A two-year foundation degree course for Christians already working in ministry and mission, who seek to develop their intellectual and practical expertise while continuing to work.
Start Date:
September 2022
Duration:
2 years for the FdA, plus an optional 1 year for the full BTh (Bachelor of Theology degree). Part-time options are available.
Degree Type:
FdA/BTh
Entry Tariff:
No formal requirements. Please see Entry Requirements block below.
UCAS Code:
V610
School:
Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements and you will not be expected to have any academic or theological background although, where appropriate, those who have already done some church-related study will be welcome.
Applicants interested in joining the FdA Ministerial Theology are advised to contact mtenquiries@roehampton.ac.uk to receive additional information and guidance on how to apply for September 2022 entry. All applicants are required to attend an interview.
Why this course
The option to complete a further year to graduate with a full BTh honours degree. 95% of Ministerial Theology students are satisfied with the course (NSS 2020)
Timetabled for busy working people with evening and weekend teaching. Part time options offer further flexibility.
The rich religious heritage behind Roehampton's four colleges ensure strong connections to the church.
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Course and Module Details
Overview:
The FdA is foundation degree is specifically designed for people who have little or no previous academic experience but are keen to learn new ideas and skills. There is the option, upon successful completion of the FdA, to study for a further year to gain a BTh honours (Bachelor of Theology degree) in Ministerial Theology.
Watch this short video testimony from a former student who is now a working pastor.
All students undertake a long ministry placement for the duration of the foundation degree. This will normally be at your home church, where you will be supported by a local mentor. Your mentor will provide supervision and will be someone who knows you and your Christian ministry. Roehampton teaching staff will also visit you in your church.
You will also have a short ministry placement in another church or ministry context, which is carefully chosen with your local mentor to ensure a rich and valuable experience. The work you do in your local church or community counts towards the credits you need to successfully complete the course. There are also specially-designed study days for evangelists, worship leaders, pastoral assistants and preachers.
You will join a large ministerial theology student body, ranging from foundation level to PhD, and benefit from Roehampton's historical roots as an institution with strong connections to the church. Chapel is held regularly during term and students are encouraged to attend and participate. All of our ministry students become members of our Whitelands College and benefit from the chaplaincy facilities there.
Teaching takes place during extended hours, giving you the space to manage your other commitments. Class sessions run on Tuesday evenings (online) and on Saturdays (face-to-face) at our Whitelands campus.
Staff have a wide range of research interests and expertise, but particular specialisms include African Christianity, Christian education, congregational studies, ecclesiology, Pentecostalism, New Testament and transnational churches.
Schedule by year of study
Year one
- Develop your understanding of the nature of the Old and New Testament scripture and explore the theory and practice of relating scripture to both the historical and contemporary context.
- Address the question ‘What is Ministry?’ and reflect on your own spiritual journey.
- Other modules include Navigating Church History and Christian Doctrine.
Year two
- In your ministry placement continue to develop your ability to observe, describe, analyse and evaluate your own ministry practice.
- Develop your understanding of ethics, reflect on how Christians theologise about encounters with other faiths, explore Christian worship in its many contexts, and learn about the art and science of biblical interpretation - hermeneutics.
- A short ministry placement puts you in a different ministry context, allowing you to experience how other Christian traditions do church.
Here are some of the varied range of modules we currently offer:
Year 1
Compulsory Modules
Scripture 1 (Old Testament)
Scripture 2 (New Testament)
The Contexts of Ministry 1
Study Skills for Ministerial Theology
Navigating Church History
Introduction to Christian Doctrine
Optional Modules
English for Academic Study
Year 2
Compulsory Modules
The Contexts of Ministry 2
Short Ministry Placement
Engaging Scripture
Optional Modules
Christian Ethics
Church and World Religions
Pentecostal Theology in Context
Mission in the 21st Century
Modern Christian Doctrine
Liturgy and Liberty in Worship
Christian Apologetics
Introduction to New Testament Greek
Year 3 (for students seeking to graduate with the full BTh)
Compulsory Module
Either Ministerial Theology Dissertation or Ministerial Theology Special Essay
Optional Modules
Church and Society
Pauline Theology
Theologies from World Christianity
Theology and Practice of Pastoral Care
Christian Doctrine in Ecumenical Perspective
Education, Faith and Society
Preaching
Trinitarian Theology
Compulsory and Required modules
Compulsory and/or required modules may change when we review and update programmes. Above is a list of modules offered this academic year.
Optional modules
Optional modules, when offered as part of a programme, may vary from year to year and are subject to viability.
Tuition fees and funding
September 2022 entry tuition fees
TBC
September 2022 funding
Career Options
You could go onto work in a wide variety of Christian ministry roles in churches and parachurch organisations, or continue with postgraduate study in theology. You could also work in the charity sector or teaching.
Our careers team is available to support you from the start of your studies until after you graduate. They will help you build your CV, prepare for interviews, and meet and learn from successful graduates working at the top of their careers. You’ll also have opportunities to work with our partners across London and beyond, and to attend a Roehampton jobs fair where you can find out about graduate opportunities and meet employers.
Application Process
Your application to the Ministerial Theology programme begins with an email; please write to us at MTenquiries@roehampton.ac.uk to express your interest.
Once we hear from you, we will guide you through the following steps:
- The pre-interview form: We’ll send you a short form that asks you to tell us about your ministry involvement and faith story.
- The interview: We will contact you to schedule a short online interview with a member of our staff team.
- UCAS: We will direct you to UCAS (University College and Admissions Site) where you will submit additional application information.
After these steps have been completed, you will hear from us regarding our admission decision. If you are considering the option of applying for financial assistance through Student Finance England, you will be able to do to so once you have accepted an offer for admission.
Need help before you apply?
Who Teaches Ministerial Theology?
Dr Richard Burgess
Dr Richard Burgess is a Senior Lecturer in Ministerial Theology. He has experience of teaching theology in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. His current research focuses on expressions of Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity in Africa and the African diaspora, and the interface between religion, conflict and public life.
Read MoreDr David Clark
Dr David Clark is a Lecturer in Ministerial Theology. He has served as a missionary in Mexico and Ecuador, and has a directed a missional training centre in the USA. His primary research interest is focused on the idea of communal identity formation, and finds expression in projects involving historical theology, developing-world hermeneutics, the theology of prayer, and missiology.
Read MoreDr Ashley Cocksworth
Dr Ashley Cocksworth is a Senior Lecturer in Theology and Practice. His research interests gather around the interaction between Christian doctrine and everyday Christian practices, with a particular interest in theologies of prayer. He publishes in the area of systematic theology and convenes the Research Group in Theology, Religion and Practice.
Read MoreRevd Dr Daniel Eshun
Revd Dr Daniel Eshun is the Dean of Chapel at Whitelands College and Associate Vicar at Holy Trinity Parish Church, Roehampton. He teaches Biblical Studies, Ethics, Psychology of Forgiveness, Christian Spirituality, and Theologies from World Christianity. His research interests include the impact of theological education upon students preparing for Christian ministry and Christian leadership in an African context.
Read MoreDr Clare Watkins
Dr Clare Watkins is a Reader in Ecclesiology and Practical Theology, with a specialism in the theology of church, sacraments and ministries. She works extensively in ecumenical theology, and is the co-originator of Theological Action Research.
Read MoreDr John Moxon
Dr John Moxon is a Principal Lecturer in Biblical Studies. His research interests include early Jewish Christianity and revelatory and other charismatic phenomena in the Graeco- Roman world. He is a personnel advisor for the mission agency BCMS Crosslinks.
Read MoreDr R. David Muir
Dr R. David Muir is a Senior Lecturer in Ministerial Theology and Public Theology. David’s research interests include political/ public theology, critical theory and apologetics. He was previously the director of Public Theology and Public Policy at the Evangelical Alliance.
Read MoreDr Andrew Rogers
Dr Andrew Rogers is a Principal Lecturer in Practical Theology. His research interests include congregational hermeneutics, Bible and practical theology, faith and place, and diaspora Pentecostal churches. Andrew convenes the FdA and BTh in Ministerial Theology.
Read More