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BACHELOR
OF THEOLOGY (B.TH.)
| a. | PURPOSE OF THE DEGREE | ||
The Bachelor of Theology degree has a long history as the basic degree to prepare
persons for ordained ministry in Asia. After graduation, a learner is well prepared to
lead a congregation and to pursue further studies at the master’s level. |
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| b. | PRIMARY GOALS OF THE PROGRAM | ||
This program is aimed at nurturing servants and visionary leaders for the
congregations. It tries to help the learner grow in spiritual depth and moral integrity;
to give the student comprehensive knowledge in Biblical and theological studies
and the ability to articulate faith to themselves and others; to train the student in
developing the specific skills needed for effective ministry and public leadership
and to develop a deep understanding of the cultural and social context. |
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| c. | REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION | ||
The B.Th. is a baccalaureate degree. Admission requirements shall include: |
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| (1a) | six years of secondary school studies or equivalent; | ||
| (1b) | applicants with only a form 5
background who are strongly recommended by their congregation may be accepted as
non-degree students for one year before being accepted into a degree program. This
arrangement is intended to enhance the academic abilities and spiritual growth of the
learners. Learners are required to complete 30 credits of courses with a grade-point
average of 1.00 or above; (Learners cannot take more than 18 credits in each semester
or more than 3 credits in each J Term.) |
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| (2) | applicants must have been baptized at least
three years prior to application for study; |
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| (3) | evidence of the commitment and qualities
desired for pastoral leadership; and |
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| (4) | proof of the academic ability to engage in theological study. | ||
| d. | CONTENT | ||
The B.Th. program provides a breadth of exposure to the theological disciplines as
well as a depth of understanding within those disciplines. It educates students for a
comprehensive range of pastoral responsibilities and skills by providing opportunities
for the appropriation of theological disciplines, for deepening understanding of
the life of the church, for ongoing intellectual, spiritual and ministerial formation,
and for exercising the arts of ministry. |
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| i. | Personal and Spiritual Formation: | ||
| (a) |
The program provides for spiritual, academic, and vocational counseling and
careful reflection on the role of the minister as leader, guide, and “faithful servant
of God's Word”. With the cooperation of the Tao Fung Shan Christian Center,
every first year learner will be provided with a Spiritual Director besides his or
her academic advisor to accompany her or his pilgrimage to maturity. |
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| (b) |
The program provides opportunities to assist learners in developing commitment to
Christian faith and life in ways consistent with the overall goal and purpose of LTS. |
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| ii. | The Bible and Christian Heritage: | ||
| (a) |
The purpose of the B.Th. degree program is to assist all persons in the program to
grow in a deeper understanding of and commitment to the Bible and know how to
relate the liberating Gospel of Christ to the contemporary World. |
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| (b) |
The program will provide the historical development and contemporary articulation
of the doctrinal and theological tradition of the church, and in the social and institutional
history of the community. |
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| (c) |
Instruction in these areas is conducted so as to indicate their interdependence with
each other and with other areas of the curriculum, and their significance for the
exercise of pastoral leadership. |
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| iii. | Capacity for Mission, Ministerial and Public Leadership: | ||
| (a) |
The program nurtures a vision for World Mission as well as a commitment to become
witnesses in the local society. Therefore, it is required for learners to use one
summer to spend at least two months on either a Cultural Exploration and Mission
Trip overseas or a CPE Training Course in Hong Kong. |
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| (b) |
The program provides all the pastoral skills necessary to minister in a congregation
through preaching, teaching, counseling, organizing and liturgical leadership. |
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| (c) |
The program provides opportunities for education through supervised experiences
in ministry. These experiences should be of sufficient duration and intensity to provide
opportunities to gain expertise in the tasks of ministerial leadership within both
the congregation and the broader public context, and to reflect on interrelated
theological, cultural, and experiential learning. |
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| iv. | Cultural and Social Context: | ||
| (a) |
The program provides for instruction in contemporary cultural and social issues and
their significance for ministry. Such instruction draws on the insights of the arts and
humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. |
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| (b) |
B.Th. education addresses the global character of the church as well as the
multicultural and cross-cultural nature of ministry in Asian society and in other contemporary
settings. Attention is given to the wide diversity of religious traditions
present in the social context. |
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| e. | COURSES REQUIRED | ||
| A. | OLD TESTAMENT | credits | |
| Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 | ||
| 3 basic courses (level 2) | 9 | ||
| 1 advanced course (level 3) | 3 | ||
Total credits |
15 |
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| OT100 Introduction to the Old Testament (3) Basic course (level 2): choose 3 courses from this level OT200 Genesis and the Pentateuch (3) OT215 Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch (3) OT220 Deuteronomistic and Chronistic Histories (3) OT225 Judges (3) OT230 David Story and the Books of Samuel (3) OT235 Isaiah 1-39 and the Prophets (3) OT240 Amos, Hosea and Micah (3) OT245 Jeremiah (3) OT250 Ezekiel (3) OT255 Isaiah 40-55 (3) OT260 Post-Exilic Prophecy (3) Advanced course (level 3): choose 1 course from this level OT310 Wisdom Literature (3) OT315 Psalms (3) OT320 Old Testament Theology (3) OT330 Daniel and Jewish Apocalyptic (3) OT340 Hebrew Old Testament Readings (3) |
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| B. | NEW TESTAMENT | credits | |
| Introduction to the New Testament | 3 | ||
| 3 basic courses (level 2) | 9 | ||
| 1 advanced course (level 3) | 3 | ||
Total credits |
15 |
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NT100 Introduction to the New Testament (3) |
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| C. | CHURCH HISTORY AND HISTORICAL THEOLOGY | credits | |
| Introduction to Church History | 3 | ||
| Introduction to Historical Theology | 3 | ||
| 2 basic courses (level 2) | 6 | ||
Total credits |
12 |
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| CH100 Introduction to Church History (3) CH110 Introduction to Historical Theology (3) Basic course (level 2): choose 2 courses from this level 1. Church History CH210 Early Church History (3) CH220 Medieval Church History (3) CH230 Reformation Church History (3) CH240 History of the Church in China (3) CH250 History of the Church in Asia (3) 2. Historical Theology and Luther Studies CH260 Theology of Augustine (3) CH270 Theology of Martin Luther (3) CH280 Ethics of Martin Luther (3) |
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| D. | SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY | credits | |
| Introduction to Theology |
3 | ||
| Introduction to Christian Ethics | 3 | ||
| 3 basic courses (level 2) | 9 | ||
Total credits |
15 |
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| ST100 Introduction to Theology (3) ST110 Introduction to Christian Ethics (3) Basic course (level 2): choose 3 courses from this level 1. Dogmatics ST210 Doctrine of the Triune God (3) ST220 Creation and Anthropology (3) ST230 Christology and Soteriology (3) ST240 Ecclesiology and Sacramental Theology (3) ST250 Pneumatology and Eschatology (3) 2. Christian Ethics ST270 Personal Ethics (3) ST280 Social Ethics (3) |
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| E. | PASTORAL THEOLOGY AND COUNSELING | credits | |
| Introduction to Pastoral Formation | 3 | ||
| Introduction to Homiletics | 3 | ||
| Introduction to Counseling Theory and Practice | 3 | ||
| 2 basic course (level 2) | 6 | ||
| 1 advanced course (level 3) | 3 | ||
Total credits |
18 |
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PT100 Introduction to Pastoral Formation (3) PT120 Introduction to Homiletics (3) PT130 Introduction to Counseling Theory and Practice (3) Basic course (level 2): choose 2 courses from this level 1. Pastoral Formation and Christian Leadership PT210 Pastoral Ministry and Ethics (3) PT220 Church Growth and Church Planting (3) 2. Homiletics PT230 Homiletic Practicum (3) 3. Pastoral Counseling PT240 Crisis Counseling (3) PT250 Marriage and Family Counseling (3) PT260 Youth Counseling (3) Advanced course (level 3): choose 1 course from this level 1. Pastoral Formation and Christian Leadership PT310 Theology of Ministry (3) PT315 Human Relationships and Conflict Management in Ministry (3) PT320 Stewardship (3) PT325 Church Administration and Christian Leadership (3) 2. Homiletics PT340 Law and Gospel Distinction in Preaching (3) PT350 Word and Worship for Special Occasions (3) PT360 Preaching the Old Testament (3) 3. Pastoral Counseling PT370 Spiritual Direction and Christian Counseling (3) PT380 Chinese Culture and Pastoral Care (3) |
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| F. | CHRISTIAN EDUCATION | credits | |
| Introduction to Christian Education | 3 | ||
| 2 basic courses (level 2) | 6 | ||
Total credits |
9 |
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CE100 Introduction to Christian Education (3) Basic course (level 2): choose 2 courses from this level CE210 Teaching Methodologies (3) CE220 Understanding the Learner (3) CE230 History of Christian Education (3) CE240 Catechesis (3) |
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| G. | SPIRITUALITY AND WORSHIP | credit | |
| Introduction to Spiritual Formation | 3 | ||
| Introduction to Liturgy | 3 | ||
| 1 basic course (level 2) | 3 | ||
Total credits |
9 |
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SW100 Introduction to Spiritual Formation (3) SW110 Introduction to Worship and Liturgy (3) Basic course (level 2): choose 1 course from this level 1. Spirituality SW210 Paths of Prayer (3) SW220 History of Christian Spiritual Traditions (3) SW230 Pastoral Spirituality (3) SW235 History of Christian Arts (3) 2. Worship and Liturgy SW240 History of Christian Worship (3) SW250 Liturgy and Pastoral Care (3) |
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| H. | MISSION AND CULTURE | credit | |
| Introduction to Missiology | 3 | ||
| Introduction to Religion and Culture | 3 | ||
| 1 basic course (level 2) | 3 | ||
Total credits |
9 |
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MC100 Introduction to Missiology (3) MC110 Introduction to Religion and Culture (3) Basic course (level 2): choose 1 course from this level 1. Missiology MC210 Evangelism (3) MC215 History of Christian Mission (3) MC220 Theology of Mission (3) MC225 Social Ministry in Hong Kong Context (3) 2. Religion and Culture MC230 Chinese Philosophy and Religions (3) MC235 World Religions (3) MC240 Christianity and Chinese Culture (3) MC245 Christ and Culture (3) |
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| I. | LANGUAGES & PRACTICAL TRAINING | credits | |
| LP100 Choir | 8 | ||
| LP200 Guidance to Academic Study and Writing | 2 | ||
| LP210-240 Field Education | 14 | ||
| LP351-352 Greek I, II or LP361-362 Biblical Hebrew I, II | 9 | ||
| LP400 Integrative Seminar | 3 | ||
| LP410 Preparation for Pastoral Ministry | 3 | ||
Total credits |
39 |
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| credits | |||
| Core courses | 141 | ||
| Electives | 19 | ||
Credits Required for Graduation |
160 |
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| f. | CREDIT HOURS | ||
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Learners in the B.Th. program cannot take more than 21 credits in each semester or more than 3 credits in each J Term. |
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| g. | ASSESSMENT | ||
At the end of each academic year, the advisor will discuss with the learners their progress
in personal and spiritual growth; their willingness to serve; their commitment to the
fellowship and their academic studies. Before entering the last academic year, each
learner should summit a comprehensive review of their theological understanding of
ministry, academic record, field education experience, proficiencies in ministry and
plan for improvement to the advisor and discuss the plan with him or her. |
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| h. | RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT |
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Since B.Th. education has a complex goal: the personal, vocational, spiritual, and academic
formation of the learner, and because of the importance of a comprehensive
community of learning, the B.Th. degree cannot be viewed simply as an accumulation
of courses or of individual independent work. In order to ensure an appropriate community
life and formation, at least one year of residency on the LTS campus is required. |
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| i. | DURATION |
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In order to fulfill the broad educational and formational goals of the B.Th., the program
requires at least four academic years of full-time work or its equivalent. The
time allowed for completion of the program on a part-time basis may not exceed
three times that of the full-time program. |
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| j. | REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION |
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In order to earn the B.Th. degree, a learner must: |
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i. |
Complete the LTS required courses for B.Th. with a grade-point average of 1.00
or above. |
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ii. |
Satisfactorily meet the assessment of the advisor. |
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| k. | FOLLOW-UP ADVISORY SERVICE AFTER GRADUATION |
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Theological education doesn’t end with graduation ceremonies at LTS. It is a process
of lifelong learning that addresses ministry in our changing contexts. This requires
faithful leaders with abundant gifts and special qualities: depth in the faith,
practical congregational skills, competence in communicating across cultures, capacity
to reach out to unchurched people, ability to make connections between faith
and everyday life, and a heart for seeking justice for society. Foundations for these
competencies have been laid in seminary education. To a large extent, however,
these ministry skills are finally realized only in the practice of ministry in the setting
of a specific congregation and its larger social, economic and cultural context.
In order to help our learners in formation and in building up their capacity as “faithful
servants of God’s Word”, LTS provides follow-up advisory service to our graduates
for one year. This program includes: |
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i. |
Sending ten letters to the graduates on various topics concerning the preparation
of heart and mind for embarking on a new ministry. |
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ii. |
Meeting with the chaplaincy department every month for the first semester after
graduation to discuss the problems that one faces and to nurture mutual support. |
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iii. |
Meeting every two months with the chaplaincy department for the second semester
after graduation. The last meeting will be in the form of a retreat camp. |
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Learners wishing to join phases (ii) and (iii) of the follow-up learning experience
will be asked to pay $500 for the registration process. Learners wishing to register
must do so on the Early Registration Day of the Spring Semester prior to their
graduation. Howerer, whether a student joins the follow-up service or not, LTS always
welcome graduates to come back to share their joy or seek assistance. Following the first year after graduation, LTS works with the member churches and Alumni Association to form a Committee for Continuing Education to provide lifelong education opportunities for our graduates. |
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| l. | LOCATION |
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Courses are provided on the main campus and a few may be offered in our Theological
Education by Extension site. |
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