Seminario Wesley of Indiana Wesleyan University announces a Collaborative Agreement with Universidad Cristiana Logos (Logos Christian University) to benefit Hispanic students desiring a Master of Divinity degree from Seminario Wesley.
This unique agreement allows Spanish-speaking students to obtain an online Bachelor's Degree from a Christian university that shares a similar mission with Seminario Wesley. While Logos Christian University is an unaccredited institution, the choice to collaborate was intentional. Logos maintains very high academic standards and produces well-respected leaders who serve the Hispanic church throughout the U.S. and internationally. In addition, this effort keeps costs affordable for those who desire to further their education and ministry but have limited financial resources.
"This collaboration is a significant step forward in the common mission of Logos University and Wesley Seminary at IWU to provide education to ministry leaders throughout Iberoamerica," states Dr. Wayne Schmidt, Vice President, Wesley Seminary. "It also initiates exploration of a formal and more comprehensive articulation agreement between the two institutions."
Dr. Roberto Sanchez, Chief Executive Officer of Logos, agrees wholeheartedly. "Partnerships are so important in the Kingdom of God as we spread the Gospel. I can say the same about educational covenants for the benefit of students - we are excited about the agreement between Logos Christian University and Seminario Wesley. Together we can impact more lives and we can train more people to serve in the local church, mission field, rural ministry or city-wide ministry. United we can change the world and share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples to all nations."
The collaborative agreement was officially enacted on January 15, 2015, allowing students who completed their studies at Logos to apply for admission to the Master of Divinity program at Seminario Wesley. IWU's Seminario Wesley's Maestría en Divinidad (M.Div.) has approximately 45 students enrolled, and over 20 new students begin their academic journey in June with the Marion residency, or July at the Bogota, Colombia residency. These students are from more than 14 states and various Latin American countries.
Wesley Seminary is home to the only Spanish M.Div. offered primarily online in the U.S. and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). The program curriculum was contextualized to respond to the specific needs of the Hispanic church and its leadership. This particular collaborative effort opens the door to even more students enrolling in the program. "Many Hispanic ministers are serving as effectively as possible different types of congregations," says Rev. Dr. Joanne Solis-Walker, Director of Latino/Latina Education & Adjunct Professor, Wesley Seminary. "However, they long to be better equipped in order to offer the best to God and to those He called them to serve. Even though anyone pastoring a church or serving in a pulpit-type of ministry such as chaplaincy or missions would benefit from a Master of Divinity, they do not always have access to this type of program because they are unable to meet the BA requirement. This creates a pathway. This creates a feeder. This creates a bridge that allows us to refer students as opposed to turning them away. It represents hope for those who have longed for formal education, and an opportunity for them to return to pursue their dream."
For more information on Wesley Seminary's Hispanic degree offerings and this agreement, contact Rev. Dr. Joanne Solis-Walker, or Pastor Moses Avila, Assistant Program Representative, Bilingual Student Specialist, Wesley Seminary.