Testament passages pertaining to biblical wholeness and healing. Students also grapple with why, at times, God does not seem to heal. Students develop a theology of suffering and a theology of healing which should inform their pastoral care. (Prerequisite: TH 6060 or permission of the instructor)

    TH 6430 Christian Apologetics (3 units)
    A survey of Christian apologetic methods and approaches within various presuppositional arguments for theistic and non-theistic settings and with evidentiary arguments for Christianity and its various sub-groups. Particular attention is given to research documentation and logic of arguments that will impact the presenter’s rhetoric and dialogue. Students will develop a matrix by which to determine different types of arguments for different settings and cultures.

    FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF COURSES AND THEIR DESCRIPTIONS, GO TO THE SEMINARY CATALOG.

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