Corban and Northwest Baptist Seminary (NBS) Merger
Dear Colleagues,
In 2010, Corban merged with Northwest Baptist Seminary. Many practical questions about the merger are answered below. I would like to take the opportunity to give you a picture of some of the changes that are taking place in our ministry department and programs at Corban.
Why We Merged with NBS
Before the merger talks began in February 2010, Corban had been working on developing graduate programs for ministry training. During the 2010-11 school year, a research committee comprised of ministry faculty and administrators began defining a direction for Corban ministry. One key desire was to extend our mission by providing graduate education to ministers not being reached by current seminaries. We also desired to expand our reach without clashing with the seminaries we have worked with in the past such as Western Seminary, Golden Gate and Northwest Baptist Seminary. The opportunity to merge with NBS allowed us to build together on the two schools’ strengths rather than compete for the same students.
We have a lot in common with NBS. Our histories parallel. Both schools began as General Association of Regular Baptist Churches approved ministries. Both moved from early years in California to becoming established in the Northwest. Many Corban alumni also have ties to NBS either through going to NBS personally or having NBS graduates as pastors. Both Corban and NBS share a strong commitment to the Lord and a conservative doctrinal position. Though worded differently in places, the belief statements of both schools reflect a mutual loyalty to conservative and Baptist theology. We also embrace a unified passion to train ministry leaders to make a difference in the world for Christ. Corban has always prepared ministers at the undergraduate level while NBS has focused on graduate level preparation for ministers. Our endeavors and goals complement each other well.
We have merged with NBS because we believe the two schools will work as kindred spirits to be more effective in serving the Lord together than we would have separately.
What changes are coming to the NBS curriculum
Though NBS and Corban share many similarities, some significant changes are necessary. NBS faces serious financial challenges that have required reducing the faculty and course offerings. We have been able to retain all but one of the NBS faculty, though three of the remaining professors are moving to part-time teaching.
We are also trimming and focusing the curriculum on three degrees. These three programs (Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry) represent the most recognized degrees in ministry training. The Doctor of Ministry is an advanced degree for experienced ministers who already have completed seminary training. The Master of Divinity is the standard degree for those pursuing senior pastor or leadership positions in ministry and missions. The Master of Arts provides preparation for a wide variety of church associate and parachurch ministry positions.
With the change that a merger brings, we are taking advantage of the opportunity to realign the curriculum to address the challenges of ministry today. Broad research in ministry training plus our own surveys show five crucial elements to effective ministry.
First, Corban and NBS will continue to build ministry preparation on a strong theological and biblical foundation. Students in the master’s programs will have courses that cover every book of the Bible. They will move beyond a general survey of themes and history into wrestling with the message and detailed development of Bible books. This careful examination will utilize Greek and Hebrew language study and provide a solid basis for effective exposition of Scripture. The theology sequence will focus on enabling the student to articulate a biblically-based personal doctrinal statement and to address the complex theological issues that confront churches today. The detailed doctrinal statements, required of every MDiv student, are commonly required for church ordination and ministry hiring committees. In addition, Bible and theology electives will allow students to choose the classes that address their unique ministry needs.
Second, the new master’s programs will address crucial personal growth areas that determine much of a minister’s effectiveness. Most church leaders do not fail in ministry because of academic concerns, but because of personal and interpersonal issues. The statistics from surveys of ministers are startling:
- 80% believe ministry has affected their families negatively (Life Enrichment Ministry survey)
- 37% report they have been involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a church member (Fuller Institute of Church Growth survey)
- 71% rate use of money as a major problem in their ministry and marriage (Leadership survey)
- 70% report having no close friend in whom to confide (Fuller Institute of Church Growth survey)
- 63% report major issues stemming from congregational differences (Leadership survey)
- 54% report they viewed pornography in the last year (pastor.com survey)
Our program will incorporate a course series confronting issues of marriage and family, personal purity and growth, interpersonal relationships and finances. These courses will work in concert with ministry mentorship throughout the program.
Third, each student will be involved in mentored ministry experience every semester. Most seminaries require minimal field experience and some none at all. The Association of Theological Schools (the national accrediting body for seminaries) reports that after faculty and the Bible, supervised ministry experience was the most important influence in training (2004 graduate survey). ATS research further suggests that ministry training must adapt more to a “graduate professional education” rather than “graduate liberal arts education,” meaning that the focus of a seminary program must be on producing excellent ministry practice (“What Matters in Good MDiv Curriculum?” 2003 ATS Consultation on MDiv Curriculum). We will do more than just require ministry involvement. We will provide a supervised experience where academic learning will connect to ministry practice.
Fourth, our new programs will incorporate leadership training. Ministry today requires leaders to be effective in communication, understanding of culture, innovative yet biblical in philosophy. Studies show the significance of these areas for ministry. A survey of pastors by Leadership (Christianity Today, 1992) showed that 64% experienced difficulties with church communications. The Center for Immigration Studies and the Census Bureau report that 40% of our latest population growth and 60% of future population growth will come from immigration. 45% of all children under the age of 5 are racial or ethnic minorities. The challenges and opportunities in communication and connecting today are incredible. For that reason, we will provide training in formal (preaching and teaching) as well as interpersonal communication. We will also include ministry leadership, church growth strategy, cross-cultural ministry and counseling courses designed to address the needs of churches today.
Fifth, our curriculum will take advantage of available technology. Corban has had an excellent working relationship with Logos for many years. Every undergraduate Bible Survey student receives and is required to use the Logos software for Bible research. Our graduate program will expand that technology base to other ministry areas. Logos currently has 12,000 electronic book titles available to aid studying the Bible, Greek, Hebrew, theology and many ministry subjects. We will utilize tools like Logos to maximize a student’s ability to effectively and efficiently study the Scriptures. The goal is to help ministers balance the need for careful Bible study and the reality of time demands today.
Exciting changes go beyond the curriculum. As we look to the future, we believe opportunities are opening to help us bring effective ministry to even more believers.
How we will deliver training
One of the signatures of Corban’s growth has been the success of creative delivery formats. Our undergraduate online program (CAO) has enjoyed significant success. Also, our new graduate programs in areas such as education and business have employed online instruction very effectively. In the future, many of our MA and MDiv courses will be offered online. Of course some courses cannot effectively be offered online. Some skills, such as preaching and teaching, have to be learned through live coaching and peer feedback. We envision offering courses like these in intensive module format. The goal is to provide excellent seminary training that allows a student to remain in their current ministry. Our future may include modules in Seattle-Tacoma, Salem, other NW cities and perhaps overseas. We want to take ministry training to the ministry fields.
We are also discussing ways to connect with Corban graduates, current students and experienced ministers. Current students will have the opportunity to take dual credit courses while finishing their undergraduate degree. Selected courses offered in the undergraduate program may also be taken for graduate credit. Also, Corban graduates may be able to receive advanced standing for the Bible and ministry training they have already received. We are looking at ways as well to recognize and reward the training experienced ministers have completed.
As we believe the Lord has led us to this uniting with NBS, we look forward with excitement to His continued leading in this new adventure.
Serving together,
Greg Trull
Dean of Ministry, Corban University
