The Grand Rapids Theological Seminary (GRTS) has a new program this semester called the Urban Cohort Initiative.   The program is a group of 25 urban ministry leaders who are pursuing the Master of Arts in ministry leadership curriculum.   The seminary recognizes the importance of urban ministry and is excited to be partnering with it. 

The seminary recognized that there were urban leaders who weren’t getting an education and so they met with the urban leaders and asked what they could do for them.

“These leaders are from all different areas of ministry.  Churches, Salvation Army, etc.,” said Tara Kram, director of Admissions.

The seminary has offered and is offering the Master of Arts in ministry degree before but the difference with the cohort is that they have developed of group of students.  Those students go to classes together as a group instead of each student having their own schedule.  

The program is serving the urban leaders in a way that will help them in their ministry.  Donors have financially sponsored the program and therefore it is covered by scholarships.   

“We have leaders from Brown Hutcherson Church, City View and City Hope churches, Salvation Army, Bethany Christian Services, and Mel Trotter Ministries,” Kram said.  

Most of the students have pastoral positions.  Others are counselors or have director positions.   Many of the leaders are Bible vocations which means they have full time jobs and are pastors on the side.

“Dr. Fagerstrom has been big in getting the program started, Dave Liverman, director of the Global Learning Center, has been involved as well.   Rice Evans, an alumnus of GRTS is helping recruit for future cohorts,” Kram said.

The 25 urban leaders are in Systematic Theology 1this semester taught by Professor Jeremy Gerinnell.  The curriculum as a whole is a 36 credit hour program which has a Bible, Ministry, and Theology core classes. 

The program has a few electives which will allow the students to specialize the program for their own specific ministry. 

The seminary is excited to be working with the leaders of many different ministries and to see diversity at the seminary.  They are partnering with urban ministries to serve the Grand Rapids area and are hoping the urban cohort initiative will expand to other areas of Grand Rapids such as Wyoming, Muskegon, Battle Creek, and Benton Harbor.

“Right now we are doing focus groups so see if there is an interest in a cohort in other areas of Grand Rapids.  If there is an interest than they will start them in 2009” Kram said.

  When the seminary first introduced the initiative they had just a handful of students interested in the program, as time went on more became interested.   Now they have 25 students involved.  The staff at the seminary saw God’s hand in bringing the students there way. 

“GRTS is really excited to have the cohort at the seminary.  It is excited to be seeing the doors opening for the initiative to move forward,” Kram said.