FPU Biblical Seminary

Dean: Valerie Rempel, Ph.D.

Overview

Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary is a learning community that develops kingdom-minded leaders who equip the church and engage the world with the transformative love of Jesus.

We give witness to a biblical theology that is both Anabaptist and evangelical, teaching that the church is called by Jesus Christ to represent God's reign in the world by the power of the Holy Spirit as its community (being), servant (doing) and messenger (telling).

The seminary practices the following intentional learning practices:

Clear and effective oral and written communication
Close reading of texts
Social analysis
Theological reflection
Collaboration
Integrity and originality
Practical application
Information research literacy

Accreditation

Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. The following degree programs are approved:

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
Master of Arts in Christian Ministries (M.A.C.M.).
Master of Arts in Community Leadership and Transformation (M.A.C.L.T.)
Master of Arts in Ministry, Leadership and Culture (M.A.M.L.C.)
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (M.A.M.F.T.).
Master of Arts in Urban Mission (M.A.I.S.)
Master of Arts (M.A. in Old Testament, New Testament, Theology)

For more information, contact:

The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275 USA
Telephone: 412-788-6505
Fax: 412-788-6510
Website: www.ats.edu

Admissions Requirements

Strong commitment to and desire for Christian ministry and service
Bachelor's degree* or its equivalent**
Application form and fee
Personal profile statement
Three references using the Seminary Reference Form: (1) from a pastor or other ministry leader, (2) from a current or former employer and (3) from a friend or family member. Please do not use a family member as the pastoral or employer reference.
Writing sample from undergraduate education (for ministry/missions/theology/biblical studies applicants only; can be any paper submitted for a letter grade regardless of subject)
Personal interview

Additional requirements for the MFT program

GRE test results
Answers to short-answer questions
Additional course prerequisites (viewable on the MFT program page)
Writing sample as part of interview process

International students, please check International Applicants page for additional requirements and documents.

*A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or an institution accredited by one of the following agencies is acceptable:

Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
Association for Theological Schools (ATS)
Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)
Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools (AARTS)

**Students will be considered for admission to the seminary into the M.Div., M.A.C.M., M.A.I.S., M.A.C.L.T. or M.A.M.F.T. degrees or one of the diploma/certificate programs without the equivalent of a bachelor's degree if they have:

A minimum of two years of post-secondary education (i.e. 60 semester units)
Some years of work experience, preferably in a leadership role
Evidence of life experience which has prepared them for graduate theological education

Such students may only pursue the degree or program to which they have applied. Applicants will be subject to the guidelines set out by the Association of Theological Schools which limits the number of students admitted in this category.

Advanced Standing

FPU undergraduate students may gain credit for up to 25% of specific seminary M.A. programs (15 units) or the M.Div. degree (22.5 units) if they have completed certain courses and received a final grade of B or higher. For the classes where undergraduate and graduate students are in the same classroom, undergraduates must declare the course to be used for advanced standing prior to the end of the course and must have used the graduate level syllabus. Contact the seminary admissions office for additional information and a list of specific courses.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Student learning objectives shape the curriculum across all degree programs and represent four demains: character formation, confessional commitments, cultural compentencies and relevant skills or capacities. SLO 1, 2 and 3 are shared across all degree programs while SLO 4 is program-specific. Seminary students are expected to:

Demonstrate commitment to live as a disciple of Jesus in Christian community
Articulate commitment to a biblical theological Christian perspective
Interpret diverse cultural contexts of ministry using theological perspectives integrated with social scientific approaches
Practice leadership skills in:
1. Pastoral Ministry (M.Div. and M.A.C.M.)
  1. Proclaim the Gospel message through words and deeds with the purpose of leading all people to faith in Jesus Christ and into a relationship with the church.
  2. Articulate the contemporary pastoral vocation as one of leading and serving as a cross-cultural missionary.
  3. Describe how to minister among God's people to evoke the trust, credibility and confidence that a congregational leader requires during times of change.
  4. Prepare and proclaim sermons that are faithful to the biblical text and relevant to God's people in their cultural contexts.
  5. Plan and lead services of Christian worship that are appropriate to one's congregational tradition and relevant to the local community.
  6. Provide team leadership shared by men and women whom the congregation calls to prepare, equip, and empower it for participation in God's mission in the world.
  7. Attend to the pastoral care needs of the congregation.
  8. Apply the best-practices of pastoral leadership theories that result in growing and thriving churches.
2. Marriage, Family and Child therapy (M.A.M.F.T.)
  1. Articulate integrative views of humanity, theology and counseling.
  2. Demonstrate understanding of individual and family life cycle development and intervention across the life span.
  3. Demonstrate appropriate use of one's personal self in response to human need.
  4. Demonstrate practice consistent with the laws and ethics that apply to marriage, family and child therapy.
  5. Demonstrate understanding of a wide variety of counseling theories and techniques.
  6. Demonstrate knowledge of mental disorders, within the scope of practice for marriage, family and child therapists.
  7. Demonstrate proactive understanding, awareness and relational skills across cultures, religions and special populations.
  8. Demonstrate proactive commitment to a community of witness, justice and peace.
  9. Develop ability to understand, use and evaluate research and assessment tools.
3. Intercultural Studies: (M.A.I.S.)
  1. Demonstrate a commitment to intercultural ministry by developing a biblical, theological and historical foundation for mission.
  2. Demonstrate passion for cross-cultural and urban ministry by developing biblical contextualization skills.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to serve and lead in cultural and religious diversity by applying biblical/theological perspectives.
  4. Demonstrate skills for intercultural ministry by using contextualization tools such as anthropology, sociology and missiology principles.
  5. Demonstrate preparedness for intercultural ministry by developing and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships and communication links with diverse cultural groups.
4. Educational Leadership (M.A.N.T., M.A.O.T., M.A.Theo.)
  1. Summarize, interpret and apply the assumptions, historical perspectives, theories and relevant literature of the academic disciplines vital to educational leadership.
  2. Demonstrate strong research and writing skills
  3. Develop a solid foundation in the chosen field of study (theology, OT or NT).
5. Community Leadership and Transformation
  1. Demonstrate a commitment to community leadership and transformation by developing a biblical, theological, anthropological, missiological, sociological and historical foundation for influence
  2. Demonstrate passion for community leadership and transformation by developing biblical contextualization skills.
  3. Accept coaching through mentoring relationships with community leaders in the city.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to serve and lead in cultural and religious diversity by applying socio/biblical/theological perspectives.
  5. Demonstrate preparedness for transformational ministry in communities by developing and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships and communication links with diverse ethnic, cultural and class groupings
6. Ministry, Leadership and Culture
  1. Proclaim the biblical good news through culturally relevant words and deeds with the purpose of leading all people into covenant with Jesus Christ and the church.
  2. Develop self-aware renewal practices that empower fulfillment of the contemporary pastoral vocation of leading and serving and reconciling in a resistant culture.
  3. Provide best-practices pastoral leadership that results in growing churches that prepare, plan, equip and empower members to engage in Gods transformative mission in the world.
  4. Interpret the emerging post-Christian cultural context locally and globally.
  5. Equip a congregation to attend to pastoral care needs of the congregation and its community.

Bible Knowledge Requirement

All degree program and certificate students must meet a Bible knowledge requirement within the first 15 units of their seminary studies. To meet this requirement, students are encouraged to attend a one-day workshop offered in the first month of the term. Alternative means of meeting the requirement are available upon inquiry with the seminary dean.