West Africa Theological Seminary

Prospectus

West Africa Theological Seminary offers graduate studies for pastors, church leaders, missionaries and teachers. The following pages outline the goals, requirements, and courses pertaining to the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies, Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, and the Graduate Diploma in Christian Ministry.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

Applicants generally must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in religion or theology, with a second class pass, from any recognized university or theological college or seminary which is either affiliated with a Nigerian university at the degree level or accredited by the Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA) or any body with equal or greater standards outside Nigeria. Candidates whose first degrees are of marginal or questionable validity may in rare cases be granted probationary admission upon successful completion of a rigorous entrance examination, provided they also demonstrate significant experience in Christian ministry and come with a high recommendation from their sending organization or church.

Notwithstanding the fact that first preferences in admission will be given to those holding accredited Bachelor’s degrees in religion and theology, applicants with first degrees in non-religious areas can also be admitted to any of WATS’ graduate programs, provided they successfully complete a rigorous entrance examination in both biblical and theological areas.

Selection of Degree

Students will select a degree objective at the time of application. Generally, no change of degree objective will be permitted after the completion of the first ten modules. Acceptance to the second year is dependent on academic progress. Students accepted for the second academic year will be registered as candidates for the degree of their choice.

Requirements for Graduation

The candidate must successfully accumulate 60 MA credits or 97 MDiv credits (with the exception of the MA in Christian Leadership; see details below). The MA credits include 54 course credits, plus 6 credits for a dissertation.

Thesis Requirements

Candidates for the MA in Biblical Studies must write a thesis. Candidates are required to defend a thesis proposal not less than one year prior to the anticipated time of completing the program. Guidelines for conducting the thesis project will be covered in the course, Research Methods.

MDiv students have the option of a thesis or internship report at the end of the program. Students who opt for the thesis are required to defend a thesis proposal not later than one year to the anticipated time of completing one’s program.

Internship Requirement

All MDiv students are required to have a four-week internship in the first two years of the program. In addition, non-thesis MDiv students are required to put in eight weeks of internship in the last year of their program.

Distinguishing Characteristics of MA and MDiv Graduates:

Ideological Foundations

Students who graduate from any West Africa Theological Seminary Masters program must be grounded in each of the following foundational areas. Though each Masters program has its own area of specialization, there are certain common foundations that must be shared by all WATS graduates. These are the distinguishing marks that must characterize a WATS Masters graduate, no matter his or her area of special expertise.

The Spiritual Foundation

The greatest distinctive of WATS is its unrelenting focus on spiritual formation, particularly as defined within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition. Therefore, any Masters programs at WATS must lay a strong emphasis on Christian holiness.

Masters students must have a thorough knowledge of the history of Christian spirituality, must be familiar with the Wesleyan focus on holiness, must be versed in the disciplines of holiness applicable to their own lives, and must have the basic equipment to instill Christian holiness into the lives of their followers.

The Biblical Foundation

1. Students must have complete grounding in the Bible and be able to give thorough summaries of all books of the Bible.
2. Students must be able to translate the message of the Bible into practical knowledge demonstrating an ability to preach in depth from any portion of the scriptures.
3. Students must be able to demonstrate expert ability at topical analysis of the scriptures, by tracing thematic and theological patterns through the scripture.
4. Students must have a thorough knowledge of the skills for inductive Bible study.
   

The Theological Foundation

1. Students must be able to address theological themes that are particularly relevant in Africa. They must be able to address African concepts of God and the spirit world and be able to understand what is scripturally sound and otherwise in contemporary African Christian churches.
2. Students must be able to articulate a sound doctrine of the Holy Spirit, including its relationship to Bible holiness.
   

The Historical Foundation

1. Students must have a basic grasp of the history of Christian theology.
2. Students must especially have a thorough knowledge of the early Church Fathers, and must be grounded well enough in the history of the Church to avoid false doctrines.
   

The Cultural and Social Foundation

1. Students must understand the foundation of the cultural and social areas where they have been called to minister.
2. Contemporary Christian thought must be understood, including a thorough grasp of the African worldview.
3. There must be an understanding of how Christianity can and should transform the African worldview and culture.
4. Students must know how to present the Gospel to Africans who do not share the biblical worldview.
   

The Ministry Foundation

1. Students must be equipped with the practical tools for ministry, and be versed in their use, including tools for Bible interpretation, tools for counseling, and an adequate understanding of Christian education, administration and evangelism.
2. Students must have a thorough understanding of the issues surrounding ministerial ethics in contemporary Africa.
3. Students will be exposed to sound principles of Christian leadership.
4. Students will be acquainted with model techniques of church growth, particularly how to grow a church through conversions rather than transfer.
   

The Missions Foundation

1. Students must have a basic grasp of the history of Christian cross-cultural missions.
2. Students must understand and be able to apply proper approaches to cross-cultural ministry, particularly in Africa.
   

The Research Foundation

1. Students must grasp the theory and techniques of research, including how to use the Bible as a research tool.
2. Students must know how to do field research, including how to survey a given population area and gain an accurate understanding of the worldview of the people.

Specific Goals of the Master of Divinity

In addition to qualifications and competencies in the general foundation areas noted above, this program should produce the following outcomes—church leaders, pastors, evangelists or missionaries who are:

1. Highly competent and skilled counselors, church administrators, Christian educators and effective church leaders.
2. Directly and competently involved in cross-cultural missions or who are able to direct and motivate others into missions.
3. Competent to exegete the Holy Scriptures, including making use of the original biblical languages.
4. Able to develop interpersonal relationships, display adaptability, initiate and manage change effectively.
5. Able to articulate a well-developed pastoral/ministerial theology with emphasis on discipleship, holiness and spiritual leadership.
6. Competent to articulate and practice disciplines for spiritual formation within a Wesleyan-holiness perspective, and to articulate specific attitudinal and behavioural goals appropriate to different stages of spiritual/ministerial development.

Specific Goals of the MA in Biblical Studies

In addition to qualifications and competencies in the general foundation areas noted above, this program should produce the following outcomes—Bible scholars who are:

1. Competent in analytical thinking, exegetically sound, and academically oriented.
2. Able to do independent research and writing, able to expound the Word of God with understanding and clarity, and able to teach in seminaries, Bible schools and universities.
3. Competent to do independent research and writing in Biblical Studies.

Specific Goals of the MA in Intercultural Studies

In addition to qualifications and competencies in the general foundation areas noted above, this program should produce the following outcomes—missions leaders who are:

1. Competent to understand and explain the historical, theological, sociological and cultural foundations of Islam and its relevance to the Christian mission.
2. Directly and competently engaged in evangelization of Muslims and the discipling of Muslim Background Believers (MBBs).
3. Able to properly understand and interpret the Qur’an and other literature within the Muslim Hadith, and to compare and contrast such with the teachings of the Old and New Testaments.

Specific Goals of the MA in Christian Leadership

This program is designed to capacitate episcopal-level leaders who are:

1. Competent to understand and apply relevant principles of leadership and management for the Church of the Twenty-first century.
2. Adept at the use of modern information technology as it applies to top church leadership.
3. Understand the significance of globalization and ecumenical networking.
4. Understand and who are engaged in effective wholistic ministry, especially as it applied to rapidly urbanizing Africa.
5. Evince a balanced perspective of biblical foundations and a capable articulation of Christian theology and ethics for our times.

On-Campus Accommodation

Due to limited facilities, accommodation in WATS hostels is not automatic. New students are to apply for accommodation on receipt of their admission letter while returning students are to apply during the month of May. In any case preference is given to international students and those from outside Lagos.

Workload for WATS Masters Degree

It is to be understood that in the WATS Masters courses each classroom hour requires a minimum of two hours of private study. This means the forty hours of classroom work per module must be complimented by a minimum of eighty hours of private study. Typically, there will be a minimum of four hours of daily private study Monday through Friday of the first two weeks of a module, and minimum of eight hours daily during the third week. It should be understood that many students would require more than this minimum in order to pass their courses successfully.

WATS Admission/Registration Policy

Admission to WATS does not automatically imply acceptance as a degree candidate. Admissions to all programs are provisional. The first year’s performance in WATS Masters programs will decide whether a student qualifies to be registered as a degree candidate. Performance is measured by academic and non-academic criteria. If one’s average grade is below 2.5 in the modules taken in the first semester, the Academic Dean will issue a written warning. This will notify the student that if, after the next semester’s modules his or her overall average grade does not improve to 2.5 his or her program of study will be terminated.

In addition, the student must demonstrate exemplary Christian character and ability to live a model life in Christian community. Students who fall below expectations in academic or non-academic areas may be given their transcript and a one-year Diploma of Christian Studies. Only those students whose average grade are better 2.5 or better in the first ten courses taken in the first year, will be registered as candidates for the degree program of their choice in the second year.

Master of Divinity

Year One                                       Credit Hours 
 TH 501 Systematic Theology I                             3  
 HT 501 Survey of Church History                          3 
 ED 502 Educational Ministry of the Church                3 
 NT 511 Biblical Greek I (or OT 501 Biblical Hebrew I )   3 
 OT 510 O.T. Introduction                                 3 
 MN 509 Homiletics                                        3 
 TH 502 Systematic Theology II                            3 
 MN 503 Christian Family Life                             3 
 NT 512 Biblical Greek II (or OT 502 Biblical Hebrew II)  3 
 NT 510 NT Introduction                                   3 
Total                                                    30 

Year Two 
 MN 533 Christian Leadership & Church Administration      3 
 CH 521 Topics in the History of the Church               3 
 TH 522 Doing Theology in Modern Africa                   3 
 ED 512 Tertiary Teaching Methods                         3 
 SF 523 Spiritual Life of the Minister                    3 
 RC 615 Research Methods                                  3 
 MI 515 World Christian Movement                          3 
 SF 520 Wesley and Discipleship                           3 
 BI 531 Biblical Hermeneutics                             3 
 TH 526 Holiness and Revival                              3 
Total                                                    30 

Year Three 
 MN 601 Expository Preaching                              3  
 NT 611 Synoptic Gospels                                  3 
 OT 612 Old Testament Theology                            3 
 NT 612 Pauline Epistles                                  3 
 NT 611 New Testament Theology                            3 
 OT 611 Pentateuch                                        3 
 MN 613 Church and State                                  3 
 OT 614 Old Testament Prophets                            3 
 TH 603 Christian Ethics                                  3 
 MN 602 Pastoral Theology and Counseling                  3 
 MN 605 Growing a Purpose Driven Church                   3
 TH 612 Africa Traditional Religion                       3 
 RC 609 Internship                                        6 
Total                                                    36

MA in Biblical Studies

Old Testament Track

Year One                                      Credit Hours 
 HT 521 Topics in the History of the Church              3 
 TH 522 Doing Theology in Modern African                 3 
 ED 512 Tertiary Teaching Methods                        3 
 SF 523 Spiritual Life of the Minister                   3 
 RC 615 Research Methods                                 3 
 MI 515 World Christian Movement                         3 
 SF 520 Wesley and Discipleship                          3 
 BI 531 Biblical Hermeneutics                            3 
 TH 526 Holiness and Revival                             3 
 OT 510 Old Testament Introduction                       3 
Total                                                   30 

Year Two 
 OT 611 Pentateuch                                       3 
 OT 606 Hebrew Syntax and Grammar                        3 
 OT 613 History of Israel                                3 
 OT 605 Mastering Biblical Hebrew                        3 
 OT 612 Old Testament Theology                           3 
 OT 607 Hebrew Exegesis                                  3 
 BI 503 Biblical History & Criticism                     3 
 OT 614 OT Prophets                                      3 
 RC 609 Thesis                                           6 
Total                                                   30 

Grand Total 60 

Electives: 
 SF 611 History of Christian Spirituality                3 
 OT 615 Wisdom Literature                                3 
 SF 618 Spiritual Warfare                                3 
 HT 522 Aspects of Nigerian Church History               3 

 New Testament Track 

Year One                                      Credit Hours 
 HT 521 Topics in the History of the Church              3 
 TH 522 Doing Theology in Modern African                 3 
 ED 512 Tertiary Teaching Methods                        3 
 SF 523 Spiritual Life of the Minister                   3 
 RC 615 Research Methods                                 3 
 MI 515 World Christian Movement                         3 
 SF 520 Wesley and Discipleship                          3 
 BI 531 Biblical Hermeneutics                            3 
 TH 526 Holiness and Revival                             3 
 NT 510 New Testament Introduction                       3 
Total                                                   30

Year Two 
 NT 612 New Testament Theology                           3
 NT 504 Biblical History and Criticism II                3
 NT 605 Mastering Biblical Greek                         3
 NT 611 Synoptic Gospels                                 3
 NT 606 Greek Syntax and Grammar                         3
 NT 613 Johannine Literature                             3
 NT 614 Pauline Epistles                                 3
 NT 607 Greek Exegesis                                   3
 RC 609 Thesis                                           6
Total                                                   30

MA in Intercultural Studies

Lagos, Nigeria, is an ideal setting to establish an MA in Intercultural Studies (integrated with an Interfaith Studies Institute) with an emphasis on evangelism and discipleship of Muslims. According to Patrick Johnstone (author of Operation World), Nigeria is approximately 43% Muslim and 51% Christian. In Lagos there are Muslims and Christians from all parts of the nation, as well as from other countries.

Core Courses                                  Credit Hours
 BI 503 Topics in Biblical Theology                      3 
 NT 510 New Testament Introduction                       3
 OT 509 Old Testament Introduction                       3
 HT 521 Topics in the History of the Church              3
 SF 523 The Spiritual Life of the Minister               3
 TH 522 Doing Theology in Modern Africa                  3
 MI 515 World Christian Movement                         3
 RC 615 Research Methods                                 3
Total                                                   24


Major Required Courses
 MI 622 Cultural Anthropology                            3
 HT 612 History of Islam                                 3
 MI 620 Beliefs and Practices of Islam                   3
 MI 621 Cross Cultural Discipleship                      3
 SF 618 Spiritual Warfare                                3
 MI 619 The Gospel to Animists                           3
 MI 623 Cross-Cultural Discipleship                      3
 MI 624 The Qur’an                                       3
Total                                                   24


Missions/Studies related to Islam
 MI 614 The Hadith and Shari’a                           3
 HT 615 Islam in West Africa                             3
 MI 616 Apologetics                                      3
 MI 617 History of Christian-Muslim Relations            3
 LA 525 Hausa                                            3
 LA 618 Arabic                                           3
 Project                                                 6
Total                                                   60 

Projected Schedule for Program Implementation:

2005 Beginning of the Program
2007 Beginning of interfaith institute modules

Practical Projects in Connection with the Seminars / Courses

• Dialogue with Muslims. Students will be encouraged to informally dialogue with Muslims. The lecturers will guide the students as to what questions to ask and how to answer questions Muslims typically ask Christians. The students will return with feedback for further discussion and guidance.
• Learning about Muslim culture through participation in field experience, as feasible.
• Supervised Ministry in the Discipleship of Muslim Background Believers. Students will be linked with those already discipling Muslim Background Believers in order to get practical experience.
• Supervised mission awareness and training programs in the churches. Students will be engaged in promoting missions awareness among churches, and will develop programs for training church leadership and members in Muslim evangelism and discipleship.

Internships

There will be a 6-credit hour internship involving supervised ministry among Muslims and/or Muslim Background Believers.

The Institute of Interfaith Studies

Beginning in 2007, and each year thereafter, during the months of June and July there will be modules on the study of Islam in relation to evangelism and church planting among Muslims. Each module will include two weeks of academics followed by a third week that will include practical interaction with Muslims and/or Muslim Background Believers. These practicums will alternate between Lagos/Ibadan (southwestern Nigeria), Jos/Bauchi (north central Nigeria), and Kaduna/Kano (core north Nigeria). Those taking the courses can apply them towards a Masters degree at either WATS, at Asbury Theological Seminary (USA) or any other seminary cooperating with this program. These courses are planned in such a way as to be maximally helpful to students coming from abroad.

Anticipated costs of this program include: (1) Room and board for international students at $30.00 per day, (2) Housing for the Lagos/Ibadan practicum at $150.00, including transportation, and (3) Housing and board for the Jos/Bauchi at $30.00 per day and practicum charge of $350.00.

Interfaith Institute Schedule, 2007 – 2009

2007 

Module I:   Jun 4 - 22        MI 620: Beliefs and Practices of Islam
Module II:  Jun 25 – Jul 13   SF 618: Spiritual Warfare
Module III: Jul 16 – Aug 3    HT 612: History of Islam 

2008 

Module I:   Jun 2 – 20        MI 619: Folk Religion 
Module II:  Jun 23 – Jul 11   TH 624: The Qur’an 
Module III: Jul 14 – Aug 1    MI 616: Apologetics 

2009 

Module I:   Jun 8 – 26        MI 622: Cultural Anthropology 
Module II:  Jun 29 – Jul 17   MI 623: Cross-cultural Discipling 
Module III: Jul 20 – Aug 7    MI 614: The Hadith and Sharia 

MA In Christian Leadership

Across the past two to three decades the explosion of church growth in sub-Sahara Africa has led to unprecedented demands for quality church leadership. West Africa Theological Seminary recognizes that to keep pace with this development there is need for a superior Masters-level program designed to further equip busy bishops to lead their dioceses into the twenty-first century. In close co-operation with consultants from within Nigeria, around the continent and also from North America, we have put together a unique and high-powered curriculum and have recruited some of the best scholars and mentors available as adjunct faculty. The result is an executive track and a degree program of stunning practicality and clear excellence.

The MA in Christian Leadership is a forty-eight hour Masters of Arts degree specifically and exclusively for episcopal-level Church leadership in Africa. As an executive program, it is limited to thirty students per session. It is conducted on the modular system, with modules meeting twice yearly over a three-year period and concluding with a major project. The first modules of this program started in 2001. The program is now in the second round, having seen thirteen bishops through the first round by 2004.

Statement of Purpose : This is a program for current African church leaders working at the episcopal level. It is designed to provide the best possible training in: (1) principles of leadership and management, (2) modern communication, (3) understanding globalization and ecumenical networking, (4) the importance of wholistic ministry, especially in rapidly urbanning Africa (5) Christian theology and ethics in the twenty-first century, and (6) strengthening biblical foundations.

Modules : Double modules are held twice yearly, in August and January. Each module yields three credits and consists of all-day sessions Monday through Friday (concluding with a half-day session on Friday). Sessions take both the lecture and seminar format. Students are required to do a research project after each module.

All of the courses in this program are offered on the modular system—for the convenience of busy bishops and also to enable WATS to bring to campus an excellent adjunct faculty. Each module consists of thirty-six hours of classroom instructions, over a five-day period.

Program Requirements

1. Entry Requirements: Applicants must hold episcopal-level church appointments and must have a valid first degree with at least a second class pass.
2. Graduation Requirements: The candidate must have successfully completed 48 MA credits. This comprises 42 course credits, 3. Advanced Research Credits, and 4 credits for a major project.
3. Major Project Requirement : After the last module each student will take a three-credit course in Advanced Research, and is then expected to write a major project developing a theme or themes from any of the modules which relate in the practical way with their own ministry. The major project will attract four credits.

Course Descriptions

MN 614 – Leadership by the Book: Studies biblical principles and methods of leadership using case studies of OT/NT leaders and Jesus’ style of leadership.

MN 623 – Strategic Church Management:Applies modern management principles to church leadership. Investigates strategic thinking/planning, research and development strategies, leading change, crisis management, developing middle-level management, and pastoral care of full-time workers.

MN 621 – Relationship and Conflict Management: Reviews concepts for mobilizing the church for ministry and for targeting the unchurched, establishing and running church-based businesses, financial management, and legal matters.

TH 622 – Contemporary Theological Trends:Investigates current trends in theology within the continental and global church, strands of theologies: Western, liberation, African theological thought.

BI 612 – Biblical Authority, Interpretation and Application: Guides in a study of Scriptures, methods and tools of interpretation, elements of sound biblical preaching.

SF 602 – Experiencing God: Guides the student through a deeper understanding of the personal work of the Lord in the life of a believer.

TH 623 – Christian Doctrines: Studies the early communal doctrines of the church, topics in systematics and ecumenism.

IT 611 – Information Technology: Introduces student to computer systems and tools, basic computer skills, place and role of computer in today’s church, Internet, electronic resources.

MI 613 – Missiology: Exposes the student to trends and topics in modern missiology for developing missionary-minded diocese and churches, contextualization, understanding the global church, and networking.

MN 617 – Christian Encounter with Islam: Examines Islam and how to confront its advance in Twenty-first Century Africa with scripturally sound and contextualized evangelism and discipleship.

SF 619 – Life In the Spirit: Studies and Person and work of the Holy Spirit in the church, spiritual gifts and operations, building word and power churches, working with charismatic groups in the church.

MN 612 – Church and Society: Explores the relationship between church and state, the challenges of the prophetic role of the church, issues in Christian ethics, the role of the Church in development realities in Africa, theology of wholistic development and participatory principles of community development.

SF 606 – Discipleship for Twenty-First Century Africa: Examines the current status of discipleship in the African church, looks at biblical and historical models that can be contextualized to mature the church body of entire denominations.

HI 601 – Aspects of Nigerian Church History: Investigates the progress of the church’s contribution to the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria since the advent of sustained Christian presence in 1842 with guidance on how to meet the challenges of the future. Similar parallels in other African countries will be addressed.

MA in Christian Leadership Course Schedule

Module IX    August 7 – 11, 2006    Christian Encounter with Islam
Module X     August 14 – 18, 2006   Missiology 
Module XI    January 8 – 12, 2007   Life in the Spirit 
Module XII   January 15 – 19, 2007  Church and Society 
Module XIII  August 6 – 10, 2007    Discipleship for Africa 
Module XIV   August 13 – 17,2007    Aspects of Nigerian Church History 
Module I     January 7 – 11, 2008   Leadership by the Book 
Module II    January 14 – 18, 2008  Strategic Church Management 
Module III   August 4 – 8, 2008     Biblical Authority, Interpretation and Application 
Module IV    August 11 – 15, 2008   Experiencing God 
Module V     January 12 – 16, 2009  International Leadership Institute 
Module VI    January 19 – 23, 2009  International Leadership Institute 
Module VII   August 10 – 14, 2009   Christian Doctrines 
Module VIII  August 17 – 21, 2009   Information Technology 

Graduate Diploma in Christian Ministry

The Graduate Diploma in Christian Ministry Program is designed for bi-vocational men and women who are engaged in a regular vocation and also have an established or emerging ministry, and who have a quest for formal training in Christian ministry. The course runs on weekends on a modular basis for a 12-month period. Students who complete the requirements for the GDCM may transfer their credits of B and above to the MA or MDiv degree programs.

COURSES                                       Credit Hours 
 TH 501 Systematic Theology I                            3
 HT 501 Survey of Church History                         3
 ED 502 Educational Ministry of the Church               3
 OT 510 OT Introduction                                  3
 MN 509 Homiletics                                       3
 TH 502 Systematic Theology II                           3
 MN 503 Christian Family Life                            3
 MI 521 Principles of Evangelism                         3
 NT 510 NT Introduction                                  3 
 NT 511 World Christian Movement                         3
 NT 512 Christian Leadership and Church Admin.           3
 SF 523 The Spiritual Life of the Minister               3 
Total                                                   42