In the Fall of 2019, BSK will launch the Rural Ministry Program. Rural places have long been religious places. Advanced theological and ministry training, however, has too often failed to help ministers imagine smaller, rural congregations as suitable and sustainable placements for ministry. Many seminary students and young ministers have learned much from their time leading rural congregations. Yet it is also true that rural places have too often been a “way stop” for many seminary students and young ministers. Baptist Seminary of Kentucky hopes to reverse this trend by collaborating with rural congregations and The Berry Center to provide advanced theological and ministry studies in, with, and for rural congregations and their ministers. The Rural Ministry Program provides advanced theological and ministry studies for men and women who are preparing for life and ministry in rural congregations and communities.
By being a part of the Rural Ministry Program, BSK students will experience the joys, challenges, and complexities of rural landscapes. Students in this course of study will engage through a combination of coursework on the BSK campus, coursework in a rural setting, guided readings through The Berry Center, and year-long pastoral internships in a particular rural context. Through these pastoral internships, BSK students will study with and under those who live and work in rural places, develop a deeper imagination for rural life and ministry, and gain placed pastoral leadership experience in rural congregations. Students who are a part of the Rural Ministry Program will receive a full scholarship (with the expectation of the completion of coursework in 6 semesters) as well as funds for students’ books, a stipend during the Contextual Ministry internship, attendance at a related conference.
Interested students or those with names for recommendation to the program can contact Abby Sizemore, BSK’s Director of Admissions, at abby.sizemore@bsk.edu or 502.863.8301 to learn more about the application process for this program.
