Master of Arts
in Pastoral Ministry

This Master’s degree focusing on Pastoral Ministry is a ministry-oriented program that enhances students’ pastoral abilities and deepens their theological foundations.

Theologische Hochschule Friedensau


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Application Period

For the Winter semester:
March 1 – August 31

Beginning of the Program

Winter semester

Term Dates

Winter term: October – February
Summer term: March – September

Length of the Program

2 years / 4 semesters (120 ECTS credits)

1.5 years / 3 semesters (90 ECTS credits; only for students coming from institutions with a 4-year BA in Theology program)

Degree

Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry

Language

English

Tuition

Tuition fees, room, and board may be covered by the Inter-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists.

Core Academic Information

Module Handbook

Flyer Pastoral Ministry

Flyer

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Program Design and Core Content

The Master of Arts (Pastoral Ministry) is designed as a two-year, full-time program
(4 semesters with 120 ECTS credits) and is intended for qualified students from European countries and beyond. Students who already have a 4 year BA in Theology may choose the 1.5-year program (90 ECTS credits). The language of instruction is English. For details on these two options, click on the MPM120 or the MPM90 button below.

This program is built from blocks called "modules." All the major themes are studied in clusters - each module contains several courses and typically contains only one exam or paper. It is these modules that are graded, not the courses.

Since the ministry and mission orientation is crucial to the entire program, the core modules focus on the areas of Mission Issues and Practices, Church and Society, Church Dynamics, in addition to the more classic fields of Biblical Studies and Exegesis, Systematic Theology, and Church History. Various electives allow for specializations according to student's areas of interest or their individual requirements in ministry. Each semester a variety of alternating electives is offered, such as Youth Ministry, other areas of Practical Theology, Empirical Methods, and specialized research.

MPM120

MPM90

Program director:

Dr. László Szabó

Associate Professor of Mission Studies and Intercultural Studies
Director of Arthur Daniells Institute of Mission Studies (ADIMIS)

Telephone: +49 (0) 3921 916-204
Fax: +49 (0) 3921 916-201
Email:

An der Ihle 5 B
39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Details: ­120-Credit Option­

The 4 semester program consists of 8 major modules with 10 credits each, 1 research methods module and 3 elective modules with 5 credits each, plus the Master's thesis with 20 credits, resulting in a total of 120 credits. Each major regular module consists of 3 or 4 courses, plus a research paper, a written examination, or an oral examination. At least 4 research papers, plus an examination sermon are required. The Master's thesis is written during the last semester.

Modules:

  • MPM 01 Issues in Church History
  • MPM 02 Biblical Studies
  • MPM 03 Exegetical Methods
  • MPM 04 Church and Society
  • MPM 05 Mission Issues and Practices
  • MPM 06 Adventist Theology in Context
  • MPM 07 Church Dynamics
  • MPM 08 Theological Studies
  • MPM 09 Research Methods
  • MEL 10 Elective I
  • MEL 11 Elective II
  • MEL 12 Elective III
  • MPM 13 Thesis

For more details, see the module handbook.

Details: ­90-Credit Option­

The 3 semester program consists of 7 major modules with 10 credits each, plus the Master's thesis with 20 credits, resulting in a total of 90 credits. Each major regular module consists of 3 or 4 courses, plus a research paper, a written examination, or an oral examination. At least 3 research papers, plus an examination sermon are required. The Master's thesis is written during the last semester.

Modules:

  • MPM 01 Issues in Church History
  • MPM 03 Exegetical Methods
  • MPM 04 Church and Society
  • MPM 05 Mission Issues and Practices
  • MPM 06 Adventist Theology in Context
  • MPM 07 Church Dynamics      or    MPM 08 Theological Studies
  • MPM 11 History and Theology of Mission   or  MPM 12 Independent Studies
  • MPM 13 Master’s Thesis

For more details, see the module handbook.

Further ­Academic Information­

Module Handbook English 2023

Program Regulations M.A. Pastoral Ministry 2023 - English

Program Regulations M.A. Pastoral Ministry 2023 - German

General Study and Examination Regulations 2023 (English)

General Study and Examination Regulations 2023 (German)

Is this Master's for you?Icon Ausruf

Is this Master's for you?

The Pastoral Ministry M.A. at Friedensau Adventist University is just the right program for you if you want to train on the Master's level to serve in a European setting - here you can reflect on the challenges of the ministry academically and study from an Adventist perspective and within the context of European culture, history, and theology.

Tuition ­Fees­

Please refer to the Financial Bulletin for applicable tuition fees.

For qualified students from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, and Switzerland, holding a recommendation from their respective church entities (Conferences or Unions), tuition, room, and board will be covered by the Inter-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists. These students are expected to contribute an appropriate amount of work on campus.

Admission Requirements & Process

For both options (3 and 4 semesters), a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in theology or religion with a final grade of 2.5 according to the German scale is required for admission, as well as intermediate certificates in Greek and Hebrew. Proficiency in the English language (CEFR level B2) is required and certification is to be provided (TOEFL iBT 79 points, IELTS 6.0 points, TOEIC 785 listening and reading points / 310 speaking and writing points). A Bachelor's or Master's degree completed in an educational institution with English as a medium of instruction will also be accepted as proof of language proficiency.

For the 3-semester option (90 credits), a Bachelor in theology with 210 or 240 ECTS credits is required.

For details, see the Program Regulations.

Application Process

  • Step 1: The applicant submits the complete online application within the application deadline.
  • Step 2: The Admissions Committee and the Finance Committee will examine the application.
  • Step 3: The applicant will be notified by e-mail after the meeting of the Admissions Committee and the Finance Committee.

Further information (admissions):

Irina Heinz

Head | Admissions Office and International Office

Telephone: +49 (0) 3921 916-134
Fax: +49 (0) 3921 916-201
Email:

An der Ihle 5 A
39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Further information (program director):

Dr. László Szabó

Associate Professor of Mission Studies and Intercultural Studies
Director of Arthur Daniells Institute of Mission Studies (ADIMIS)

Telephone: +49 (0) 3921 916-204
Fax: +49 (0) 3921 916-201
Email:

An der Ihle 5 B
39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Further information (other academic matters):

Jochen Streit

Head | Academic and Student Affairs | Confidential Contact

Telephone: +49 (0) 3921 916-170
Fax: +49 (0) 3921-916-201
Email:

An der Ihle 5 A
39291 Möckern-Friedensau

­Lecturers / Professors­

The following lecturers and professors are actively involved in this program:

Roland Fischer, Rektor

Prof. Dr. phil. Roland E. Fischer

Diplom-Theologe (graduate theologian)
Rector

Telephone: +49 (0) 3921 916-131
Fax: +49 (0) 3921 916-201
Email:

An der Ihle 5 A
D-39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Alexander C. Schulze, Ph.D.

Dean | School of Theology
Associate Professor of Practical Theology

Telephone: +49 (0) 3921 916-171
Email:

An der Ihle 5 A
39291 Friedensau

Dr. László Szabó

Associate Professor of Mission Studies and Intercultural Studies
Director of Arthur Daniells Institute of Mission Studies (ADIMIS)

Telephone: +49 (0) 3921 916-204
Fax: +49 (0) 3921 916-201
Email:

An der Ihle 5 B
39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Prof. Martin Klingbeil

D.Litt. (Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Professor of Old Testament
School of Theology

Telephone: +49 3921 916-206
Fax: +49 (0) 3921 916-201
Email:

An der Ihle 5
39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Dr. phil. Kerstin Maiwald

Research Associate
Head of Complaints Commission FAU

Telephone: +49 (0) 3921 916-244
Fax: +49 (0) 3921 916-201
Email:

An der Ihle 5 A
D-39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Dr. theol. Johannes Hartlapp

Lecturer of Church History | School of Theology

Telephone: +49 (0) 3921 916-149
Fax: +49 (0) 3921 916-201
Email:

An der Ihle 5 A
39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Prof. Stefan Höschele

Ph.D. (University of Malawi)
Professor for Systematic Theology and Adventist Studies
Vice Dean, School of Theology
Director of the Institute for Adventist Studies

Telephone: +49 (0) 3921 916-121
Email:

An der Ihle 5 A
39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Dr. jur. Harald Mueller

Director | Institute of Religious Freedom

Telephone: +49 (0) 175 8 98 36 60
Fax: +49 (0) 3921 916-201
Email:

An der Ihle 5 A
D-39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Prof. Dr. habil. Igor Lorencin

Professor of New Testament Studies | School of Theology
Doctoral Program Coordinator

Telephone: +49 (0) 3921 916-217
Email:

An der Ihle 5 A
39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Daniel Heinz | Ph.D. (USA)

Historical Archives of Seventh-day Adventists in Europe

Telephone: + 49 (0) 3921 916-154
Fax: +49 (0) 3921 916-120
Email:

Ahornstraße 3
39291 Möckern-Friedensau

Dr. phil. Bojan Godina

Lecturer School of Theology

Telephone: +49 3921 916-170
Fax: +49 (0) 3921 916-201
Email:

An der Ihle 5
39291 Möckern-Friedensau