The beginning of the 21st century is a remarkable moment in history theologically and educationally. Theological debates have broadened and intensified. Calls for educational reform at every level are everywhere. So the need for graduate programs in theology and classical Christian studies to equip students for such a time has never been greater.

Trinitarian Theology & Culture
Theology today is at a turning point. While some theologians continue to abandon orthodoxy, others in “mainline” churches are turning back toward historic orthodoxy. Theological conversations across the boundaries between Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestants are more sustained and fruitful than they have been since the Reformation. And the churches of the Southern Hemisphere have begun to re-teach the North what it means to be Christian, as mission fields now produce fields of missionaries. In such a dynamic setting, advanced theological study must be as catholic as the church herself and remain steadfast in our commitment to the primacy, authority, and truth of Scripture. Conservative theologians and students of theology today have a double responsibility. We must fully participate in the debates taking place within theology, and enter them recognizing that theology will always be a battleground. The College’s two-year resident Master’s Program in Trinitarian Theology & Culture offers advanced theological education to equip the next generation of theologians and theologically informed leaders in other fields for this double responsibility.

Classical Christian Studies
The classroom too has been one of the major battlegrounds in the recent culture wars. The sharp intellectual and spiritual decline of America’s schools over the past several decades awakened many from their educational slumbers and encouraged Christians to reexamine their assumptions about the education of their covenant children. The search for alternative educational models led to the rediscovery of the church’s rich academic heritage and the classical tradition. This, in turn, launched the home schooling and classical Christian school movements. Despite sometimes hostile opposition from the government-school cartel, home and classical Christian education have enjoyed stunning growth and unrivaled success. Sustaining these reforms in curriculum, pedagogy, and vision over time hinges, in large part, on raising up the next generation of classically educated Christian educators. If the academic high ground—post-secondary education—remains in the hands of those opposed to home schooling and classical Christian education, then the hard-won educational reforms will be short-lived indeed. The College’s Classical Christian Studies programs have been developed to meet the challenge of advancing and sustaining these educational reforms for future generations. The program’s limited-enrollment and low-residency options allow working educators, home schooling parents, and aspiring scholars to broaden their understanding of the classical Christian educational paradigm from a distinctively Trinitarian perspective. Its modular design allows working students flexibility in course selection and scheduling.

An Invitation
The graduate faculty invites you to join us in the pursuit of all things Trinitarian and classical for this remarkable moment in history. Contact the Graduate Admissions office for more about these strategic programs.