MFCA Courses of Study
Most of the RCA specific courses are occasionally offered in Spanish. Please call the MFCA Office in order to determine when the Spanish offerings will take place.
Credo On-Line
Cluster A August 2012 - December 2012
Cluster B October 2012 - March 2013
Cluster C January 2013 - June 2013
Hebrew Basics On-Line January 14 - April 30, 2013
Greek Basics On-Line September 15 - December 31, 2012
RCA Polity DL January 14 - April 30, 2013
RCA History & Missions DL January 14 - April 30, 2013
Seminar for Pastoral Formation March 7 - June 10, 2013
RCA Standards June 3 – 7, 2013 Holland, MI
RCA Worship June 10 – 14, 2013 Holland, MI
In the past RCA Polity and RCA History & Missions have been offered via distance learning and summer intensive. These courses will not be offered in June of 2013. Both courses will only be offered via distance learning. If you were planning to take one or both of these courses in June 2013 and wish to take the distance learning courses, please contact the registrar, Kelly Talsma at ktalsma@rca.org so that you can receive the registration material electronically when it becomes available.
Seminar on Pastoral Formation, which serves as an alternative to a full unit of Clinical Pastoral Education, will be offered in early March. MFCA continues to encourage candidates to take a unit of CPE and should begin looking for a CPE program six months in advance of commencement. Candidates may find accredited programs at http://www.acpe.edu/.
2013 Summer Intensive Information
The 2013 Summer Intensives will be held at Western Theological Seminary / Hope College. Registration material is sent to individuals via email and anyone interested in participating in one or more intensive(s) who have not received the registration material should contact Kelly Talsma at ktalsma@rca.org.
Individuals may find it helpful to go to the Hope College website to assist in transportation options http://www.hope.edu/admissions/visit, directions to Hope College http://hope.edu/pr/map.html, and for campus maps http://hope.edu/tour/map.htm
RCA500 (CM450) RCA POLITY
A theological foundation is laid for Reformed Polity and then applied through a study of the Book of Church Order (BCO), including the Government, Disciplinary Procedures, Bylaws and Special Rules of Order, and the Formularies. The course includes practical applications of Church Government and studies of actual cases are presented to illustrate the use of the BCO, organizational operations, structure, and function of the Reformed Church in America (3.0 credits).
RCA501 (TF450) RCA STANDARDS
A survey of the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dort designed to highlight distinctive elements of the Reformed tradition and to prepare RCA candidates for their ordination examinations and the writing of the credo (3.0 credits).
RCA502 (CH450) RCA HISTORY AND MISSIONS
A historical survey of the Reformed Church in America, exploring its history since 1628, its theological perspectives, its ethos and its mission programs - both domestic and foreign. (3.0 credits)
RCA503 (CM451) RCA WORSHIP
Drawing from Scripture, Reformed confessions and liturgies, and in sympathetic discussion with a wide range of worshipping traditions, this course will present, discuss, clarify, and apply a Reformed vision of worship to congregational settings in the RCA in the United States and Canada. (3.0 credits)
RCA507 CREDO - A SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
This course will guide the student in the preparation of a constructive statement of faith ("credo") which incorporates and expresses the student's understanding of the Reformed faith, the theology of his/her practice of ministry in relationship to other traditions. This is a non-residential distance course that is only done on the internet for seventeen weeks. Prerequisites: RCA Standards. (3.0 credits)
The RCA Polity, RCA History & Missions, RCA Standards, and RCA Worship courses are offered every summer, usually in June after General Synod in Holland, Michigan.
RCA509 (CM106) SEMINAR FOR PASTORAL FORMATION
Formerly "The Pastor as Person," this seminar is offered by the MFCA in conjunction with Western Theological Seminary as an alternative to Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). The seminar covers major areas of pastoral formation including the authority and identity of the healthy pastor. (3.0 credits)
B100 HEBREW BASICS AND TOOLS
This course will introduce the basics of biblical Hebrew. While not learning the actual Hebrew language, enough will be learned to be able to use the BibleWorks software effectively. Once the basics of Hebrew are learned students will be guided through the BibleWorks software. The final section of the course will consist of putting Hebrew and BibleWorks knowledge to practical use. Assignments include a short paper based upon commentaries, an exegetical paper, and a sermon. (Non-credit only*)
B101 GREEK BASICS AND TOOLS
This course will introduce the basics of biblical Greek. While not learning the actual Greek language, one will learn enough to be able to use the BibleWorks software effectively. Once the basics of Greek are learned, one will be guided through the BibleWorks software. The final section of the course will consist of putting Greek and BibleWorks knowledge to practical use. Assignments include a short paper based upon commentaries, an exegetical paper, and a sermon. (Non-credit only*)
Drop/Add Policy: Candidates may add or drop an intensive course anytime up to the start of the intensive. Candidates have seven days after the start of an on-line course to add or drop a semester long distance learning course.
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