Master of Ministry

About

The Master of Ministry (MMin) is a professional graduate program designed for those who have a degree in another discipline and who have felt the call of God to be ministers of the Gospel. The Master of Ministry is designed to prepare students to serve as ministers in the church and wider community.

The MMin integrates deep Biblical knowledge with practical experience to equip men and women with the knowledge and skills needed to build a strong church and community and strengthen ministry networks and contacts. Practical experience opportunities include church placements and an externship.

Upon successful completion of the Master of Ministry, graduates will be able to:

• Critically engage with and evaluate a specialised body of knowledge in the disciplines of biblical studies, theology and practical ministry and their underlying methodologies;
• articulate an advanced and integrated understanding of Seventh-day Adventist history, theology, identity, and mission;
• critically analyse, research, and synthesise complex theological and ministry concepts independently, and demonstrate how they relate to a Seventh-day Adventist world view;
• interpret and communicate advanced and integrated Biblical and theological knowledge, and practical ministry skills in a contextualised manner to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
• model and articulate the relevance of a relationship with Christ and Christian beliefs to the practice of pastoral ministry and Christian living;
• apply the skills and capacities expected of a growing, reflective Christian ministry practitioner, researcher and/or scholar;
• have an understanding of research principles and methods, including analytical and communication skills applicable to ministry and its related disciplines.

Supervised field education is central to ministry formation and employment in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It permits ministry students to be engaged in various supervised settings as trainee pastors under the guidance of a mentor. The mentoring allows students to integrate theological content with practical ministry and provides students with the opportunity to experience ministry in various circumstances.

The Master of Ministry (MMin) allows students to meet the changing needs of churches in our society today. Men and women with a Master of Ministry will be equipped to serve as a:

• Church Pastor
• Youth Pastor
• Pastoral Educator
• Evangelist
• Church Planter

The MMin fulfills the Master’s level pre-requisite required for those wishing to complete a Doctorate in Ministry.

Admission criteria

To qualify for admission, an applicant must have achieved:

• An Australian Bachelor’s degree or higher; or
• an overseas qualification comparable to an Australian Bachelor’s degree or higher.

This course has additional entry requirements which are listed below.

• A satisfactory recommendation completed by the applicant’s church pastor - Pastoral Recommendation Form; and
• Agree to abide by Avondale Seminary's Acceptance of the Code of Professional Ethics; and
• A National Police Check (issued within the last six months); and
• A current Working with Children Check (or equivalent) for the state/territory where students are living while studying (students may need to discuss interstate or international circumstances with the Field Education Director); and
• Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) applicants must have been baptised for two years and provide evidence of their commitment to, and active involvement in their local church; or
• Applicants from other denominations must provide evidence of their commitment to, and active involvement in their local church.

From 2025, all incoming theology students will also be required to undertake psychological testing (at their own expense) as recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Further information is available from the Course Convenor.

The post-admission requirement for this degree is:

• An AdSafe certificate of completion for Safer Churches Training

Advanced standing

Applicants who have completed prior study may be eligible for advanced standing (credit recognition). Applicants should discuss their eligibility for advanced standing with the Admissions Team or the Course Convenor.

Fees and charges

^ Indicative total only. Actual total will depend on subject selection, rate of program completion and annual review of fee levels. Check the latest fee information.

Australian Government financial assistance

Equity Scholarships through UAC

Further information

Read the full course details on the Avondale University website.

Visit the Avondale University website.
Call 1300 219 159
Email the College of Health Sciences.