Science for Ministry Institute
Curriculum and Schedule
The Science for Ministry Institute offers a number of different courses varying by type, length, and emphasis. Courses are offered during four sessions each year: fall, winter, spring, and summer. (Skip to Course Descriptions or the Three-Year Plan.)
Core vs. Elective Courses
To begin the program, each participant pair is required to complete a core course called "Questions in Theology and Science." This course will be offered frequently during the first two years of the three-year program, and can be completed as either one five-day intensive experience or two shorter three-day “half” courses.
This core course will overview many of the key issues in theology and science, focused on the two program emphases of questions of origins and questions of human nature. As part of this core course experience, partner participants will also be asked to begin developing a strategy for ministry culture change.
Once a participant pair has completed the core course, they may then choose to take further elective courses (either together or individually) throughout the remaining duration of the three-year program. Starting in the spring session of the first year, at least two elective courses will be offered in each session, and some electives may be offered twice over the three-year program.
Five-, Three-, and One-Day Courses
All program courses are "intensive" style courses held over a span of 1-5 days. The core course can be taken as either a full five-day course or as two separate three-day "half" courses. Elective courses come in both three-day and one-day varieties.
Course Length
|
Course Type
|
Course Hours
|
Typical Course Format
|
| 5-day |
Full Core
|
24 |
Monday 1:30 pm - Friday noon
|
| 3-day |
Half Core or Elective
|
12 |
Monday 1:30 pm - Wednesday noon
|
| 1-day |
Elective |
6 |
Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
|
Through the Erdman Center for Continuing Education, participants in the full core course will receive a Basic Certificate in Science for Ministry. Participants who take an additional 30 contact hours (e.g. two three-day programs and one one-day program) will receive an Advanced Certificate in Science for Ministry.
Course Fees
Thanks to the generosity of the John Templeton Foundation, most of the program costs are covered by the Science for Ministry Institute, including convenient lodging and meals. Participants are asked to provide their own transportation to/from the program, buy a small number of course books per course, and pay a nominal daily fee of $50 per program day. The course fees are thus:
- 5-day: $250
- 3-day: $150
- 1-day: $50
Course Schedule
The following courses are scheduled for the coming months.
| Type |
Title
|
Instructor(s) |
Dates |
Full Core
|
Questions in Theology and Science |
van Huyssteen & Reynhout
|
Nov 2 - 6, 2009
|
| |
|
|
|
Half Core
|
Human Nature in Theology & Science
|
Reynhout |
Jan 25 - 27, 2010
|
| |
|
|
|
Full Core
|
Questions in Theology and Science |
Thweatt-Bates |
Apr 19 - 23, 2010
|
| |
|
|
|
| Elective |
Cognitive Science, Neuroscience and the Human Person
|
Wiebe |
Apr 19 - 21, 2010
|
| |
|
|
|
| Elective |
Science as a Challenge and Resource for Ethics
|
Bowlin |
Apr 22, 2010
|
| |
|
|
|
Half Core
|
The Question of Origins in Theology & Science
|
Reynhout |
May 26-28, 2010
|
| |
|
|
|
| Elective |
The Human Person in a Technological Age
|
Thweatt-Bates |
Aug 2-4, 2010
|
| |
|
|
|
| Elective |
A Brief History of Science and the Church
|
Creager |
Aug 5, 2010
|