Developing a Unified Curriculum for Satya Vachan Seminary

Abstract

Churches need qualified leaders, regardless of their size, context or time. A pastoral training program must, therefore, respond to crucial questions about elder qualifications, the manner of pastoral preparation, and the sphere in which church leaders are matured. According to Scripture, men who are qualified to shepherd the flock of God will possess certain affections, character, knowledge, and skills. Satya Vachan Seminary (SVS) is a church-based, Hindi-language seminary that trains men who will pastor local churches in North India. This project focuses on unifying SVS’s entire curriculum by establishing the seminary’s outcome (i.e., the “Ideal Graduate”) and by building that outcome into the seminary’s program. Chapter 1 presents the project’s goals, context, and the rationale for unifying the seminary’s program. Chapter 2 establishes the biblical foundations of pastoral training from 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. This chapter also surveys the affections, character, knowledge, and skills necessary to pastor with excellence. Chapter 3 presents a theoretical basis for a competency-oriented, church-based pastoral training program. Attention is given to the relative strengths and potential disadvantages of SVS’s model. Chapter 4 describes the project itself, recounting the method of interview, rubric, feedback, revision and evaluation of curriculum. Chapter 5 evaluates the efficacy of the project based on completion of the specified goals and suggests next steps for implementing and ongoing evaluation of the curriculum.