New Student Information

Welcome to InMinistry!

InMinistry is an exciting delivery system Bethel Seminary has created to serve women and men who are already in active ministry as lay people or paid staff. This area of the InMinistry web page is designed to orient new students to the basic components of the program. Of course, those of you who are just checking us out will also benefit from this information. The InMinistry program has experienced tremendous growth in the last couple of years. The word is getting out that we have a quality program that keeps academic standards high while encouraging regular integration of course content into a ministry context. The use of new and effective technologies are coupled with a strong commitment to people. Our bottom-line is equipping men and women to be more effective ministers -- wherever God calls. This is our passion and our privilege. There is a wealth of information contained in this Web site. It is regularly being updated. You can consider this site your "first stop for help." Of course, we want to be of personal assistance if you can't find an answer here.

Introduction to the Program Structure

The InMinistry program as a multi-modal delivery system. Much of the course work is done at a distance using computer and other technologies, but twice a year students come to campus for intensive interaction with their professors.

Intensive Courses take place twice a year. These courses are so named for the week-long, 30-hour, on-campus intensive which takes place in the middle of the quarter. The intensive provides face-to-face interaction between the professor and students in the class. Lecture, classroom discussion, student presentations, guest speakers and site visits can take place during the intensive.

Pre-Campus Course Work: Prior to coming to campus, distance technologies are used for students to complete their pre-campus work. The purpose of the pre-campus work is to help students participate in the intensive on a more even footing. Readings, discussions and other assignments help set the stage for the intensive. The pre-campus phase lasts between two and four weeks.

Post-Campus Course Work: Following the on-campus intensive, students return home to complete the last phase of their course. This post-campus work again utilizes distance technologies. The focus during this final phase is more integrative and synthetic that the previous phases.

Distance Courses take place during the other two quarters. These courses take place entirely at a distance and do not contain an on-campus component. Greater use of audio visual tools is made during distance courses. This, coupled with distance technologies, keeps students in regular contact with the professor and their classmates. Defined beginnings and endings to the course ensure that the class moves together on the course content. This keeps the class from becoming just a "high tech" correspondence course.

Thanks for choosing Bethel Seminary's InMinistry program for this next stage in your journey. We believe this will be a challenging, inspiring and formative time for you and we will be here to assist you along the way!