MI SEMINARY
 

MI classes are held in seminar format on Thursday and Friday. The Scriptures are the foundational source book used by our staff of adjunct faculty.

A typical week for a full-time MI seminary student involves an average of nine hours academic teaching plus fifteen hours of leadership training at a local church, and approximately fifteen hours of homework and twelve hours of spiritual and character formation (including one-on-one mentoring, small group interaction, personal devotions, and guided reading).

There are approximately thirty-two (32) class seminars in the course of a school year, held on consecutive thursdays and Fridays. A seminar is taught on one subject by one teacher each week. The curriculum rotates each year in carousel style (years A,B,C), and all students study the same curriculum. The courses cover a wide range of seminar topics from Biblical Studies to Church History to Practical Theology to Leadership and Ministry skills. The school year begins end of August and ends in mid May.

MI students are involved in Leadership Training which provides an opportunity for hands-on ministry and discipleship during a fifteen hour a week internship at a local church that runs concurrent with the academic work for all three years.

The Spiritual and Character Formation program involves mentoring and small group mutual mentoring that helps our students form mature Christian character.

SPIRITUAL & CHARACTER FORMATION
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
BIBLICAL TEACHING

In order to encourage each student's Holy Spirit led transformation we include:

One-on-One Mentoring in which each student and mentor meet weekly. Mentors are mature, Christian, servant-leaders who provide prayer covering and modeling as they relate with their student in a life-on-life kind of way. Each student's mentor will model mature and whole Christian discipleship while praying for, encouraging and exhorting their student, listening and directing them in the power of the Holy Spirit, suppporting them and holding them accountable to the life of a growing disciple of Jesus Christ. More on mentoring>>

Personal Spiritual Growth Designs (PSGD's) which are personalized plans that each student creates in their 2nd and 3rd years of seminary, out of their desire for maturity and wholeness as a Christian Leader. As students recognize areas of needed spiritual growth and wholeness, they create a unique and intentional plan to concentrate on this recognized area for growth and/or healing. Our hope is to build this practice into our students' lives as they continue to mature in their faith, leadership, and Christ-likeness.

Small Group Community where students create an intentional community for spiritual growth and support as maturing followers of Jesus Christ. In small groups, the students discuss assigned readings that relate to their spiritual and character formation, share personal experiences, support one another and hold each other accountable toward Christian maturity.Reflections are written on each spiritual formation reading assignment.These groups meet within the regularly scheduled class day.

Silent Prayer Retreats which are designed as time away with the Lord to seek, listen, worship and be refreshed in His intimate, loving presence.

A certain measure of "work" is provided by the student; however, our program is not intended to provide ministerial help to a congregation. Both setting and supervisor should view this program as a ministry to the students and a gift to the larger body of Christ.

  • Seminary students are involved in leadership training concurrent with the academic work for all three years.
  • Full-time and half-time seminary students do 15 hours per week of internship service at a local church or para-ministry. Students begin in early September and finish in mid-May.
  • MI helps the student locate a church or para-church ministry for leadership training purposes. MI looks at the giftings of the student and the mission of the church to assist in placement.

3 Year Master of Divinity (Mdiv) Program for those called to be Christian leaders.

  • Encouraging a growing intimacy with God.
  • Spiritual and character formation in one-on-one mentoring relationships and ongoing practice of the disciplines of the faith.
  • Leadership and ministry skills training in ministry-based internships.
  • Life transforming relationships between students, staff, mentors, and faculty in community that is safe.
  • Academic studies from a Biblical worldview offered in a seminar format.
  • Interaction with gifted scholars and passionate pastors as teachers.
  • Inter-cultural preparation for ministry in a world of changing cultures.

 

2008-09 Seminar Schedule

homework requirements
grading
class schedule
  • Read the material assigned by the teacher in preparation for each seminar and write a book reflection.
  • Following each seminar, write a personal reflection of the seminar or complete a creative application assignment.
  • For Spiritual and Character Formation components complete the reading and writing assignments.
  • Complete an inductive Bible study assignment each week with Scripture Practicum.
Although MI does not use letter grades, the Faculty or, in some cases, the President, will evaluate academic papers for "clarity of thought" and "comprehension". MI is equally concerned for excellence in character as it is in academics. If a student were to get an A in theology and a D in character, we would have missed our goal. We are training leaders who think Biblically, but we also want students whose ch

Thursday

8:00 - 9:30

9:40 - 10:30

10:40 - 11:30

11:40 - 12:30

12:30 - 1:30

1:40 - 2:30

2:40 - 3:30

 

Scripture  Practicum

Chapel (FH)

Class 1

Class 2

Lunch

Class 3

Class 4

Friday

8:00 -  8:50

9:00 - 9:50

10:00 - 10:50

11:00 - 11:50

12:00 - 1:00

1:00 - 3:00

 

Class 5

Class 6

Class 7

Class 8

Lunch

Small Group

the word of god is our primary textbook
who teaches at MI

Whether we are teaching on stress management or homiletics, the Scriptures are the foundational sourcebook. We desire that our students be people of the Word. One of our hightest goals at MI is that our students "be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17). That means that we must let the Word of God show its usefulness in "teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..." (v. 16).  

A staff of adjunct professors. Some are pastors in the Twin Cities who have a gift and passion for communicating the Christian message. Some are seminary professors whose values and gifting fit well with our program. We teach from the Lutheran perspective on Reformation (Word alone, Grace alone, Faith alone). Adjunct Faculty>>
FALL KICK OFF RETREAT
INTER CULTURAL MISSION
(LOCAL or INTERNATIONAL)

This retreat begins our year with three days and two nights at Dunrovin Retreat and Conference Center. The retreat is for all students. This is a time for students to begin building relationships with each other and the staff.

Elements of the retreat include faith stories, teaching, prayer ministry, worship, fun, building trust and bonding.

Every person preparing for ministry benefits from studying and working in a variety of settings and cultures by participating in two inter-cultural outreach trips. MI students have the advantage of education and training from experienced coaches in mission work.

All trips/activities include preparation, personal involvement, and a written evaluation. The schedule is announced in the fall and the outreach activities take place in January.

First Year Seminary Students (Local Outreach)
Participate in classroom and experiential inter-cultural training seminar for five days at a local outreach in the Twin Cities. This will possibly include staying on-site (preferably in a home-stay) in the ethnic community during the outreach. The seminar content will address issues such as world views, cultural value systems, contextualization, and the impact of the gospel on culture change. Also exposure to ethnic and immigrant communities in the Twin Cities.

Second Year Students (International Outreach)
Participate in the Inter-Cultural Orientation and outreach for 10 days. The issues addressed in the Orientation are cultural sensitivity, communication and listening skills, team building, conflict management, sharing your faith story in culturally relevant terms, and spiritual nurture on the field—all in a inter cultural context. The training model is highly participatory and seeks to address emotional and psychological as well as cognitive issues related to inter-cultural ministry.

Third Year Students (International Outreach/Optional)
(Optional for third year students) Third year students may participate in the Local or International outreaches. Some costs may apply.
The Master’s Institute | 2701 Rice Street | Saint Paul, Minnesota 55113-2202, USA | Phone: 651-765-9756 | Fax: 651-765-6060