In response to requests from adult learners desiring a fully online Christian Ministry degree with a strong liberal arts foundation, Northwest Nazarene Univeristy’s School of Theology and Christian Ministries is pleased to announce the offering of an online Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Ministry. This accelerated degree-completion program, set to launch August 2010, is geared to adult learners age 23 or older.  Students can expect to complete all course work online in 36 months with no residential requirements.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

Northwest Nazarene University’s President David Alexander is pleased to announce that the University was admitted as an associate member of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). ATS is a membership organization of 250 graduate schools in the United States and Canada that educate men and women for the practice of ministry and for teaching and research in the theological disciplines. Its Commission on Accrediting certifies institutions and approves the degree programs offered by member schools.  “For NNU’s School of Theology and Christian Ministries to receive associate membership in The Association of Theological Schools is a validation of our offerings in graduate-level theology as well as the institution’s move over a decade ago from college to university,” said President Alexander.

Associate membership opens the door for the University to enter into broader conversations with peer graduate schools of theology and seminaries throughout North America. NNU was the first Nazarene institution of higher education to receive institutional accreditation, and now enjoys the first fully online program to be granted associate membership by ATS. The University currently enrolls 150 students in its seven online-degree tracks for Master of Divinity and Master of Arts degrees.

“This is an historic move,” said Dr. Mark Maddix, dean of NNU’s School of Theology & Christian Ministries. “Associate membership with ATS is an important step in the University’s future and for the next generation of graduate theological education.”

This is the first step toward full accreditation with ATS.  NNU has five years to apply for candidancy and then full membership with the association.  The move to ATS accreditation will provide opportunities for students from other denominations who need an ATS accredited seminary program to attend NNU.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

Rebekah Fleming and Dr. Diane Leclerc

Students in the School of Theology and Christian Ministries were awarded over $225,000 in scholarships at the annual theology night.  The scholarships included ministerial and departmental scholarship that have been funded by supporters of STCM.  We thank all of our donors for your contribution in helping to shape and form future leaders for the church and the Kingdom.

Some highlights of student awards include the following:

• Biblical Interpretation Award: Talitha Edwards
• Biblical Language Award: Lindsey Bramson and John Bunch
• Grade Point Average Awards: Ryan Donley, Deborah Holston, and Kristen Wilde
  

  Ryan Donley

• Philosophy Award: Andrew Knapp
• A. Elwood Sanner Senior Theology Award: Ryan Donley (theology), Caleb Reynolds (Bible), and Andrew Knapp (Philosophy.
• Marvin Cook Bible Award: Jerad May
• A. E. Sanner Sermon Award: Ryan Donley, Jenna Redmond, and Jerad May
• NAPCE Award: Vanessa Evans
• STCM Faculty Award: Rebekah Fleming
• Missions Award: Jenna Redmond
• Outstanding Youth Ministry Award: Ryan Pugh
• Preaching Commission Award: Zachary Schulz, Erika Schaub, and Grady Harmon
  

  Dr. Rhonda Carrim and Jenna Redmond

Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments

NNU students and the community are invited to attend the School of Theology and Christian Ministries  Theology Night on Monday, April 19, 7:00 p.m. at College Church.   The evening features student awards, scholarships, and paper presentations.

Students will be presenting papers in theology, philosophy, and Biblical studies.  The student presenters are:

Caleb Reynolds, “Ministering Across the  Lines” (Bible)

Andrew Knapp, “Causality and Belief” (Philosophy)

Ryan Donley, “The Need for Communicable Trinitarian Language” (Theology)

Over $225,000 of student scholarship, including ministerial and departmental will be presented to students for the 2010-11 academic year.

Also, the following student awards will be presented:  the A. E. Sanner Sermon, Marvin Cook Bible, STCM Faculty, Missions, and the doulos award.

This is a very special evening for our undergraduate STCM students. We hope you plan to join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of our students.

Mark A. Maddix, Dean

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

While on campus for the 2010 Wesley Center Conference, Philip Yancey, best-selling author and Christianity Today’s editor-at-large, sat down for an interview with religion students Jenna Redmond and Ryan Donley. Click on the link to watch the interview.

http://www.nnu.edu/academics/academic-departments/religion

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

Good morning. This is my favorite week of chapel because students are preaching.  I am always challenged by their messages and they always do a great job.  Preaching plays a central role in the life of the Church.  God continues to call men and women to serve in ministry to proclaim the good news of the gospel, and this week we will hear the gospel proclaimed through our students preaching mission.

The Student Preaching Mission is a long-standing tradition at NNU reaching back to the early years of the institution and her deep commitment to the preparation of women and men for the preaching ministry.   In more recent decades, the Dr. A. E. Sanner Memorial Sermon Awards have also been incorporated into this tradition.

Dr. Asa Everett Sanner, had a distinguished career as a churchman, pastor, district superintendent, and a church planter in the Northwest and Southwest.  His son, Dr. A. Elwood Sanner, taught at NNU for over 40 years and served the chair of the department of philosophy/religion.  His daughter, Prof. Evelyn Sanner Bennett also served on faculty at NNU.

Students are selected for the Sanner Sermon series by preparing a written sermon which is judged by several faculty and pastors.    The top three sermons are selected and will be preaching this week in chapel.

The Student Preaching Mission students this year are:  Ryan Donley, Jenna Redmond, and Jerad May. We invite you to chapel this week to hear our students preach.

Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments

99 Parts Perspiration: God & the Creative Process

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” – Thomas Alva Edison

A simple conviction underscored the ingenuity of one of America’s greatest inventors: there is no substitute for hard work. While this is self-evident in numerous life arenas, many admit that Edison’s conviction can be quite challenging for those in ministry. After all, what does it mean to work hard while partnering with God in the creative process?

Northwest Nazarene University’s 2010 Wesley Center Conference offers hope to all who seek to follow Christ while engaging in the creative process. This year’s conference is geared to help both pastors and laypersons explore what it means to write, preach, teach, perform, and create while keeping in step with the Spirit of God.

Our 2010 conference features bestselling writer Philip Yancey and respected pastor Dr. Jeff Crosno as well as a full menu of workshops led by creative practitioners and some of NNU’s most creative students sharing their God-given talents.

NNU’s 2010 conference will be held on February 4-6 at College Church of the Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho. Conference registration begins Thursday evening at 6:30p; the conference concludes at noon on Saturday.

Earlier registrants receive the benefit of lower conference rates. Earlybird registrations received by February 1, 2010 are $79. Registrations after this date are $99 and will only be accepted on site. Unfortunately, NNU cannot refund canceled registrations received after January 24, 2010.

The registration fee includes conference materials, a formal Friday night banquet, and morning refreshments on Friday and Saturday. Pastors may also register in advance with the university for free continuing education units (CEUs). The university has also arranged discounted conference rates for accommodations at two area hotels.

NNU’s Wesley Center encourages laypersons and clergy to register today for this conference and explore more fully how to partner with God in the creative process.

Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment