To accomplish this task a curriculum is composed of basic biblical, theological, and ministry disciplines, designed to prepare the student for effective pastoral ministry and other ministries of the church and to correlate the content and practice of the Christian faith. The school seeks to create a context conducive to growth in Christian character, maturity, wisdom, integrity, social awareness, and responsibility. 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.