It seeks to strengthen the Christian witness in contemporary society by providing leadership capable of guiding the church in fulfilling its redemptive and creative mission. The school seeks to provide stimuli and resources for a lifetime of continuing theological study. It is advisable for students in college to take courses that will prepare them specifically for their seminary course of study and for their future ministry. Religious bodies vary in their expectations. Individuals may seek to develop non-parochial ministries in which theological study will complement work in other professions.
Different ministries demand a variety of patterns of pre-theological studies.
The Association therefore finds it increasingly difficult to prescribe or even advise a single pre- seminary curricular model as the ideal. Decisions about additional language skills should be related to their future utility for the individual. Thus, French or German should be included for a person contemplating possible graduate study in academic theology. Spanish or a language of the Third World might be of value for another type of ministry. In general, the student should seek to have developed high competence in at least one of areas I, A, B, or C and moderate competence in one of the other general categories and one of the theological categories.