Evangelical & Baptistic Leadership
If you are a student enthusiastic about your Christian faith, the church and Gods mission, and are looking for ways to serve in an evangelical Protestant church or organisation, this master’s programme is for you!
It will enrich and deepen your knowledge of evangelical and baptistic theology and prepare you for a role of leadership.
The focus of the programme is on the formation of Christian leaders along three core tasks:
The programme is designed for students who have an affinity with an evangelical spirituality, and/or more specifically have an affinity with the baptistic tradition (although the latter is by no means a requirement). Throughout the modules, a continuous interaction is sought between the study of faith practices, the deepening of theological knowledge and the personal and professional formation of the student. It is coordinated by the Dutch Baptist Seminary and linked to the James Wm. McClendon Chair for Baptistic and Evangelical Theologies at the Vrije Universiteit.
During the programme – one year (fulltime) or two years (part-time) – Dutch-speaking students take part in the learning community of the Baptist Seminary, which involves sharing your life with peers, weekly times of prayer and three days annually set apart for exploring ‘doing theology’ around an actual topic. For international (English speaking) students, there are possibilities to become involved in the learning network of the International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS).
The Evangelical & Baptistic Leadership specialisation is structured along the VU’s Exploring a Discipline master. It consists of two specific courses:
Dutch students follow an Internship (12 EC) in the form of two masterclasses and a professional course on ethics and spirituality:
International students can shape the internship after their own preferences and possibilities, either in an international church or elsewhere.
Besides these specific courses, students enrolled in the programme also follow the general courses of the Theology and Religious Studies master’s programme of the VU, engaging with the interreligious environment the VU offers. These are Hermeneutics, Research Skills, and one or two elective courses. Also, a master’s thesis is written on a topic of choice relating to a research group at the faculty, of which some specifically relate to evangelical and baptistic theology (see Onderzoeksgroepen FRT - Meer over - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (vu.nl).
On graduation, you will have the skills to become a minister, leader and/or theologian in evangelical and baptistic churches or organisations. For those already involved in ministry, the master’s provides a unique opportunity to broaden your perspectives, to gain overview of what is going on in actual church life and to grow in practical skills and qualifications.
For those pursuing ordination in a particular church, it is important to note that the specific educational requirements and qualifications may differ per church denomination. It is advised to fully inform yourself about this, as additional education may be required. As such, this programme can be followed as part of the route towards ordination of pastors in Dutch Baptist and CAMA churches, as is the minor ‘Missionair Leiderschap’ (Dutch, Minor Missionair Leiderschap - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (vu.nl)).
In addition to leadership possibilities in church, having a master’s degree in theology from the Vrije Universiteit provides a qualification to work in a range of different settings, such as the academy, schools, governmental and non-governmental institutions as well as corporate environments. If you finish your first four courses with an 8 or higher on average, you may also switch to the Research Master.
Prior Knowledge: The entry requirements of Exploring a Discipline apply to this specific specialisation (see Master's Theology and Religious Studies - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (vu.nl)). For students without any prior theological education, we recommend that you consult with us to discuss the possibilities.
Language? The master’s programme is offered in English. For Dutch students, the specific internship offered as two masterclasses is followed in Dutch; international students follow a generic internship.
Location: Some of the programme specific courses are offered in the Baptist House, Postjesweg 150, 1061 AX in Amsterdam (a 15-minute journey from the VU), general courses take place at the VU. In consultation some courses might also be available online, through distance learning.
Interested? Please contact Hans Riphagen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), (+31)633186651
The James Wm. McClendon Chair is made possible by these national and international partners:
James Wm. McClendon Chair
Postjesweg 150
1061 AX Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
The Netherlands