Statement of Purpose: The purpose of Baptist Seminary of Kentucky is to prepare men and women sensing God’s leadership for life and ministry in faithful witness to Jesus Christ in the church and the world.
Scripture
BSK students will demonstrate appropriate knowledge, understanding, and skills for interpreting and embodying scripture faithfully in the life of the church and in the world.
Students will develop familiarity with the narrative world(s) and storylines of the Christian scriptures and with significant characterizations of God and important individuals, communities and institutions.
Students will gain an understanding of basic tools for analyzing the biblical texts both in terms of methodological approaches (i.e., “critical” historical, linguistic, literary, sociological, ideological, theological, etc., analyses) and material resources (monographs, reference materials, commentaries, journals, electronic resources, etc.).
Students will develop perspectives on the varieties of biblical interpretation practiced throughout the history of the church to the present, within American culture and throughout the world, leading to an ability to assess prior interpretive influences on and appropriate interpretive possibilities for specific scripture texts within specific communities.
Students will develop competencies for reading, and for leading faith communities to read, the biblical texts as transforming and formational story as they learn and interpret the biblical story sacramentally and perform it in moral, liturgical, and devotional contexts, offering testimony in the world.
Christian Tradition
BSK students will demonstrate knowledge, understanding, historical perspective, imagination, and skills in using theological sources, traditions, categories, and concepts in order to engage in constructive theological reflection for the purpose of bringing faith to life in the church and in the world.
Students will develop skills for thinking creatively, critically, and constructively about the enduring Christian Tradition in its diverse expressions, in order to identify the historical, social, cultural, and ecclesiastical factors which influenced the development of the Christian Tradition.
Students will develop habits of creative, critical, and constructive thinking in order to engage the ecumenical and cultural diversity of theological perspectives and faith traditions both in local and in global contexts.
Students will develop competencies for identifying and interpreting the historical, contextual and cultural matters that shape and frame a theological understanding of lived questions and issues.
Students will develop knowledge and skills in order to think creatively, critically, and constructively about the Baptist/Free Church vision in its historical and contemporary expressions, particularly in North America.
Students will develop habits of faithful theological imagination so as to be able both to participate in and to nurture intentional and faithful Christian living in persons and groups with whom they minister.
Cultural Context
BSK students will develop knowledge and skills for identifying a wide variety of cultural realities and structures as well as social issues, for interpreting them in light of theological categories and concepts, and for establishing relationships with persons from diverse cultures throughout the world in faithful witness to Jesus Christ.
Students will gain knowledge and awareness of cultural difference, and skills for analyzing cultural realities and structures within larger cultural frameworks both in local and in global contexts.
Students will develop competencies for interpreting cultural, social, and justice issues in light of Christian understandings of humanity and the created world and in light of God’s call to bear witness in word and deed to God’s love, justice, and redemptive purpose for the world.
Students will develop habits of relating to persons from diverse cultures in witness to the transcendent gospel of Jesus Christ, learning and critically assessing historical and contemporary methodologies as well as developing an imagination for relating faithfully.
Spiritual and Faith Formation
BSK students will demonstrate an understanding of and begin to practice the lifelong development of their own capacities for personal faith, emotional maturity, moral integrity, and public witness.
Students will develop knowledge and understanding of spirituality, spiritual formation, and faith formation and development.
Students will engage personally in practices of spiritual formation and theological reflection directed toward living in prayerful relationship with God, the church, and creation.
Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the minister as leader, guide, caregiver, and servant within the faith community.
Students will develop habits of discerning ministerial identity and vocational calling.
Students will develop habits of faithful Christian living and being.
Ministerial Leadership
BSK students will demonstrate knowledge, understanding, skills, and imagination for leading and directing other persons in faithful Christian living.
Students will reflect on the practice of ministry and develop competencies for ministry in conversation with thoughtful reading of Scripture, theological reflection, consideration of cultural context, and practices of spiritual formation.
Students will develop competencies for teaching, pastoral caregiving and pastoral counseling, and directing others in spiritual formation.
Students will develop competencies for leading worship, including worship planning, preaching, administering baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and officiating at weddings and funerals.
Students will develop competencies for leading Christians to establish relationships with others in faithful witness to Jesus Christ and to practice social justice.
Students will develop competencies for organizational development and administration, including strategic planning, staff relations, reading financial statements, preparing budgets, visioning, and conflict resolution.
