wfn.org | Scarritt-Bennett Center

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org (United Methodist News list)]

Reply-to: owner-umethnews@ecunet.org (United Methodist News list)
"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (430
notes).

Note 429 by UMNS on Nov. 3, 1997 at 15:56 Eastern (2958 characters).

CONTACT: Linda Green				 617(10-71B){429}
	    Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470	Nov. 3, 1997

Scarritt-Bennett Center joins theological 
school to provide doctor of ministry degree

	NASHVILLE (UMNS) –- A United Methodist-related conference and retreat center
here has entered a partnership with a United Methodist seminary to offer a
Doctor of Ministry program.
	The Scarritt-Bennett Center will join with Drew University, the Theological
School, Madison, N.J., to offer "Discipleship Leadership," a program of
theological education beginning in August 1998.  
The center also will offer continuing education and certification studies in
specialized areas of ministry. By the year 2000, center officials plan to
incorporate a master of theological studies program into its curriculum to
relate to the denomination’s new order of deacon.
Formerly known as Scarritt College for Christian Workers and founded in 1892
by the women’s organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, the
center ceased operating as a degree-granting institution in 1988 because of
low enrollment and indebtedness.
	According to Carolyn Oehler, center executive director, Drew University’s
theological school has been interested in finding a regional institution to
participate in a doctor of ministry program serving Tennessee and the
surrounding states. 
	Oehler said, "We are responding to some requests and needs of people who see
Scarritt-Bennett Center as an educational resource." For people who have been
thinking about going back to school, "this is a close-to-home option."
Open to all cultures and denominations, the doctoral program will have a
United Methodist foundation," said Roela Rivera, Scarritt-Bennett’s director
of studies. 
She said the doctoral program will not be in competition with theological
studies at nearby Vanderbilt University, because "they phased out their doctor
of ministry program at least two years ago." 
Although major parts of the new program  will be located at Scarritt, people
will have to enroll at Drew and spend four weeks there in the summer of 1998
to establish a presence, she said. One week of intensive study will be held
Aug. 9-14 at Scarritt-Bennett and five one-days sessions will be held from
September-November.
The faculty will be determined by the theological school and areas in which
people may specialize include: third millennium leadership development; urban
Christian community development; preaching and liturgical renewal;
multicultural ministry; and environmental Ministries. "Drew will do the
academic part, Scarritt-Bennett will provide the accommodations," Rivera said.

	An orientation session will be held Feb. 27, 1998, at Scarritt-Bennett and
will cover the program’s goals, areas of interest, faculty resources,
registration procedures, tuition and other fees. The orientation will be
hosted by academic officials from Drew and directors from the center.
# # #
	
	
	
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 To make suggestions or give your comments, send a note to 
 umns@ecunet.org or Susan_Peek@ecunet.org

 This article sent to both the umethnews list <umethnews-request@ecunet.org>
 and also to the Worldwide Faith News list wfn-news <majordomo@wfn.org>
 Look at the header files to figure out which this is.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------