Diploma In Theology

Certificate in Theology (CTh) and Diploma in Theology (DipTh) In Hindi

Presbyterian Theological Seminary is pleased to announce two new extension programs in Hindi. Ordinarily, these courses will be conducted in places outside of Dehra Dun so that those in the field can be better served.

  1. There are many in the country who are keenly interested in ministry, especially church planting, but have no theological education.
  2. They may not have the ability to undertake a program of studies in English.
  3. In many cases, they are already doing ministry or are doing ministry part time while employed elsewhere for their livelihood. Such people are not able to do full time residential studies.
  4. Those who have higher theological degrees in English are often reluctant, and sometimes are unsuitable for ministry in villages.
  5. Equipping those ministering in villages with little or no theological education is a necessity if the churches are to grow and become strong in the faith, defending themselves against the attacks of false teachers.

How this Program Works

  • Courses will be arranged approximately every 6 weeks excluding periods of harvest/sowing or other such hindrances in the field. Frequency of the courses can be adjusted (more or less often) according to the particular situation in the field.
  • Priority will be given in admission to those who are ministering in villages or towns with no or very little theological education. A minimum of 10 persons will be required for a module.
  • Each module will be 5 days long with 6 hours of instruction per day and light exercises/assignments. Each module will be independent with the hope that a person can enter the program at any given point instead of waiting till the beginning of the year (if the program is continued for other batches). The marks for exercises will be taken into consideration in the assessment.
  • All who are able to read and write Hindi will be admitted for this course. However, only those who have cleared Standard X will be given a Certificate of Theology or Diploma in Theology. Others may be given a certificate of completion.
  • At the end of each module there will be an assessment (examination). If they pass 8 modules, they will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Theology. If they pass 16 modules they will be eligible for a Diploma in Theology. Those who do not show sufficient interest or are not capable of learning will be asked to discontinue.
  • At the beginning of the program, the candidate shall fill out a form with personal and other details, and supply a photograph and copies of his/her academic certificates.
  • PTS will supply the Instructor and the Course material in Hindi.
  • The host church/organization shall be responsible for arranging the facilities for the program – furnished classroom, food and accommodation for students and teacher, 2 a/c travel fare for the teacher, and a nominal fee per student for course materials. In cases with very limited resources, scholarships may be available.

Diploma in Theology

Each course shall consist of 30 hours of instruction and a minimum of 10 hours of exercises or assignments.

Successful completion of the following 16 courses is required for obtaining a Diploma in Theology [DipTh].

  1. Bible Survey – I

This course will cover the books of the Bible written before and during the Exile. Instead of looking at the books in the canonical order [that is, in the order in which we have the books in our Bibles], we will look at them in the historical order. The purpose of looking at the Bible this way is that to help the students see the message of each book in its historical context, but also to see the development of the message. The following will be covered without detailed critical study: Authorship, date, purpose of writing, main theme, important sections and passages, types of literature used, and the message in its redemptive historical context – that is where it fits in God’s plan of salvation revealed in history. Exercises would include memorizing important facts as well as passages.

  1. Bible Survey – II

The approach will be the same as above, covering the books written after the exile to the end of the New Testament, in the historical order. It may include a brief section on what happened between the Old and New Testaments.

  1. Interpreting the Bible

The Bible was written in languages unfamiliar to us by people living in very different cultures. How can we correctly understand the meaning and message of the Bible today in India? This course will explore the basic principles and assumptions of biblical interpretation and will also include the technique of how to bring out the meaning of the text by carefully analyzing the language, context, historical and cultural aspects of the text. Exercises will concentrate on reading specific passages, understanding its literal meaning and then relating that meaning to the whole message of the Bible.

  1. God’s Plan Unfolded

The Book of Hebrews says that God spoke “many times and in many ways” in the past. How did God reveal himself? Are these revelations related? Why do we need to have Old and New Testaments? Is the Old Testament still for us? This course will answer such questions and show what is the correct way to hear God’s word from the whole of the Scriptures. Exercises will include tracing out the development of important themes in the history of God’s dealings with his people.

  1. God and His Word

This is the beginning course in what is called “systematic theology”. First, we will look at the meaning of theology and its divisions. But we will concentrate in this course on what the Bible says about God and about the Bible itself. What kind of a book is the Bible? Is it a book like other books, or something different? Can we prove that God exists? Why is it important for us to understand God and his plan? What is revealed in the Bible about God, his qualities, his plans and purposes? These are some of the questions that will be answered here. Exercises may include discovering truths about God for selected Bible texts as well as learning what other people believe about God by talking to them.

  1. Humanity and Sin

The Bible tells us not only about God but about ourselves also. In fact, we cannot truly understand who we are except through the Bible. How did God create us? But then the question comes, “What happened to us?” That is, what is sin? Are we all sinners? How and from when? What is the punishment for sin?

  1. Christ and Salvation

This course is a topical look at what God did for our salvation. Who is Jesus? Is he God or man? What is the meaning of his life and death? What is the gospel? How are we saved? What happens when we believe in Christ? These and other important and basic questions will be studied. Exercises: Share the gospel message with someone. How do people misunderstand Christ and the gospel? How did you answer these?

  1. Holy Spirit

The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is one of the most misunderstood doctrines of the Bible. Who is the Holy Spirit? What was his role in the Old Testament? Is “baptism in the Spirit” something subsequent to conversion? What about speaking in tongues and prophecy? Do these and other such gifts continue or have they ceased? These are some of the questions that are being debated in the church today. This course will help in answering these questions.

  1. Church and Last Things

What is the church? There are so many churches in today’s world. How can we tell a true church from a false church? Baptism is a controversial issue among Christians. How shall we understand the meaning of baptism? How should it be administered?

  1. Christian Life

This course will deal with the basic and important things about Christian life and discipleship, emphasizing that our life is a response to God’s grace and one that is lived in continual dependence on God’s grace. How to grow in grace and how to encourage others to grow will be the focus of this course.

  1. Preaching God’s Word

The most important duty of every pastor and evangelist is to make the gospel known. How can we preach it faithfully and relevantly – faithful to the Bible and relevant to the context in which we minister. The emphasis in this course will be on learning how to understand the meaning of a text, find its message for today, and to present in a way that can be easily understood.

  1. Developing a Biblical Church

Planting and nurture of congregations in a biblical pattern is essential to our mission. This course deals with the practical aspects of this ministry. Further, it will include the basic principles of church government and management.

  1. Church and Ministry

Worship and pastoral care are the two main parts of this course. Biblical principles of worship will be studied along with how we can apply these to the Indian context. Further, this course will equip the Christian leader to care for God’s people spiritually.

  1. Church and Society

Here we will look into issues in society that we will be faced with. These will be dealt with from an ethical point of view, finding how we can understand these issues from a Christian perspective, and what we can do to address these issues.

  1. Religions and Religious Movements

India is a land of many religions, and they are strong. In order to bring the gospel to the people of India, we need to understand the views that have a hold on our people. The popular aspects of religious teachings will be studied here with a Christian response.

  1. Denominations and Sects

There are numerous Christian denominations and traditions in our country. Where do they come from? What are their unique or distinctive teachings? In addition to these, there are sects and cults that do not belong to historic Christianity because of their variation from Christian faith. These will be studied in this course.

 

Bachelor Of Theology

The Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) course is a primary level, ministry-oriented programme of theological education. It seeks to produce men and women equipped with a foundational knowledge of the Bible, with basic skills to interpret its message, and with an adequate understanding of the world to apply this message. B.Th. graduates will be prepared to serve in pastoral, evangelistic, educational and developmental ministries.

The B.Th. degree may also be viewed as a broad-based, foundational degree that will prepare the student for higher theological education. Thus, in addition to imparting a body of theological knowledge, care is also taken to offer the student opportunities to become familiar with research and study methods, and to reflect on contemporary issues theologically.

Only those candidates who have been baptized and have made a profession of faith in Christ will be considered for admission. In considering applications, the Faculty will also look into the applicant’s call and commitment to ministry, Christian life and testimony, and general maturity. In addition to these, the applicant must meet academic qualification as below

  • The minimum academic requirement for admission into B.Th. is successful completion of 12 years of schooling (Intermediate or Pre-Degree level). Students who are awaiting results also may apply, but they must produce the relevant certificate before they can be admitted.
  • An applicant with a High School (Standard X) pass certificate and a (two year) Certificate of Theology (C.Th.) diploma or a two-year professional diploma in any subject may be considered equivalent to XII pass.
  • An accredited theology Diploma holder (GTh/Dip Th) is eligible for admission into the B.Th. program. If he passes the B.Th. placement examinations, he may be placed in II B.Th. If he does not pass the placement examinations, he may be admitted to I B.Th. Those with diplomas need to have a minimum one year of ministry experience after the diploma programme in order to be admitted to the B.Th. program. Unaccredited theological diploma holders who pass placement examinations will be placed in I B.Th. Those who do not pass may be placed in Pre-Theology.
  • Mature candidates (22 years and older) who do not meet the above academic qualifications may also be considered eligible for admission into the B.Th. programme, subject to passing placement examinations. The maximum number of candidates admitted to B.Th. in this category shall be no more than 10% of the entering class.

 

Master Of Divinity

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) is a three-year (minimum 97 credit hours), post-graduate degree program. However, those who have an accredited Bachelor of Theology or equivalent may be exempted up to a maximum of 31 credit hours. The primary aim of this course is to prepare students for pastoral ministry and leadership responsibilities in church and mission-related organizations. Secondly, the M.Div. degree is designed to give an academic foundation for higher studies for those who are called for a teaching ministry. Therefore, the M.Div. curriculum will be rigorous, and the student will be expected to do independent research and reflection.

Category One

  1. Academic Eligibility:

 Successful completion of a B.A./B.Sc./B.Com. or an equivalent or higher university degree.

  1. Qualifying Exams:

These examinations will be held on campus before registration. Syllabi may be available upon request and at the Seminary website. The applicant will be required to take examinations in the following subjects:

  • Bible Knowledge [Basic]
  • English [Advanced]
  • General Knowledge Advanced

 

Candidates admitted for the second semester are automatically placed in the Pre-Theology year. If an MDiv candidate completes only one semester of pre-theology year, he may be admitted into the MDiv programme at the appropriate level (I MDiv) if he gets a minimum 2.30 CGPA for the semester completed. If he does not obtain 2.30 CGPA, he may be allowed to take the Qualifying Examination in July, and thereafter follow the set guidelines.

Category Two

  1. Academic Eligibility:

A Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree accredited by ATA or by the Senate of Serampore or another reputed accrediting agency with a minimum second class honors’ (equivalent to 2.00 CGPA on the PTS scale).

  1. Qualifying Exams:

All admitted candidates will be required to take B.Th. level qualifying examinations in the following subjects:

  • English [Advanced]
  • General Knowledge [Advanced]
  • Bible [Advanced]
  • Theology, Church History and Ethics
  • Religions and Practical Theology

 

Syllabus for these exams may be available upon request or at the Seminary website.

  1. Admission Procedure:

Those who secure a minimum 75% (“C”) in each of the above five papers may be admitted to II M.Div. Those who secure less than 75% may be placed in I M.Div.

Candidates admitted for the second semester are automatically placed in I MDiv in lieu of the Qualifying Exams. Such a candidate may be promoted to II MDiv, provided he obtains a minimum 2.30 CGPA for the semester completed. If he does not obtain 2.30 CGPA, he may be asked to write the placement exams in July and thereafter follow the guidelines prescribed in this Prospectus.

Category Three

  1. Academic Eligibility:

Unaccredited three-year BTh degree (minimum second class).

  1. Qualifying Exams:

All admitted candidates will be required to take entrance examinations in the following subjects at BTh level.

  • English [Advanced]
  • General Knowledge [Advanced]
  • Bible [Advanced]
  • Theology, Church History and Ethics
  • Religions and Practical Theology.

 

Syllabus for these exams may be available upon request or at the Seminary website.

  1. Admission Procedure: 

Those who secure a minimum of 75% (“C”) in each of the above five papers may be admitted to I M.Div. Those who secure less than 75% may be placed in Pre-Theology. At the end of the Pre-Theology year, the student may be admitted into I MDiv if the CGPA is 2.00 or above, with a minimum of B+ (2.30) average grade in English courses. If the CGPA is below 2.00 (but above 1.75), or if the English grade is below 2.30 (but above 1.75), the student may be admitted to MMin.

Candidates admitted in the second semester are automatically placed in the Pre-Theology year. If the candidate completes only one semester of pre-theology year, he may be admitted into the M.Div. programme at the appropriate level (I M.Div.) without Qualifying Exams, provided he gets a minimum 2.30 CGPA for the semester completed (minimum 2.30 for English). If he does not obtain 2.30 CGPA, he may be allowed to take the Qualifying Examinations in July, and thereafter follow the guidelines prescribed in this Prospectus.

Category Four

  1. Academic Eligibility:

No minimum qualification prescribed. Mature candidates (30 years and older) are eligible for admission in this category.

  1. Ministry Experience:

 Those who have had ministry experience will be given priority.

  1. Qualifying Exams:

All admitted candidates must write qualifying examinations in the following subjects:

  • Bible
  • English [Advanced]
  • General Knowledge [Advanced]

Syllabus for these exams may be available upon request or at the Seminary website.

  1. Admission Procedure:

 Admissions in this category will be limited to 10% of the entering class. Those obtaining a minimum 75% (“C”) in each of the above papers may be admitted to I M.Div. Those failing to obtain a passing grade in these examinations (75%) may be placed in Pre-Theology. At the end of the Pre-Theology year, the student may be admitted into the M.Div. programme if the CGPA is 2.00 or above, with a minimum of B+ (2.30) average grade in English courses.

Candidates admitted in the second semester are automatically placed in the Pre-Theology year. If a candidate completes only one semester of pre-theology year, he may be admitted into the M.Div. programme at the appropriate level (I M.Div.) provided he gets a minimum 2.30 CGPA for the semester completed, with a minimum 2.30 CGPA in English courses. If he does not obtain 2.30 CGPA, he may be allowed to take the Placement Examinations in July, and thereafter follow the guidelines prescribed in this Prospectus.

 

Ministry Internship

All students are required to participate in weekly occasional ministry assignments (4-6 hours per week). In addition, a minimum of 12 weeks of full time field work is required for graduation. This may be taken in the course of two summers (6 weeks each). Students who have done three years of ministry prior to joining the programme may be excused from summer field work requirements at the discretion of the Faculty. Such students should produce relevant certificates and get prior Faculty approval. Field work evaluations by local supervisors will be monitored by the Field Work Coordinator and passed on to the Faculty for approval.

All M.Div. students are strongly encouraged to take a full year of approved ministry internship under the supervision of a local pastor or leader.

Graduation Requirements

The PTS Board of Directors is the degree granting authority. Those recommended by the Faculty must be approved by the Board of Directors before they may be granted certificates, diplomas or degrees.

Those meeting ministerial, academic and spiritual criteria as stated above may be recommended by the Faculty to receive the appropriate certificate, diploma or degree. A minimum of 108 B.Th. level credit hours and a CGPA of 1.50 are required to graduate with a B.Th. Those who enter the programme in the second year (Diploma holders) will be required to complete 72 credit hours with a minimum 1.50 CGPA. Students under disciplinary action by the Faculty (such as those suspended or expelled) will not be eligible to receive any certificate, diploma or degree, irrespective of credit hours or grade points earned. Successful completion of all ministry requirements is necessary for graduation. All dues must be settled satisfactorily and PTS property returned prior to receiving certificates, diplomas and degrees.