Theology
If you wish to pursue lay training in theology or ministry, then this program could suit you. In certain circumstances and with the approval of a church judicatory (i.e., diocese, conference or presbytery), you may be also allowed to engage in a form of ministry. You make take this program either through distance education, part-time study, or full-time study on the Laurentian University campus in City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario.
The Bachelor of Theology degree is conferred by Huntington University (United Church of Canada), University of Sudbury (Roman Catholic Church), and Thorneloe University (Anglican Church of Canada). All three institutions are federated with Laurentian University of Sudbury. Since many of the courses for the Theology program are available only from Laurentian University’s Religious Studies program, you must first register as a Laurentian student, even though the program is not a Laurentian degree.
Our program requirements for the three-year Bachelor of Theology, course descriptions, and supplemental information are available online. With respect to actual courses, you will see that our requirements resemble those for the Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies at Laurentian University.
Some of the Theology courses are available in distance education from Huntington University through the Laurentian Religious Studies’ program. To apply, you must first register as a Laurentian student. Please refer to Laurentian University’s Centre for Continuing Education for information on tuition fees and application forms.
At Huntington, we have also signed an agreement with Iona College of the University of Windsor and the Ecumenical Theological Seminary (ETS) of Detroit, Michigan, to confer the degree of Bachelor of Theology upon graduates of Iona, ETS and Huntington. Iona is responsible for the oversight of this program. Please contact Iona for further information.
Additional Information
A non-credit supervisory relationship is established with students engaged in theological studies courses. It specially addresses the distinctions faced in using religious studies courses as a framework for addressing issues in theology. The relationship begins with the first courses studied in the program, and continues for as long as the supervisor or course instructor considers it necessary.
Approaches to the Study of Ministry
Integrating Theology
The purpose of this seminar is to provide supervision and direction for you to integrate faith experience and theological studies into an emerging practice of ministry. The seminar takes place after completion of B.Th.II , and also when you are in a supervised field placement. Journal keeping, readings, and teleconferencing are employed in this seminar, which begins with an on-campus long weekend in late August and ends with another on-campus weekend in May. The development of a ‘theology of ministry’ is the subject of the major paper required for this seminar. (6 credits)
Forms of Ministry
This course introduces you to common forms of practice in ministry, such as pastoral, liturgical, educational and community ministries. The course outlines some of the theoretical bases for each form, as well as exploring theological issues assumed by each. Skills required for each form of ministry are identified, but skill development should be negotiated into the supervised field placement (see below). The development of an ‘approach to ministry’ is the subject of the major paper required for this course. (6 credits)
Supervised Field Placement
The supervised field placement involves both an actual field placement and a practicum. The placement involves you being engaged in an active situation of one or more forms of ministerial practice, with the approval of the participating denomination or institution and the student’s Director of Studies. A field supervisor is assigned to meet with you on a regular basis throughout the academic term. A learning contract is drawn up to formalize expectations and accountability in this placement. You and your supervisor will also engage in a practicum, which is a collective reflection on issues in ministry. Journal keeping, readings, and teleconferencing are employed in this course as a means of conducting both supervision and the practicum. The practicum begins with an on-campus long weekend in late August and ends with
another on-campus weekend in May. (6 credits)
Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education
CAPPE offers courses in supervised pastoral education in the areas of institutional ministry (clinical pastoral education) and counseling (pastoral counseling education). Each course or unit consists of 400 hours of training and may be offered over an 11-week period, academic year, or other time period. Each unit includes clinical experience, theological reflection, theory, group process, and both individual and peer supervision.
You may take a basic CAPPE unit for academic credit on certain conditions, including the need to fulfill CAPPE requirements and the approval of the student’s Director of Studies. Your CAPPE supervisor is required to file a report with the Director of Studies, and the final decision on the eligibility of the unit for credit resides with the Northern Theological Institute.
