Master of Arts in Restorative Justice Ministries (MARJM)
The fifty-four credit hour MARJM degree (plus three credit hours of field education) is designed to equip practitioners to do restorative ministry in contexts susceptible to violence by developing an understanding of Christian ministry and sense of vocation through themes such as trauma/healing, race, justice, mental health, and interpersonal and community relations. While focused on incarcerated individuals in Illinois, the program is also open to non-incarcerated students.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes of the program include the following:
- Interpret Scripture with historical and theological integrity in relation to one’s ministry.
- Convey the Christian tradition for appropriation in ministry settings.
- Comprehension of individual brokenness, interpersonal forms violence, and systemic injustices as it shapes one’s theology of ministry.
- Demonstrate skills in restorative arts (personal healing, non-violent communication, conflict transformation, care & counseling, intersectional analyses, and the art of listening) that ground one’s sense of vocational identity in God’s mission.
- Engage diversity and exhibit growth towards inter-cultural competence for ministry reflective of God’s global redemptive work.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts in Restorative Justice Ministries degree is awarded to students who:
- Complete all Vocational and Spiritual Formation for Leadership evaluations and receive approval by faculty vote.
- Complete the required 54 semester hours of academic course work, plus 3 field education credit hours.
- Maintain a grade point average of 2.5. No grade under C- shall be counted toward the degree.
- Exemplify a quality of life and commitment suitable for ministry.
- Rectify all incomplete grades no later than week seven of the semester in which they plan to graduate.
- Fulfill all financial obligations to the Seminary.
- Complete the degree program within seven (7) years from the time of matriculation.
Bible | 6 Credit Hours
| BIBL 5210 | Old Testament 1: Pentateuch & Interpretation | 3 |
| BIBL 5240 | New Testament 1: The Texts & Their World | 3 |
History | 3 Credit Hours
| HSTY 5210 | Christian History 1: the Early Church to the Early Reformation (1-16c) | 3 |
Theology | 3 Credit Hours
Spiritual Formation | 3 Credit Hours
| SPFM 5201 | Journey: The Story of Our Lives | 1 |
| SPFM 5211 | Intercultural Spirituality: Praying Together | 1 |
| SPFM | Spiritual Formation Elective | |
Restorative Arts | 12 Credit Hours
| CEDF 7190 | Special Topics in Christian Education | 1-3 |
| MNST 7190 | Special Topics in Ministry | 1-3 |
| THEO 6334 | Peace, Justice, and Restorative Practices | 3 |
| MNST 7195 | Special Topics in Faith and Health | 1-3 |
Transformative Justice | 12 Credit Hours
Student selects four courses from the following:
| MNST 6400 | Mobilizing for Justice: Methods & Practice of Justice | 3 |
| MNST 5110 | Religions and Cultures | 3 |
| THEO 5140 | Advanced Seminar in Theology | 3 |
| THEO 6420 | Saints, Radicals, and Heretics: Critical Voices in Christian Theology | 3 |
| BIBL 5220 | Old Testament 2: Prophets & Preaching Legacy | 3 |
| BIBL 6290 | Intercultural Readings of the Bible | 3 |
| BIBL 6280 | Women, the Bible, and the Church | 3 |
| THEO 5130 | Christian Ethics | 3 |
| THEO 7190 | Special Topics in Theology | 1-3 |
Pastoral Arts | 12 Credit Hours
Christian Ministry Capstone | 3 Credit Hours
Total Credit Hours for the Degree | 54 Credit Hours
Students are recommended for graduation when all requirements are fulfilled for the degree.
Field Education
The experiences designated as field education will be awarded three (3) credit hours in addition to the 54 credit hours required for the MARJM degree.