18 Dec HU Ending the Pastoral Training Program
The Huntington University Graduate School announced this week that it will discontinue the Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership, the program that prepares students for pastoral ministry. Classes will be offered through June 15, 2010.
Ministers can still receive plenty of training at Huntington University. The Masters programs in Youth Ministry Leadership, Counseling, and Education will continue. So will the undergraduate level programs in Bible and Religion, and Ministry and Missions. But the Ministry Leadership program is no longer viable.
The Ministry Leadership program is fairly small: 1 fulltime student, and 29 part-time students. Of those, less than half are United Brethren (1 fulltime, 12 part-time). Many of them receive deep tuition discounts. The program has one fulltime director, 4 adjunct faculty, and one support person.
Dr. G. Blair Dowden, in a letter he sent earlier this week to students in the program, wrote:
“Please be assured that this decision was not taken lightly and is part of a comprehensive budget adjustment involving all parts of the university. Factors such as university-wide enrollment, reduced giving from donors, and changes in state financial aid have forced the university (and many other universities) to take unprecedented measures to balance our budget. The decision to discontinue specific programs was made only after much deliberation and prayer….
“I am saddened by the loss of the Ministry Leadership program at Huntington University, and I regret the position this creates for you and the other students enrolled in the program. Please know that we will work with each of you to find the best solution for completion of this degree or a comparable degree at another university.”
We need to recognize the financial issues that brought this to a head.
For over 100 years, Huntington University has been the primary training ground for United Brethren ministers. However, for many years now, the university has lost money on its graduate-level pastoral ministry track. They have tried different approaches, and have accepted the financial losses because of their commitment to the United Brethren church. But it finally reached the point where they had to pull the plug.
While I’m saddened by this decision, I understand why it is necessary. I do not fault Huntington University. They tried to make it work.
I feel for the students currently in the program. A couple of them have contacted me already. They are halfway through the program, and are understandably concerned. Have I wasted time and money? Will the credits I’ve earned transfer to another school? What about the tuition discounts I receive as a United Brethren student?
Mike Cook, the Director of Graduate Ministries, is investigating options for them. Huntington University plans to help these students in a number of ways, including negotiating transfer agreements with other Christian colleges and universities.
On a positive note: we can now take a fresh look at pastoral training. This will be healthy and exciting for us.
The United Brethren denomination has a responsibility to train its ministers effectively. Yes, they can earn degrees at any number of other institutions. But we need to decide what exactly we want for United Brethren ministers, and then steer them in the right direction.
It’s easy, when you have a college with a pastoral training program, to just let them do it. Our approach has been: whatever program Huntington University offers, that’s what our ministers need. We’ve been a bit spoiled.
But now, we must reexamine that question. Which colleges have pastoral training programs that fit what we’re looking for? Should we offer training beyond formal education–mentoring, workshops, seminars?
It will be healthy for us to take a fresh look at pastoral training. The Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team will lead the way. My hope is that this spring, we can develop a game plan that does two things:
- Helps the students currently in the Huntington University program transfer to an institution where they can complete their training.
- Sets the agenda for the training of future United Brethren ministers.
Yes, it’s sad to see the pastoral training program come to an end. It’s been an important aspect of our relationship with Huntington University, training hundreds of UB ministers over the years.
But at the same time, we have an opportunity to take a fresh look at the crucial task of ministerial training. That will be good for us.
Jason Sheets
Posted at 20:59h, 18 DecemberWhat a major loss to the Denomination. This is such a great disappointment to me. I am a National Conference minister and have been making preparations to go back to school to work on my Masters. I was looking forward to going to Huntington University ever since I took the UB History class at the University. I fell in love with Huntington was really excited about being able to attend our denomination’s university, and made up my mind that I did not want to go anywhere else but HU. I was planning on applying after the first of the year in the spring. I really hope the University offers some type of program for those looking to continue on in ministry. I really don’t want to go to another school. I will be watching and waiting to see what happens next.
Tom Brodbeck
Posted at 00:57h, 19 DecemberVery disappointing, but not surprising. The university has certainly been moving that direction for the past several years.
Richard Strick
Posted at 16:07h, 19 DecemberI agree Tom. A fellow student expressed his sentiment when he stated, “Well we always did feel like the unwanted stepchild, guess now it’s true.”
I’d like to think HU did all they could to helps this program “succeed” but that hasn’t been my experience.
Joe Leighton
Posted at 09:29h, 21 DecemberWell, we can take comfort in knowing that at least our children will be well trained in diversity.
Darwin Dunten
Posted at 11:07h, 21 DecemberFirst, Taylor Fort Wayne and now Huntington University. I’ve been orphaned twice.
Tim Scroggs
Posted at 15:46h, 24 DecemberFrom about 2003 to 2008 I attended the Diploma in Pastoral Leadership program which required the same core classes as the Masters program. Every class I took was full. Just by observation many of the other classes did not appear to be full. The fact that over half in the program are not UB would seem to indicate that there was a broad appeal across denominational lines. Just imagine if the program had been marketed and promoted to the extent the other programs appeared to be. At any rate, I am thankful for the training I received. I feel bad for those who are in the middle of the program.