School for Urban Mission
"... so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:17
Our Purpose
The School for Urban Mission is designed to equip congregations through a ministry of grassroots education. We strive to offer courses that meet the needs of the urban church and help develop leaders to serve within the urban community. Our focus is to assist the urban church in its mission in the city.
We Offer...
- Comprehensive curriculum from the Anabaptist perspective
- Formation and training concentrated on the urban context
- A multicultural and a multiracial learning environment
- A modular approach to theological education that integrates diverse disciplines and academic areas
- An affordable, completely accredited program for bi-vocational pastors and congregational leaders
- A complete program of four courses which satisfies the academic requirements for ordination in the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference
- A Certificate in Urban Mission from Hesston College
Collaboration
The School for Urban Mission has established partnership with the Pastoral Ministries Program at Hesston College. All our courses are accredited through this program. Students who complete all four courses receive a Certificate in Urban Mission. Furthermore the students may continue their studies through the Pastoral Ministries Program. For more information about Hesston College, call 1-800-997-2757 or visit www.hesston.edu.
Apply Now
To apply simply complete and return the application form: 
School for Urban Mission Application.
Curriculum
CAL - 110 The Anabaptist Witness - This course is an investigation and assessment of the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition from historical, theological, pastoral and missiological points of view in light of an urban, post-modern context. Students who successfully complete this course should be able to meet the following objectives:
- Develop an appreciation for the history of the Christian movement from a non-Constantinian point of view.
- Describe the Anabaptist-Mennonite story from the 16th century to the present as a story of a church in mission.
- Explain the confessional tradition of the Anabaptist theological movement.
- Offer a constructive critique of the Mennonite movement in light of the urban, postmodern setting of Southern California, paying special attention to the intersections of Anabaptist and Charismatic approaches to the Christian Way.
- Define and explore pastoral leadership as informed by Anabaptist-Mennonite theological and missiological perspectives.
CAL - 120 Strategies for Urban Mission - This course seeks to explore the theology and practice of the church and its mission from an urban and Anabaptist perspective. Drawing on biblical, historical and applied sources, students who successfully complete this course should be able to meet the following objectives:
- A deeper appreciation of the Biblical perspectives on living and serving as God's people in the city.
- A greater capacity to reflect on how the church has historically engaged in mission within the urban context.
- A growing ability to articulate an urban missiology grounded in an explicitly Biblical and Anabaptist perspective.
- A passionate embrace of a compelling methodology for equipping the urban church to be a center of mission in the city.
CAL - 130 Kingdom of God in the City - This course seeks to engage the urban practitioner in their role as God's agent for missional transformation in the city by exploring human relationships from multifaceted experiences. Special consideration will be given to the ethics of the Kingdom of God, exploring Christian responses to urban problems and tools for confronting the powers of the city. Drawing on Biblical, historical, and applied sources, students who complete the course should be able to meet the following objectives:
- A deeper appreciation for the "diversity" of the city.
- Ability to clearly articulate an ethic of the Kingdom of God for the city.
- Ability to critically reflect on what a Christian response to urban problems might look like in the city.
- Be better equipped to confront the powers in the city.
CAL - 140 Methods of Biblical Interpretation - This course offers an introduction to reading the Bible in the context of urban communities. Our focus will be on careful reading, Christ-centered interpretation, congregational interpretation, and the image of the city in scripture. This class will equip students in their use of scripture for Bible study, teaching, worship planning, preaching, and theological reflection.
Class Format
All courses are taught using lectures, classroom discussion, and writing projects. Attendance in course sessions and completion of the writing assignment in a timely manner are critical to successful completion of the program. Instruction and class discussion sessions are held in Pasadena. However, for groups of seven (7) or more pre-registered students, courses may be offered in other locations upon request. Contact the Director of Urban Theological Formation for more details.
Accreditation
The School for Urban Mission has established partnership with the Pastoral Ministries Program at Hesston College. All our courses are accredited through this program. Students who complete all four courses will receive a Certificate in Urban Mission. Furthermore the students may continue their studies through the Pastoral Ministries Program. For more information call 1-800-997-2757 extension 8295 or visit the Hesston College Pastoral Ministries Webpage.
Cost
Costs for the program are as follows:
| Prepaid Tuition | $200.00, per course |
| (Prepaid tuition must be received 5 business days before the first class session if class is held in Pasadena) | |
| Tuition "at the door" | $290.00, per course |
| Hesston Transfer | $45.00, per 3 unit course |
| Hesston Fees | $50.00, one time fee |
A limited number of scholarships are available for qualifying students. These scholarships are based on student need. Contact the Director of Urban Theological Formation for more information.
