Pastoral Cohort Program

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). 

Pastoral Cohort is equivalent to a Master of Divinity program with an emphasis on UBF's mission, vision, and core values. This program is designed to develop ministry leaders with sound biblical/theological foundations, leadership strength, and Christlike character as part of the preparation for pastoral ordination in UBF.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
- To equip ministry leaders: We want to assist and develop our leaders with sound biblical/theological foundations, leadership strength, and Christlike character.
- To prepare for pastoral ordination: For those who aspire to receive UBF ordination (such as sizable chapter directors), the certificate of the program can be considered, along with the candidates’ integrity of character and practical experiences in ministry.
- To provide a unified teaching for UBF ministries based on sound doctrines in a biblical evangelical tradition.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR PASTORAL ORDINATION
- Completion of the required courses
- Needs for pastoral ordination in the missional context
- Candidates’ integrity of character
- Shepherding experiences in ministry

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES
Aspiring students are required to submit an application along with supporting documents, which will be reviewed to confirm the completion of each applicant’s file.
The application and records will be evaluated based on specific criteria: prior academic performance, recommendations, and life testimony. Lastly, the application process involves an interview with the program committee.
Admitted students will receive new student orientation information, and all applicants will be notified of their admission status by email.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Annual tuition for full-time students in a ministry $750/year.
UBF chapters with enrolled full-time students are asked $750/year
* The Pan-Africa Cohort program will have its own fee structure. Likewise, each future cohort’s fee will be adjusted to make sense in context.

PASTORAL COHORT CURRICULUM
Required credits are 72 (24 courses x 3 credits) and above. Each course (3 credits) is usually 12 weeks long.
The Pastoral Cohort Program is offered only once every three years, in sequence, and does not include electives. Therefore, if students plan to graduate in three years, they must take each class as it is offered. Upon completion of the required courses, UBF will issue a certificate of completion.
*As a pilot program of the PASTORAL COHORT, the Pan-Africa Cohort has been established under the UBF General Director’s supervision to provide quality spiritual, biblical, and theological training to African ministry leaders. This comprehensive four-year program includes 24 courses, with six courses per year.
*The Asian Pastoral Cohort for Asian ministry leaders will start in 2025.

REQUIRED COURSES
UBF Shepherdology (Discipleship) (1 Course)
Biblical Studies (10 courses): Methodology (3), OT (4), NT (3)
1) Methodology (3): New Testament Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Hermeneutics, Inductive Bible Study, Biblical Theology
2) Old Testament (4): Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus…), History (1-2 Samuel…), Wisdom/Psalms, Prophets
3) New Testament (3): Gospels, Acts & Pauline Epistles, Revelation

Historical Studies (4 courses):
1) Church History I (Early Church), Church History II (Medieval Church, Reformation), III ((Modern Church)
2) Local church studies (e.g., African Church History), History of Missions

Doctrines/Ethics (5 courses): Doctrines (4), Ethics & Apologetics (1)
1) Christian Doctrines: I (Prolegomena: The Kingdom and Covenant; Scripture; Theology proper); II (Anthropology; Christology); III (Pneumatology; Soteriology), IV (Ecclesiology; Eschatology), Church’s Creeds
2) Christian Ethics, Christian Apologetics Ministry/Mission Studies (5 courses):
1) Ministry Studies: Pastoral Care & Counseling, Pastoral Theology (Ministerial Personhood), Spiritual Warfare, Preaching, Worship [Liturgical Practices], Christian Leadership Development,
2) Mission Studies: Theology of Mission, Cultural Anthropology, {African Traditional Religion}

CURRICULUM MAP
Year 1:
Biblical Doctrine 1, Biblical Doctrine 2, UBF Shepherdology, Biblical Hermeneutics, New Testament Greek, Spiritual Warfare
Year 2:
Biblical Doctrine 3, New Testament Studies, Biblical Theology, Biblical Hebrew, Pastoral Theology, Church History 1
Year 3:
Biblical Doctrine 4, New Testament Studies, Old Testament Studies, Theology of Mission, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Church History 2
Year 4:
Christian Leadership, Apologetics, Church History 3, Liturgy, New Testament Studies, Old Testament Studies, Ethics

Click here to download Current Course Catalog for more details