Introduction

The word "seminary" comes from the Latin word seminarium, meaning "seed-bed." For centuries it has been used to designate an institution whose primary function is to train ministers. This word suggests that a seminary experience ought to be one of growth in all aspects of one's life—particularly in one's own spiritual growth.

The programs at CBTS encourage just such growth—a place for students to grow in their personal relationships with God. Calvary's balanced approach to ministry training emphasizes spiritual, practical growth no less than it does the intellectual. To effect that growth, several mechanisms are in place to challenge and exhort each student to strive for spiritual maturity.

Chapel

Chapel services Wednesday through Friday each week provide opportunities to hear preaching, missionary reports, and faculty seminars. Through this exposure to such a wide variety of different ministries, students have the opportunity to consider ministries or vocations about which they might otherwise never have heard.

Although chapel services contribute greatly to a student's spiritual growth, nothing can take the place of the nurture and discipline of a local church. Each student, therefore, must be involved in the ministry of a local congregation.

Local church involvement

Training for the ministry involves more than the knowledge students gain in the classroom. Successful ministry depends on relating that knowledge to the problems of real people in a real ministry. In seeking to offer a balanced approach in preparing servants for ministry, Calvary students participate in the ministry of a local church of like faith.

Students moving into the area are encouraged to become members of Calvary Baptist Church for their first year of seminary in order to facilitate the transition to seminary life, to gain guided experience, and to become familiar with churches in the area. Contemplated membership in a church not participating in the seminary's Ministry Mentor Program should be checked with the Chaplain before any step is taken toward membership.

Ministry Mentor Program

As an aid to connecting classroom theory with practice, Master of Divinity/Master of Arts students enrolled in a fall or spring semester serve under the supervision of a personal mentor. All students graduating from CBTS must have completed a minimum of two semesters of Ministry Mentorship. Mentoring provides students an way to be held accountable for their ministry each semester and provides them a unique opportunity to be personally influenced by a vocational minister whom they respect and admire. This program is intended to be flexible and highly personal.

Missions

Calvary's integral missions emphasis provides an environment in which students considering missions may build their understanding of missiology and find a practical outlet for their missions burden. Challenges from missionaries are regularly integrated into the chapel program, and many chapels are dedicated to Mission Prayer Band.

The annual Calvary Baptist Church missions conference brings together missionaries for Seminary panel discussions and chapel challenges. Many professors teach on foreign fields every year in one of the eight foreign Bible institutes supported by the Seminary (Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Belgium, France, Peru, Canada, and South Africa). The professors' overseas experience keeps their vision and burden for missions fresh and vibrant.

Students may consider a one-year internship on a foreign field in which they fulfill the established course requirements for MI830-MI833. These internships can count for one to four credits and involve working closely with a seminary-approved missionary on a foreign field to learn about evangelism, church planting, missions philosophy, and cultural studies. Students coordinate with the Dean in the selection of a missionary mentor.

Counseling

Because spiritual growth takes a different course in every person's life, students and their families are encouraged to seek out their professors for private counsel in matters related to their studies or to their personal lives. Calvary's faculty have both a pastoral heart and training and are qualified to counsel students.

In particular, the Seminary Chaplain facilitates a large percentage of student counseling and focuses on the spiritual life of the student body. The chaplain's office is open to students and their families for consultation on matters relating to their personal lives, families, or vocational choices.

Standards of conduct

Calvary's students and staff are asked to live lives which glorify God by following the ethical principles established in Scripture. Due to the spiritual nature of seminary training, it falls upon the Seminary to guide its students in the importance of leading a God-honoring life. A combination of classroom instruction, chapel messages, personal mentoring, counseling, or administrative actions may combine to help a student understand and cultivate the high moral conduct integral to effective ministry.