BA (Hons) Applied Theology

The BA (Hons) Applied Theology is delivered by Moorlands College at their South West Regional Centre in partnership with South West Youth Ministries, and is validated by the University of Gloucestershire.

Training is delivered in nine one-week blocks per year. Six of these are at Lee Abbey in North Devon, and three at Moorlands’ Christchurch Campus. Lecturers are experts in their field and will inspire you by passing on their experience, skills and knowledge so you can share the message of the Gospel in the 21st century in engaging and relevant ways.

Carefully chosen placements give hands-on experience of ministry and provide a context for wider learning and critical reflection on practice. Understanding the links between theory and practice is a key part of this course.

Course Overview

This course has been carefully and creatively designed to give you a  firm foundation on which to build your life and ministry. It will equip you to serve God in practical and relevant ways in today’s fast-changing world.

In years 2 and 3 (Levels 5 and 6) pathway-specific modules enable the student to develop critical thinking and practice in their chosen area of ministry. Students will choose one of the following three pathways:

Missional Youth Ministry

Through exploring essential concepts of informal education, spiritual development and developmental theories, students are introduced to the professional study of missional youth work. The roles of the youth minister are analysed, with consideration given to working with groups, in teams, in church and in partnership with others.

This pathway offers critical engagement with some of the more complex situations that you might find yourself in as a youth minister; considering ethical dilemmas, contemporary issues and the biases and baggage of the individual.

Missional Children, Families & Community Work 

This pathway explores the interaction between ethical, sociological and psychological theories and theological perspectives in relation to working with children, families and local communities. 

Drawing on Biblical perspectives, the course critically examines intergenerational ministry, how families relate, parenting, issues around divorce, and just about everything to do with working alongside families in the context of their community. The course will also encourage you to understand your God-given gifts and abilities in this field, and equip you for ministry.

Missional Leadership

The focus of this pathway is to equip and empower missional leaders in whatever sphere of Christian leadership they are called to serve in. The course is ideal for those heading up ministries within a church setting or in the community, e.g. assistant minister, local outreach project manager, leadership intern, community café manager or student worker.

This course prepares the student for professional Christian service, and the interaction between theory and practice is a key feature. Topics include missional theology, church planting, creating missional communities and prophetic leadership; enabling the student to develop biblical and theological frameworks for leadership.