Engaged in the Master’s leadership and ministry training.
PROSPECTUS March 2008
Executive Summary: the Light for the Paths Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. - Psalm 119:105
Too often Christians have been content to let a few theologians dominate the Bible’s use for esoteric study; too often the Bible has been consigned to Sunday morning activities and private devotions. However, God’s Word is the light for every person’s path, anywhere, 24/7 – including peoples’ paths from the mail room to the executive suite, from grade school to the research laboratory, from high school debate to the judge’s bench, from salvation experience to divinity school—as well as other well-traveled paths like Broadway, Martin Luther King Blvd, Wall Street, Bowery Avenue, Steinway Street, Madison Avenue, United Nations Place and Main Street, to mention just a few of the more famous NYC paths. God desires leaders—effective pastors and lay Christian leaders—who understand and utilize his light throughout every path of life, in every field of enterprise, everywhere, including home, Church, workplace, and community.
Both in response to the enormous leadership training needs of Churches and communities, and certainly also in obedience to the Biblical commands of the Lord Jesus Christ, the New York Divinity School (NYDS) seeks the blessings of the Christian community to strengthen and expand excellent Biblical leadership and ministry training that is very much of the City, in the City, and for the City – and that is devoted to the holistic authority of the Bible for behavior and belief.
This PROSPECTUS outlines the mission and training programs to help meet the measurable needs for holistic, skilled leadership in the Churches and communities in New York City. NYDS is committed to excellence – to honor God and also to produce measurable fruit in the lives of individuals, Churches, and communities. NYDS’ vision is the leadership and guidance of Lord Jesus Christ on the streets of New York City—all the streets.
The benefits of this excellent ministry training are multiplied as trained pastoral and lay leaders then mentor or coach other leaders in the Churches and in every field of endeavor. These holistic leaders will be equipped to engage effectively their many worlds with Godly perspectives and purposes taught in the Bible, for significant transformation and renewal. The result will be sustainable change in New York City—especially in the areas of spiritual relationships, quality of life, and leadership in the world—for God’s purposes and glory.
New York Divinity School’s Mission
To educate, equip and empower Christian people of all ethnicities — to excel in Biblical nurture, ministry and leadership — to engage life in NYC and the world with the Lord Jesus Christ’s purposes and perspectives — to effect transformations that please and honor him.
PROSPECTUS
The programs of New York Divinity School have been created to serve the pastoral and lay ministry training purposes of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Church—of the City, in the City and for the City. These programs also have been designed to meet the quality assurance standards of the New York State Education Department as well as the standards of the Association of Theological Schools of the United States and Canada, the leading professional association for ministry-training institutions.
1. Measurable Needs in NYC
Wall Street Journal, staff writer Susan Lee estimates that more than 4.5 million people in the metropolitan area believe that the Bible is the final authority for behavior and belief. Our own estimations agree, as does the research of New York metropolitan area Christian radio station WMCA. Pew Charitable Trusts and the Henry Luce Foundation funded a research project on “What do evangelical Churches in the City need?” The term “evangelical” was defined in terms of believing ‘the Bible is the final authority for behavior and belief,’ and believing in Jesus’ literal resurrection from death—regardless of ethnicity, political orientation, or denomination.
Paul de Vries, Ph.D., who led the project, hired two sociologists, Harold Dean Trulear, Ph.D. and Tony Carnes, Ph.D., whose careful research revealed that a shocking 94% of the City’s entire “Bible-based Christian” ministry base (of more than 7,000 pastors and ministry leaders in the five boroughs) have not completed an accredited seminary degree. A full 80% of these ministers in the City have not completed even one seminary course! For years there has been plenty of anecdotal evidence for this appalling dearth of excellent training. This timely research provided the measurable data that confirmed what people had known within their own active networks.
Becoming fully equipped for Godly leadership and for spreading the Gospel is the real goal—not seminary courses or degrees, but this data helps explain the wide-spread lack of effective lay and pastoral leadership, the seeming powerlessness of most Churches, and the urgent leadership crises of the Christian community outlined below. The Pew-Luce research also revealed that the ministers’ greatest priority for Christian impact is a City-based seminary program rooted in holistic Biblical teaching. A surprising 68% of these ministers said the first priority for the Churches in the area of training was to establish an accredited City-based seminary that is committed to the authority of the Bible for behavior and belief.
Why a new Divinity School now?
Who else is there? No other leadership and ministry training program headquartered in NYC provides the excellent Bible-based educating, equipping and empowering of people that NYDS provides already.
New York City has over 100 Bible institutes. Each one meets important needs, but none of them is accredited, and none of them teaches at a level higher than first year of college.
No other Bible-based seminary has been headquartered in NYC since 1969. Three of the four established seminaries in the City (General, New York Theological, and Union) do not recognize the unique authority of the Bible at all, and Jewish Theological Seminary recognizes the authority of the first five books only.
Without the opportunities for Masters-level, Bible-based leadership and ministry training, people have become accustomed to doing without, or settling for a lesser level of training. Consequently, only 20% of evangelical ministers (primarily Baptist, Charismatic, and Pentecostal) in NYC have taken even one seminary course, according to the published Pew Charitable Trusts research. We must develop a Divinity School that people can trust for its excellent training and consistent commitment to the Bible’s authority.
To help meet this need, five seminaries had set up extension programs in NYC, but each one has abandoned or reduced ministry in NYC in recent years for one reason or another—but always because of the special challenges of this great City:
1. Asbury Seminary, based in Kentucky, had a long-term plan, invested heavily, stayed one semester and left Spring 1999. 2. Erskine Seminary, based in South Carolina, had a long-term plan, stayed one semester and left, all during Fall 2004. 3. Fire School, led by Michael Brown, PhD, and based in Pensacola, Florida, had big long-term plans, operated a program for twelve months and left Summer 2005. 4. Moody Bible Institute, based in Chicago, planned to open a campus in Manhattan in 1995, but abruptly changed its mind the last minute, even though significant funds had been offered by committed NYC area supporters. 5. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, based in Louisville, Kentucky, grew a multi-denominational extension program in Manhattan to over 100 students. It decided in April 2003 cut ties with its multi-denominational partner and focus on Southern Baptists, and the program was dramatically reduced in size.
At the very time the spiritual needs and opportunities in NYC are increasing, major organizations with resources to train men and women effectually for leadership and ministry have moved out. Four decades further back, we must remember that the National Bible College moved out of Manhattan to southern New Jersey in the early 1960s and later closed completely. Biblical Seminary of NYC suffered from a financial exigency in 1969 and was re-designed as New York Theological Seminary, without the strong Biblical commitment. Alliance Theological Seminary continues to offer courses in NYC, but it is based in Nyack, and it is very denominational.
What results from the present vacuum of Bible-based training?
New York City is now in a Church leadership crisis—that cries out for the assistance of Godly people in the City and elsewhere:
In immigrant populations the crisis is seen in the behavioral differences between immigrant Church-going parents and their adult children, the so-called “1.5 and 2nd generation.” Of the Hispanic immigrant families who participate in Church, only 20% of their adult children participate. Even more tragic, of the Korean immigrant families who attend Church, about 10% of their adult children attend. They are generally not attracted either to Churches led by non-English speaking pastors unprepared for urban ministry, or to other Churches that do not honor their cultural sensitivities.
Many Bible-basedChurches are almost empty, even though they may have attractive sanctuaries in prime locations. For example, 70% of African-Americans went to Church at least once a month thirty years ago; in 2002 it was only 27% in the City – and an even lower percentage of young adult African-Americans who are well-educated and in the professions attend Church. There are a few great exceptions, but a pastor without professional training will be challenged to minister to the contemporary, more educated, African-American and ethnic populations.
Bible-based Christians in NYC are grossly underrepresented in positions of government, business and professional leadership. The full applications of the Word’s light to all the paths and streets of life have not been explored or developed. Most pastors and lay people are not engaged either in transformational leadership or in holistic ministry. The Biblical teachings on strategic Gospel leadership for individual, social and structural transformation remain mostly ignored. Only a tiny minority knows and understands the Christian worldview.
New York City is the education capital of the USA, with more than 450,000 students in colleges and universzities within the five boroughs. What an unnecessary tragedy that NYC has the least educated, least equipped, least empowered Bible-based clergy of any major American city!
In a related fact, the NYC’s non-white ethnic populations increasingly include well-trained lawyers, physicians, teachers, nurses, engineers, MBAs and people with other professional degrees. Meanwhile, opportunities for pastors’ professional training in Bible-based Christian ministry have not been available, even though non-white pastors still generally have the honored roles of community leaders. These pastors choose not to attend an accredited seminary for ministry training that is inconsistent with their own Bible-based Christian commitments—especially their commitments to the authority of the Bible for behavior and belief and to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus, of tragic necessity, these pastors have avoided professional training and generally have turned only to the unaccredited Bible institutes for training instead.
After 9/11, most of the Bible-based Christian ministry at the attack site and grieving centers was provided by out-of-town ministers. Most New York area Protestant pastors did not have professional training, and they were explicitly excluded from this trauma-response ministry, although these under-trained pastors are the ones still ministering in the City long after the trained visiting ministers have left. Perhaps this tragic crisis alone would be reason enough to recognize the need for a quality seminary program under the authority of the Bible for behavior and belief. It would certainly be naïve to think that there will be no more attempted terrorist attacks on New York City, and thus no more need for quality ministry training. (And next time there might not be such a huge wave of skilled ministers coming to New York from out of state as there was in 2001.)
2. The Formation of NYDS in Answer to the Church’s and NYC’s Needs
Each NYDS faculty member has years of fruitful experience in front-line ministry, and all affirm the Bible as the final source of guidance in behavior and belief, not just in theology. Utilizing the faculty’s academic preparation and experience, students learning with them are able then to make significant contributions and effect sustainable changes in their relationships, their quality of life, and their transformative leadership wherever they are.
What distinguishes NYDS?
Before it began, NYC pastors urged NYDS to make clear what distinguished it from existing seminaries. The “Five Distinctives” the pastors themselves wrote remain the “birth certificate” of NYDS. Please note that each distinctive is partly based upon teaching Timothy received from the Apostle Paul.
Devoted to Biblical standards of justice, love, accountability, holiness and righteousness. In individual, social, and structural issues, Biblical teaching is upheld, including God’s standards of racial and ethnic justice, economic engagement and fairness, care for the poor, and sexual abstinence outside of marriage. I Timothy 1:5:“The purpose of our instruction is love—from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith.”
Committed to Biblical doctrine and mission. All teachers and leaders both profess and articulate, sincerely and cogently, within the marketplace of ideas, Biblical doctrines, undiluted by any factors, including rationalism, empiricism, skepticism, liberalism, or conservatism—including the key doctrines of the authority of the Bible, the Trinity, the humanity and deity of Jesus, his death for our sins, his bodily resurrection and the filling and the fruit of the Spirit. II Timothy 1:13, 14: “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the treasure that has been entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”
Excellent in Godly personal and professional practice. For God’s glory, excellence is the standard in the classroom, library, family, research, administration, and leadership and ministry service. Both in labor and in results, the Lord Jesus Christ is honored as our minds and hearts are marked by a life of excellence, devoted to him and to his Word. II Timothy 2:15: “Study to present yourself approved unto God, a worker that does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”
Church-based. To matriculate, students must be recommended by Churches that affirm their “calling,” in the inclusive Biblical sense of calling. Churches also participate in students’ nurturing and training, NYDS is accountable to the Churches, and they support NYDS as part of their ministry. Faculty and staff must be active Church members as well. I Timothy 3:15: “…the Church of the living God, the pillar and stronghold of the truth.”
Engaged in mentored ministry. Every student is intentionally mentored for spiritual development and in leadership and ministry skills, while they are resolutely engaged in evangelism and other leadership and ministry. II Timothy 2:2:“The things which you have heard me teach in public, hand them on to reliable people, who are competent to teach others also.” What measurable purposes drive NYDS?
In further developing the mission of God’s new divinity school, the leadership has affirmed that the divinity school’s education and training should be continually shaped and evaluated in terms of three genuine purposes and intended results:
Equipping leaders in Biblical, holistic ministry – creatively to introduce people to the Lord Jesus Christ and to help the struggling, via vibrant Churches. Trained Christian ministry is characterized by effectual service to Jesus and to people. Engaging the world with the divine perspectives and purposes taught in the Bible, and cogently demonstrated in responsible commitment, conduct, consciousness and character. Trained Christian ministry is rooted in Biblical teaching, and modeled by the Christian community. Effecting sustainable change in New York City – especially in the areas of spiritual relationships, quality of life, and leadership in the world. Trained Christian ministry is pertinent to contemporary culture in the 21st century.
What is the NYDS Mission?
The literal statement of the Great Commission, Jesus’ last command, has been formative in NYDS’s calling to provide the Master’s leadership and ministry training.
As you are going, disciple all ethnic peoples, Baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, And teaching them to obey vigilantly all that I commanded. Look, I am with you every day until the end of the age.
February 2006, NYDS Board adopted a new MISSION representing the core purposes and their intended “ripple-effects.” Please notice the graphic of this Mission at the end of this Prospectus.
To educate, equip and empower Christian people of all ethnicities — to excel in Biblical nurture, ministry and leadership — to engage life in NYC and the world with the Lord Jesus Christ’s purposes and perspectives — to effect transformations that please and honor him.
3. Accountable Service to the Church
In addition to creating the whole universe and forming men and women in his image, the Lord has created three institutions, structures that unite and guide men and women together—marriage/family, government, and the Church. Any other institutions are derived from and are accountable to these three, and each of these is accountable to the Lord.
According to Scripture, ministry training is responsible to each institution, including family, government, with service most explicitly to his Church—including the “Church universal” and individual Churches, all of which are treated with primary importance in the Bible. Some other ministry training programs have slipped “off track” when they have neglected their accountability to the Church—or in other situations when their leading Churches themselves neglected the authority of Scripture.
Church accountability is especially challenging for a multi-denominational divinity school in the New York metropolitan area where most of the larger Bible-based Churches are also not affiliated with any denominational structure. For example, Bay Ridge Christian Center, Bethel Gospel Assembly, Bethel Gospel Tabernacle, Brooklyn Tabernacle, Calvary Baptist Church, Christ Church, Christ Tabernacle, Christian Cultural Center, Crossroads Tabernacle, Elim Fellowship International, Gateway Cathedral, Hawthorne Gospel Church, New Life Fellowship, Overseas Chinese Mission, Resurrection Church and Times Square Church are all independent Churches.
NYDS is pursuing a plan that is taking Church accountability to another level. Leading Churches and pastors are being invited to partner with NYDS to develop a KOINONIA (Godly sharing or collaboration, by whatever name) of Churches that are under the authority of the Bible and affirm Jesus’ resurrection from the dead—Churches in the metro area and elsewhere.
This KOINONIA of Churches will be the main accountability reference and also the spiritual covering for New York Divinity School. All these Churches will receive regular reports from NY Divinity School administration. Also, all member Churches will be invited to send multiple representatives to an annual membership meeting at a convenient time, probably in October, since each NYDS fiscal year ends on June 30.
Annually, the Churches in the KOINONIA will nominate one or more NYDS Board member—lay leaders or pastors. From these nominees, the Board will elect new Board members. With discernment, in part based upon the strength of each Church’s support, the Board will elect its new members. No more than 20% of the elected Board may come from any single Church at any time. In addition, faculty, administrators, staff and students for the NY Divinity School also will be recommended by the member Churches on a regular basis.
Each Church in the KOINONIA will own the Divinity School as a ministry of the Church and will assist in providing regular prayerful and financial support.
The KOINONIA of Churches will help guide and nurture the development of the NY Divinity School into a recognized ministry training program for the development and continuing education of pastors and lay leaders—and will celebrate its growing service.
4. The Plan: An Introduction to the NYDS Program
NYDS lay and pastoral students may enroll in any one of three graduate programs: a two-year 36-credit Master of Arts (MA) in Faith and Practice, a two-year 48-credit Master of Arts (MA) in Theological Studies and a three-year 90-credit Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree. The complete curricula for each degree may be obtained from the Divinity School office. The NYDS commitment is to facilitate excellent learning of Biblical truth—including Christian ethics and doctrine—and personal and ministry development, regardless of whether the student completes a degree. After all, “commencement” occurs at the end of every class.
What is the common Core of courses?
All three degree programs have the same set of nine (9) 3-credit Core courses that are the same for all three degrees—for a total of 27 credits. These courses are central to the mission of the new divinity school as well as its distinctives and purposes. The also dramatically embody its motto: Bible-based, Christ-centered, and Spirit-led.
Bible-Based – three courses = 9 credits
Hermeneutics: Biblical and Cultural (3 credits)—An examination of the processes and resources available for truth-based interpretation of Scripture and of cultural contexts for applying Scripture. Surveys of the Old and New Testaments (two courses, 6 credits total)—An English Bible study of the background and key themes of the nature, content, and history of the Old and New Testaments, with special attention to issues of culture and behavior.
Christ-Centered – three courses = 9 credits [For the MA in Faith and Practice, the 3-courses in the specialized “Marketplace Decisions and Biblical Values” may be selected instead these 3-courses.]
Christian Worldview/Theology: Systematic (3 credits)—a philosophical/ theological study of foundational Christian beliefs (including revelation and reason, God, Trinity, creation, human nature, family, government, evil, and sin) and these belief’s behavioral implications and outcomes. Christian Worldview/Theology: Contemporary (3 credits)—a philosophical/ theological examination of issues in our multicultural, post-modern context, and the trustworthy guidance provided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and God’s leadership in the Church. Gospel in Pluralistic Worlds (3 credits)—a multifaceted exploration of Biblical, historical, cultural and strategic dimensions Gospel presentation in the pluralistic environments of NYC, America, and around the world.
Spirit-led – three courses = 9 credits [For the MA in Faith and Practice, parallel substitute courses with a greater focus on the marketplace may be selected.]
Discipleship/Mentoring in Leadership (3 credits)—Intensive training in Christian disciplines to nurture personal excellence and spiritual growth, found in the history of Christian spirituality and disciplines of the inward journey. Biblical Values in Leadership Decisions (3 credits)—Key Biblical leadership issues and skills that will enable students to see a more rapid development and deployment of their own leadership and of leaders in their organizations. Methodologies to refocus leaders’ lives are experienced, practiced, and integrated so that these principles also become teachable and transferable in various settings of leadership coaching. Leadership Coaching in Church, Community and Workplace (3 credits)—Implementation of skills for designing and leading contextual workplace and Church ministry that understands engages, challenges, transforms, transcends and utilizes cultural patterns and structures. Confidence grows through the application in coaching new leaders—and in coaching them to coach a third wave of leaders under them—as well as the recognition and ongoing resourcing of the student’s own ministry calling.
Does this Core of courses help fulfill the mission, distinctives and purposes?
While each of these nine core courses addresses all of the mission, distinctives, and purposes of the new divinity school in some way, the following chart helps to point out some of the main highlights of the competence and capacity of the Core to help fulfill these essential standards.
The Coresucceeds in fulfilling the mission, distinctives and purposes of New York Divinity School.
Core Courses
Mission/Great Commission
5 Distinctives
3 Purposes
Hermeneutics: Biblical and Cultural
Interpret the Bible accurately for sound teaching and wise application in different cultural contexts.
Distinctives 1, 2 and 4: Actively interpret the Bible’s standards and doctrines in present contexts of ministry.
2&3: Engaging the culture with Biblical perspective; and effecting sustainable cultural change.
Surveys of the Old and New Testaments
Understand the original content of Christianity and its historic roots.
Distinctives 1 and 2: start by knowing the Biblical standards and doctrines.
2: Engaging the world with the actual Biblical perspectives.
Christian Worldview and Theology – Systematic and Contemporary
Expand a holistic, whole-life perspective of Biblical discipleship and teaching.
Distinctives 1 and 2: Applying the Biblical standards and doctrines.
2&3: Engaging the world with divine perspective, and primed to effect sustainable change.
Gospel in Pluralistic Worlds
Understand the pertinence of the Gospel for all “ethnic peoples.”
Distinctives 1, 3 and 4, developing the behavioral teaching in Church and community outreach
2&3: Strategic training for engaging the whole world, following through all positive effects of the Gospel.
Discipleship/ Mentoring
Engage the spiritual “disciplines” of discipling and mentoring.
Distinctives 1, 3 and 5: personal excellence and mentored ministry.
1: Equipping leaders in Biblical and holistic ministry
Biblical Values in Leadership Decisions
Learning and teaching to be vigilant about all that Jesus taught.
Distinctive 1, 3 and 5: practicing the authority of Biblical teaching.
Comprehension of the changes available through the Biblical teaching.
Leadership Coaching in Church, Community & Workplace
Understand ministry roles and the contexts of discipling and teaching others.
Distinctives 3, 4 and 5: Developing mentored/mentoring relationships @ work, Church, etc.
1&3: Learning Biblical holistic ministry, and engaging the world and culture.
Is there a community for the common Core?
The students participating in these Core courses will include those in the MDiv or MA in Theological Studies degree programs preparing for professional or lay ministry, as well as students in other professions (such as law, business, fine arts, journalism, marketing, medicine, education, public safety, social work) who are pursuing a practice and research degree (the MA in Faith and Practice) studying aspects of their profession, or related social/political/economic issues, under the authority of the Bible.
This active cross-professional engagement will add broad Christian awareness and public-marketplace engagement that students in pastors-only “cloistered” seminary environments will pass up. The learning excitement also comes from the learning from skilled professors who work on the front lines of ministry, the multi-cultural and multi-denominational backgrounds of the students and faculty, and the engagement with articulate peers from different segments of society. The excitement and relevance of the classes is enhanced by the fact that the students come from a wide range of ethnic, professional and educational backgrounds.
Students take courses in their program or toward their degree according to their own pace as long as they continue to make progress. Since most students have employment responsibilities in addition to their level of activity in ministry, they will rarely be able to take more than nine (9) or twelve (12) credits in a semester. The MDiv degree may take four years or five years, and the MA in Faith and Practice could take two years, according to the student’s chosen pace. Far more importantly, students can take courses according to their needs in strategic leadership and ministry, guided by their advisors. In a real sense, “commencement” occurs at the end of every class, as students select courses according to their strategic needs, and then immediately apply within their lives, ministries, work, communities and marketplace what they are learning through NYDS.
NYDS also offers the following specializations: Biblical Ethics, Biblical Studies, Clinical Pastoral Education, Church Training Ministries, Evangelism and Missions Strategy, Ministry with Moslem-Background People, Pastoral Counseling, Prison/Prison-Release Ministry, Thesis Research and Writing, Urban Studies, Victim Care, and Writing for Publication.
5. Program Evaluations
A committee is established with the sole agenda of designing an evaluative plan and process for all aspects of the program. At present, the plan will include the following seven sources of information for the evaluation processes. All evaluation reports are submitted to the NYDS Board, and they will be made available to collaborating Churches, individual donors, and supporting foundations upon request.
(1) Student feedback: to administer student course evaluations for every course offering during the year, plus additional evaluations by students on all aspects of the program including student services and informational resources. (2) Faculty evaluations: to include peer review, self-assessment and an annual conference with the Dean of Academic Affairs or others appointed by him or her. (3) Student evaluations: to determine degree of mastery of course content by the students in each of the classes. Student output or accomplishment may be measured. (4) Administrative tracking: to monitor student progress and placement upon graduation; alumni surveys to ascertain career success will be used. (5) Program evaluation committee: to monitor the evaluation plan and determine the strengths and weaknesses of the program, a part of a continuing self-study process. (6) External reviewer: to engage an external evaluator for the first three years of the program to review the evaluation plan and the resulting data and advise the administration and the faculty. (7) Careful comparison with analogous programs elsewhere: to benefit from the insights and innovations of others, and to dialog about questions.
The main effort of the evaluation program is to identify strengths upon which to build and to correct the weaknesses as early as possible.
6. Learning Resources
NYDS has excellent library of 18,000 books and computer resources deemed adequate to support its programs. At the core is the splendid personal library of noted NY theologian and educator, Frank E. Gaebelein, general editor of the multi-volume Expositors’ Study Bible, and a founding editor of Christianity Today. Faculty and students also have free use of the resources of the huge Center for the Humanities (CH) of New York Public Library (NYPL), just three miles from NYDS. This unique library includes 8-million titles in the main research collection and 7-million additional titles in special collections – a total of at least 1.5 million that relate to divinity school studies. These many books utilize the remarkable space on the library’s 170 miles of shelving. Also, all over the City are well-equipped general libraries. Within the NYPL system, NYDS students and faculty have free access to all of these excellent libraries.
Beginning January 2007, NYDS students should also have full access to an on-line divinity school library of about 100,000 complete books, including 25,000 recent books. Much of the very best in published resources for Biblical study, ministry, Biblical ethics and theology, biography, Church history, communication, philosophy, religious arts, culture studies, and such like will be at every student and faculty member’s fingertips. With this resource in hand, NYDS may become a divinity school without walls—throughout NYC and the metro area.
7. Governing Board, Administration and Faculty
A. The Governing Board
Felix Espinal: Associate Pastor of Bay Ridge Christian Center, one of the leading Hispanic-American churches in the City. Rev. Espinal has also been in business for many years. [Independent, Hispanic-American in Brooklyn]
Charles Phillip Joubert, Sr.: Senior Pastor of Community Baptist Church in Bayside, Queens, New York. He is presently the President of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Greater New York and Vicinity, one of the oldest and largest weekly Baptist ministers’ conference in the United States. Rev. Joubert earned his M.Div. at the School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, and has completed some doctoral studies at New York Theological Seminary. [Baptist, African-American in Queens]
Wiley Mullins: the founder and President of Uncle Wiley’s Healthy Southern Classics (www.unclewileys.com), a nationally distributed line of specialty foods, and with decades of marketing experience in the food industry. Mr. Mullins has also been active with political leadership in Connecticut. He completed his MBA at Duke University. [Evangelical Covenant, African-American in Connecticut]
Brian Pettrey: Associate Pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, one of the largest and most vibrant churches in Brooklyn. [Charismatic, European-American in Brooklyn]
Kittim Silva: Pastor of Iglesia de Jesucristo de Queens, and former President of Radio Visión Cristiana, a powerful Hispanic Christian radio station that serves the New York area and parts of Latin America; author of forty books; leading Hispanic theologian; conference speaker. [Pentecostal, Puerto Rican-American in Queens]
Samuel Simpson: Senior Pastor of Bronx Baptist Church and of Wake Eden Baptist Church; an accomplished Church planter; former president of the Baptist Convention of NY; leader in Christian education and faith-based housing development. [Baptist, Jamaican-American in the Bronx]
Joel Tucciarone: President and founder of Zoetics (www.zoetics.com), a marketing and managing consulting firm in lower Manhattan; active Christian lay-leader in the City and in other parts of America. [Charismatic, Italian-American in Manhattan] John T. Teabout: Senior Pastor of Greater Friendship Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. Rev. Teabout is a leader for Godly civic responsibility among public officials, and Godly civic engagement among the brothers and sisters that are part of the Body of Christ, the Church. [Baptist, African-American in New Jersey]
Paul de Vries, Ph.D: President of NYDS; itinerant minister; researcher; educator with twenty years’ experience in higher education administration; published author, Ph.D. from University of Virginia. Dr. de Vries serves also on the governing board of the National Association of Evangelicals. [Baptist and Pentecostal, Dutch/Hispanic-American in Manhattan]
Bettye Watford-Bogan: Counselor in the New York Public Schools; Assistant to the Pastor at Greater Restoration Baptist Church in Brooklyn; Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of the Northeast; student in NYDS programs. [Baptist, African-American in Brooklyn]
B. Administration
The administrators of the Divinity School are seasoned leaders and teachers in multifaceted higher education. They are all ordained ministers, active Christian service.
Paul de Vries, Ph.D. is President, with 25 years’ experience in Christian higher education administration, including at Wheaton College, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Seminary of the East. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. at the University of Virginia, specializing in applied ethics, critical thinking, and hermeneutics. He is the lead author of three books: The Taming of the Shrewd (1992, Thomas Nelson Publishing); Ethics Applied (1999, Simon and Schuster); and Business Ethics Applied, (2001, Pearson), and a contributing author to a dozen other books, especially in the areas of hermeneutics and applied ethics. He is founder of the Office of Community Service at the University of Virginia and founder of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College, Illinois. Dr. de Vries is also an ordained minister.
Ervin Betts, Ph.D. is Dean of Academic Affairs. He earned his Ph.D. in counseling psychology at New York University. He also has a M.Div. from Southwestern Seminary, an M.A. in psychology (a minor in Christian counseling) from Baylor University, and an MBA from Bridgeport University (concentration in educational administration. He served 31 years in higher education administration, including as Dean at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. He is a licensed psychologist in Connecticut and New York with post-doctoral training. He has been the CEO of the American Consulting Center in Westport, CT; is the leader for mental health counselors for the Mid-Fairfield Chapter of American Red Cross and a consultant on trauma and crisis care counseling.
Geomon K. George, Ph.D. is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. He is also President of the International Gospel Church based in India and a specialist in religious pluralism and contemporary culture. He earned his doctorate at University of Edinburgh and his MDiv from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. For several years he has been a leader for holistic ministry and Christian higher education in India.
William T. Iverson, Ph.D., is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. He is alsopastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Newark, NJ, president of Trinity Theological Institute. He earned his Ph.D. in Religious Education from New York University. A specialist in sociology and theology, he has served more than 38 years in ministry, helping plant 15 urban churches.
C. NYDS Faculty
Part of the NYDS Faculty: Dr. Allen, Dr. Ao, Dr. Betts, Dr. Eng, Dr. George, Prof. Harding, Prof. Taylor, Dr. de Vries and Dr. Agbenyega For detailed background information concerning all 25 faculty members, see www.nydivinityschool.org.
The Divinity School is blessed with an excellent team of part-time faculty members in addition to our three administrative leaders, who also teach. All faculty members are committed to the Church, and to engaging and teaching Bible-based, Christ-centered, Spirit-led life and ministry. These faculty members remain also on the frontlines of ministry, and they bring fresh, energetic, real-life application to the teaching, training and mentoring processes.
Stephen Agbenyega, Ed.D., education consultant committed to strategic development in Africa, earned his doctorate at Columbia University in New York.. Horace Allen, D.Min.,pastor of East End Baptist Church in Brooklyn. He earned his doctorate in counseling at Andersonville Seminary, and his M.S. in counseling at St. John’s University. Louis Ao, D.Ed.Min. is director of New York Asian Churches Fellowship, and the pastor of an Asian-Indian Church. He is also the founder of a Christian college in India. Richard Bailey, M.A., is founder and director of Jesus for Moslems Network, and active in assisting Moslem-background believers in the New York area and elsewhere. Ervin Betts, Ph.D., dean of NY Divinity School, earned his Ph.D. at NYU and master’s degrees from Southwestern Seminary, Baylor University and Bridgeport University. James Bray, Ph.D., Conservative Baptist pastor in Connecticut, earned his doctorate in psychology at the University of Rhode Island, and his M.Div. at Denver Seminary. Victor Brown, D.Min., senior pastor of Mt. Sinai United Christian Church on Staten Island, and he earned his doctorate at Eastern Baptist Seminary. Demetrius S. Carolina, Ed.D. (cand.), senior pastor of First Central Baptist Church on Staten Island, is completing his doctorate with Phoenix University. Andrew Chiu, Ph.D., completed his doctorate in Old Testament studies at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He has also written for theological education of Chinese people. Steve Craft, D.Min. (cand) is an author, itinerant minister, a prison chaplain and counselor for re-entry for ex-offenders. He earned his M.Div. at Harvard and is completing his doctorate at Palmer Seminary, formerly Eastern Baptist Seminary. John P. Davis, Sr., D.Min. is pastor of Grace Fellowship Chapel in Long Island City, Queens. He earned his doctorate from Biblical Seminary in Pennsylvania. Richard Day, Ph.D., private psychologist and business consultant, with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Union Institute, and residency at Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Hospital. Louis DeCaro, Ph.D. is an accomplished writer (on urban ministry, on Malcolm X and on John Brown). He earned his doctorate at New York University and his M.Div. at Westminster Seminary. Charles Eisenberg, D.Min. a writer and an evangelist, with his D.Min. from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary. He has published a book on the prophecies of Daniel. Milton Eng, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in Old Testament at Drew University, where he also earned his M.Phil. He completed his STM degree at Biblical Seminary. Taylor Field, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in New Testament and Greek from Golden Gate Seminary. He is senior pastor of East Seventh Baptist Church, a holistic urban ministry. Geomon K. George, Ph.D., President of International Gospel Church based in India and a specialist in religious pluralism and contemporary culture. He earned his doctorate at University of Edinburgh. Paul Hagen, D.Miss., is pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in the Bronx, completed his doctorate (equivalent to a PhD) at Fort Wayne Theological Seminary. George Hancock-Stefan, Ph.D. pastors Central Baptist Church in Atlantic Highlands. He earned his doctorate in Church history at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois. Ouida Harding, M.A.C.M. is Minister of Music at Walker Memorial Baptist Church, Bronx, and Dean of Seminars/Training for National Baptist Convention, USA. Prof. Harding earned her Masters of Arts in Church Music at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta William T. Iverson, Ph.D., pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Newark, NJ, with a Ph.D. in Religious Education from New York University. A specialist in sociology and theology, he has served more than 38 years in ministry, helping plant 15 urban churches. Noel Rabinowitz, Ph.D., a leader of Chosen People’s Ministries, earned his MA and Ph.D. at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. John Rankin, M.Div., ThM, is president of Mars Hill Forum and author of First the Gospel and then Politics, with two master's degrees, M.Div. (Gordon-Conwell) and Th.M. (Harvard). Calvin Rice, D.Min. is senior pastor of New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Brooklyn. He earned his doctorate at Hebrew Union Seminary, specializing in Church growth. Lawrence Taylor, Ph.D. (cand.) is senior pastor of Kenilworth Baptist Church in Brooklyn. He is completing his doctorate in New Testament studies at Union in New York City. Paul de Vries, Ph.D., president of NYDS, itinerant minister, earned his Ph.D. and M.A. at the University of Virginia, and has published extensively in Biblical ethics, applied ethics and hermeneutics. Lisa Weaver, M.A., M.Div.is the Assistant Pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church, Bronx, New York, the Dean of the Worship Arts Theological Training and ResourceCentre, NY, NY. Rev. Weaver has a M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College and a M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary, NY. Michelle White, Ph.D. is an education consultant. She earned her doctorate at Fordham University in education administration, and her M.Div. at Union Seminary in New York.
8. CONCLUSION
With excellent Master’s level training, skilled Christian leaders then multiply the fruit of Biblical obedience of faith, service and worship that will thrive in their many Churches, places of work and communities. This multiplier effect is the genius of our Lord Jesus’ Great Commission: when the divinity school trains one hundred (100) pastors and lay people, and those each are engaged in training fifty (50) or more in their Churches, work, marketplace and ministries, 5,000 men and women soon become better equipped to honor God with strategic leadership in Church, work, communities, and the marketplace.
Each of those will be equipped to train others, expanding the multiplier effect much further. Even if each of these helps train only another 20 men and women, then 100,000 lives will be uplifted and informed, and they will have a transforming impact on NYC and the world. Many will also impact their home country through close personal ties.
New York Divinity School is a uniquely strategic divinity school—equipping pastoral and lay leaders in Biblical, holistic ministry; engaging the world with the divine perspectives and purposes taught in the Bible, and effecting sustainable change in New York City, especially in the areas of spiritual relationships, quality of life, and leadership in the world.
Is there a more spectacular opportunity in strategic Gospel leadership training, with significant benefits for the City, for the United States and for many around the world?
In his recent ministry in NYC, Billy Graham said what we know well: “What happens in NEW YORK can impact the entire world.”
That global impact can be Bible-based, Christ-centered, Spirit-led and ministry driven.
Will you please serve the Lord Jesus Christ in actively partnering with this needed, timely, unique Divinity School?
Thank you.
New York Divinity School’s Mission
To educate, equip and empower Christian people of all ethnicities — to excel in Biblical nurture, ministry and leadership — to engage life in NYC and the world with the Lord Jesus Christ’s purposes and perspectives — to effect transformations that please and honor him.
The Master’s leadership and ministry training (sm) “Commencement” occurs at the end of every class.
New York City has over 100 Bible institutes. Each one meets important needs, but none of them is accredited, and none of them teaches at a level higher than first year of college. 
Hermeneutics: Biblical and Cultural (3 credits)—An examination of the processes and resources available for truth-based interpretation of Scripture and of cultural contexts for applying Scripture.