FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Why would I be interested?
• What is Converge anyway?
• What qualifications or prior experience is necessary or beneficial to be successful with the program?
• When are classes going to be offered?
• What is the difference between taking classes for credit or audit?
• What are the six courses that will be offered starting fall 2011 through SCL at Whittier Area Community Church?
• What if I only want to take the six courses offered at Whittier Area Community Church?
• What additional courses must I take on-line to complete a Master’s degree?
• Is there financial aid or childcare available?
• Cost?
• APPLICATION FOR NEW STUDENTS
• SYLLABUS
• ONLINE TUITION PAYMENT




Why would I be interested?

Why would I be interested? Are you at a place where you would love to learn more about church leadership and biblical theology? Then the Converge School of Church Leadership is for you. If you are a ministry volunteer, small group leader, Sunday School teacher, or one who is fully engaged in youth, children’s or worship ministries, board member, ministry team leader or even paid staff member who has never had the opportunity for theological education or if you love to learn an study God’s Word, then the Converge School of Church Leadership is designed for you. We are committed to raising up women and men, equipping them with the leadership skills needed to reach and teach more people about Jesus. The Converge School of Church Leadership provides current and future leaders with these essential skills. Our partnership with Bethel University and Theological Seminary allows students to work toward an accredited Master of Arts degree. Please pray about how God would have you respond to this opportunity. We are here to serve you and help you grow in leadership.






What is Converge anyway?

Converge Worldwide formally know as The Baptist General Conference is the denominational movement that Whittier Area Community Church is a member of. Converge is a movement of churches working together to strengthen and start more churches. Our mission is to multiply transformational leaders and churches and we do that using these key ministry strategies.





What qualifications or prior experience is necessary or beneficial to be successful with the program?

If a student is taking the courses for credit, they need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school like Bethel or another accredited university or college (Converge Worldwide will make the determination if the student will earn Masters credits when they receive their application and review the school they attended/graduated). If a student chooses to audit a course… no requirements are necessary.





When are classes going to be offered?

We will be offering two cohorts (a cohort is a group of students who sign up for and go through the six-­‐course sequence together.
Saturdays from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Class meeting dates are: 9/22. 10/6, 10/27, and 11/10.





What is the difference between taking courses for credit or audit?

Courses taken for credit will be awarded graduate credit and may be applied to a master’s degree if so desired. Courses taken as audit are taken together with credit students but will not require all of the same homework assignments. Audited courses may not be applied to a future master’s degree.





What are the six courses that will be offered starting fall 2011 through SCL at Whittier Area Community Church?

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership with a Church Leadership Emphasis
ORGL665 Church Management and Leadership (3 hours)
PHIL620 Spiritual Formation (3 hours)
ORGL620 Transformational Leaders and Followers (2 hours)
ORGL655 Biblical Conflict Management (3 hours)
ORGL670 Christian Worldview and Apologetics (2 hours)
SOCS640 Cultural Intelligence and Ministry Perspectives (3 hours)





What if I only want to take the six courses offered at Whittier Area Community Church?

After completing the six courses (16 credit hours) you will receive a Church Leadership Certificate, awarded by Bethel University and Converge Worldwide/BGC. The courses may be taken for credit or audited (with some assignments) to earn the certificate. Those who take courses for credit, will be able to transfer all courses to go forward and after completing following online courses will earn the fully accredited Master’s Degree or, they may transfer all 16 credits to any major at Bethel Theological Seminary.





What additional courses must I take on-line to complete a Master’s degree?

ONLINE COURSES (Credit hours to be determined, but will total 16 hours)

ORGL600 The Leadership Enterprise
ORGL625 Scholarly Writing
ORGL630 Introduction to Research
ORGL635 Organizational Analysis
ORGL650 Organizational Change & Futures
ORGL689 Integrative Seminar

TOTAL Additional Online Core Credit Hours: 16 hours

TOTAL CORE CREDIT HOURS (Residency and Online): 32 hours

ORGL792 Master’s Project – Capstone Course 4 hours

TOTAL Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership 36 CREDIT HOURS





Is there financial aid or childcare available?

At this time we have no funds available to assist with financial aid. There will be no childcare available during class sessions.





COST?

The Bethel Seminary website shows tuition rates MUCH higher than $275/class. In fact, courses cost between $337-­‐360 per credit. Even at the cheaper rate that makes the cost of a class closer to $1000+ (for 3 credit hours courses). How is it that they are so much cheaper through Whittier Area Community Church?

Bethel is allowing the SCL to operate independently of Bethel University (BU). Converge School of Church Leadership (SCL) offers courses that are approved, accredited and received by BU. They do not teach the course, recruit students, nor do they provide anything in the way of services, personnel or facilities for our first six courses. Therefore, we have the freedom to charge what we need to charge in order to cover our basic expenses which are not as great as Bethel’s. When students from the SCL apply at Bethel … after they take the first six courses, it is like/as if… they were coming to Bethel from another University or College and transfer their credits to Bethel. Bethel has agreed to accept our SCL students into their programs.



If the onsite classes are $275/each, will that same rate apply to the online courses? Or are they at the rates I noted above?

Great question... NO... the online courses will not be $275. Students who take the online courses will “officially” be Bethel students and will need to pay the online course rate… as in the catalog… at that time. While we will continue to request an SCL discount, but students should expect to pay the adverstised rate. However, it is important to point out that the overall savings in tuition and the ability to do this without going to Bethel is a huge total cost savings for those who will earn the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership degree.



APPLICATION

DOWNLOAD AND PRINT APPLICATION HERE