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GALLATIN, TN—Welch College recently announced important changes to its Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in theology and ministry, according to Dr. Kevin Hester, dean of the School of Theology at Welch.
“Since 2016, Welch College has offered a world-class M.A. degree in theology and ministry,” Hester said. “The goal of the program has always been to offer ministers and laity a rigorous theological education that would further prepare them to faithfully serve their local church. Program graduates, both ministers and laity, have consistently affirmed the value of the program for their ministry and spiritual life. The program has also prepared a number of graduates for further academic study, including local church pastors, who have pursued advanced programs at highly respected institutions in the U.S. and the U.K.” Hester announced two important changes for the program.
Fully Online Format
First, the faculty has approved a fully online format. The program’s leaders had spoken with a significant number of potential students for whom attending a week-long intensive was an insurmountable obstacle.
In the new format, weekly Zoom classes will make the program accessible to a larger number of students while still maintaining the heightened interaction and mentoring relationships students have come to value. Recent graduate Derek Altom said, “I enjoy conversations with my professors who are not only experts in their fields, but are also like friends.”
Provost Matthew McAffee said, “We’re excited about making the Master of Arts in theology and ministry more widely available to those who are unable to meet on-campus requirements. One of the primary goals of this program has always been to make a way for current ministers to enhance their ministry preparation through graduate education. A fully online option further realizes this aim.”
The new format allows students to continue to serve in current ministry and vocational roles without having to come to campus for intensives. Local students may still attend the weekly lectures in person, but physical attendance is not required.
This move has already opened doors for students now able to study while continuing in active church ministry. Current student Jerry Nunes said, “As a pastor in New York, Welch’s change to a fully online program was key to my ability to sign up for the M.A. program. Without sacrificing the quality of a rigorous theological and pastoral education, the move to a fully online format has allowed people like me to receive an excellent ministry formation while juggling the different roles I have in bi-vocational ministry.”
Youth pastor Brick Crowder echoed this sentiment when he said, “I’m so thankful that the MATM is fully online through Welch College. This makes pursuing a master’s degree a reality for me while also being a full-time student pastor.”
New Ministry Track
A second change to the program is the addition of a new program track. In addition to the thesis track, which required every student to write a master’s thesis, the M.A. now features a ministry track, which will require an additional ministry course without writing a thesis.
“The thesis track continues to be available to students who desire advanced research through a thesis guided by the faculty,” program coordinator Dr. Jesse Owens said. “But the addition of the ministry track gives students the flexibility to determine the course of study that best suits their role in ministry and their academic interests.”
“I’m so excited about the addition of the ministry track,” Hester said. “Not only does the addition of courses in leadership and Baptist ecclesiology supplement the curriculum, but it gives some of our advanced ministerial students a flavor of some of the courses available in Welch College’s residential Master of Divinity program.”
The Missions Conference will be held on the campus of Welch College on October 9-11, 2022. The theme of the conference is “Until the World Hears,” featuring sermons and seminars on the topics of missions and ministry.
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College enrolled 388 students for the 2022 Fall semester, according to Dr. Matthew McAffee, Provost at Welch College. This number marks the first increase in enrollment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, up 15 percent from a total enrollment of 336 in the fall of 2021.
“It has been tough navigating the challenges resulting from COVID-19 over the last two years,” McAffee said, “so we are thankful for this increase. We believe these numbers signal the beginning of our rebound from the last two years of lower enrollment.”
Full-time enrollment also improved from the COVID years. Whereas COVID most drastically affected traditional dormitory enrollment, this semester saw continued improvement in this area. Graduate studies, adult and online studies, and dual enrollment also showed gains.
At press time the college reported 151 dormitory students, 61 commuter students, 36 graduate students, 17 adult studies students, 43 online students, and 80 dual enrollment students. Full-time equivalency (FTE) was 274 students, up from 240 last fall. Total enrollment statistics indicate students from 22 states, one U.S. territory, and six foreign countries.
“Many small church-related colleges were hit very hard during the pandemic, with some having to close their doors,” President Matt Pinson said. “We’re thankful that, despite these difficulties, the Lord has sustained Welch College and has set us on a course of recovery.”
“We’re also thankful for our new and returning students,” Pinson continued. “They have a renewed sense of vibrancy and excitement brought to the campus as we turn our focus to the prospects for future growth and opportunity as an institution. We still have our work cut out for us in this post-COVID recovery period, with enrollment and donations to the college still far below pre-COVID norms. But things are definitely looking up. We are thankful to the Lord for his blessings.”
For more information about Welch College, email recruit@welch.edu or visit the college’s website at www.welch.edu.
GALLATIN, TN—The 2022–2023 Rejoice! Ministry Team has been selected, according to Daniel Webster, music director of the group. “After vocal and instrumental auditions and interviews, we have finalized selections for this year’s team,” Webster said. “We had a great number of quality musicians to choose from, and we are excited about these students as our representatives for this year.”
Female members of the group are Malena Campis, Joy Green, Cheyenne Lewis, Sarah Lovett, and Brook Proctor. Male members are Jackson Baer, Camden Lewis, Daniel Rodriguez, Jacob Snow, Landon Wolfe, and Stephen Yerby. Austin Owen will serve as sound technician.
“The 2022–2023 Rejoice! Ministry Team will prove to be one of our best teams yet,” stated Todd Parrish, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “Their zeal for Christ and His gospel is already evident. They will be great representatives for Welch College and the kingdom.”
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College recently received notification that it ranks 17th among “Best Regional Colleges—South” in the 2023 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges, according to President Matt Pinson. The Regional Colleges—South category comprises 105 other colleges and universities in the South.
“We’re so glad to have Welch’s academic quality recognized by U.S. News,” President Pinson said. “This is another reminder to students and parents that Welch College is a top-quality institution of higher learning that delivers its educational promise.”
The “Best Regional Colleges—South” category where Welch College is ranked includes institutions that focus on undergraduate education and offer a range of degree programs in the liberal arts and in professional fields such as business, nursing, and education.
Most of these institutions award fewer than fifty graduate degrees annually. This year, thirteen colleges and universities were added to this category, moving from last year’s total of 93 to 106 total schools.
“Colleges go up and down in these rankings each year,” Pinson said. “When we first entered the rankings twelve years ago, we were ranked 52nd. Then four years ago we got up to 26th, after which we’ve consistently been in the top 20. Our ranking at 17th is exciting.”
“To be ranked in the top 16% of all colleges and universities in our category is remarkable,” Provost Matthew McAffee said. “Our faculty and staff strive diligently to give our students an excellent Christian educational experience, and this ranking is a testament to their determination and hard work.”
U.S. News rankings judge the relative quality of institutions based on widely accepted indicators of excellence in higher education: what peer institutions think of the institution, how many freshmen return their sophomore year, how many of them go on to graduate, student-faculty ratio, faculty quality, financial resources, alumni giving, and more.
“To put our ranking in perspective,” Pinson said, “the ten institutions ranked directly above and below us have an average enrollment three times higher than Welch’s and an average endowment eight times higher than Welch’s. We are good stewards of the resources God has given us.”
Welch received especially high marks in three strategic areas, ranking as follows:
GALLATIN, TN—Mrs. Davida Black recently joined Welch College as Office Manager for the Institutional Advancement department, according to Todd Parrish, Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
Black is a Robertson County native with over thirty-three years of experience as an office manager with communications and financial services corporations and a local Christian school. Her new role will combine her skills as office manager and administrative assistant and enable her to become an integral part of the IA team.
Tim Owen, Director of the Welch Fund, stated, “Already Mrs. Black has been a joy to work with. The knowledge and experience she brings to the office is exceptional and will provide positive traction as the Advancement office continues forward.”
Parrish said, “Exciting things are happening in the Advancement department as we develop new strategies and initiatives. Mrs. Black’s experience and skillset will only add to that excitement and make her an invaluable part of the Advancement team.”
Black and her husband Ron have three grown children and four grandchildren.
