OMSC Study Program Seminars

Seminars for International Church Leaders, Missionaries, Mission
Executives, Pastors, Educators, Students, and Lay Leaders

Study Program brochure: September 2008 to May 2009 [PDF] NEW
Study Program brochure: September 2007 to May 2008 [PDF]
List of Current Seminars [HTML]
Study Program Registration form [PDF]

"Exalting Christ, Blessing the Nations"

Spring 2008

February 25–29, 2008
Leadership, Fund-raising, and Donor Development for Missions.
Mr. Rob Martin, director, First Fruit, Inc., Newport Beach, California, outlines steps for building the support base, including foundation funding, for mission. Eight sessions. $145

March 3–7
Issues in Mission Theology.
Dr. Charles Van Engen, School of Intercultural Studies , Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, surveys current theological challenges and opportunities facing students of mission. Cosponsored by Areopagos and Presbyterian Church ( USA ) World Mission Program Unit. Eight sessions. $145

March 10­–14
Global Missions from the Non-Western Churches.
Dr. Michael Pocock, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas, explores the growing non-Western participation in global missions. The seminar looks particularly at ways missions from Latin America, Africa, and Asia seek to answer challenges posed by management, direction, pastoral care, and support of workers. Cosponsored by Bay Area Community Church ( Annapolis, Maryland), Eastern Mennonite Missions, Park Street Church (Boston), SIM USA, The Mission Society, and Wycliffe International. Eight sessions. $145

March 31–April 4
Christian Mission and a Global Culture of Violence.
Dr. Caleb O. Oladipo of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, a senior mission scholar in residence at OMSC, finds in theological and political currents within post-apartheid South African Christianity signs of faith, hope, and courage that are significant for the future of the wider Christian community. Cosponsored by Trinity Baptist Church (New Haven) and United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. Eight sessions. $145  

April 7–11
Women, Evangelization, and Mission: The Roman Catholic Experience Since the 1500s.
Dr. Angelyn Dries, O.S.F., of Saint Louis University, a senior mission scholar in residence at OMSC, draws upon the experience of Roman Catholic women’s communities active around the world, finding in them renewed insight into mission theology and practice. Cosponsored by Episcopal Church / Anglican and Global Relations and Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. Eight sessions. $145

April 21–25
Models of Leadership in Mission.
Rev. George Kovoor, principal of Trinity College, Bristol , United Kingdom, brings wide ecclesiastical and international experience to evaluation of differing models of leadership for mission. Cosponsored by Wycliffe International. Eight sessions. $145

April 28–May 2
Jeremiah: Prophet for Our Times. 
Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright, Langham Partnership International, London, interprets the text of Jeremiah missiologically, showing Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations with perennial relevance to the international scene. Cosponsored by Black Rock Congregational Church (Fairfield, Connecticut). Eight sessions. $145

May 5–9
Personal Renewal in the Missionary Community.
Rev. Stanley W. Green, executive director, Mennonite Mission Network, Elkhart, Indiana, and Dr. Christine Sine, Mustard Seed Associates, Seattle, Washington, blend classroom instruction and one-on-one sessions to offer a time of personal renewal, counsel, and spiritual direction for Christian workers. Cosponsored by Episcopal Church / Personnel and Mennonite Mission Network and Presbyterian Church ( USA) World Mission Program Unit. Eight sessions. $145

"Following Jesus as Mission"

Fall 2008

September 2–3, 2008
Orientation for Residents. Orientation begins Tuesday morning, led by Dr. Jonathan J. Bonk, OMSC executive director. A public reception to welcome the 2008–09 OMSC international community of residents will be held Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. All are invited.

September 4–5
U.S. Churches Today.
Rev. Geoffrey A. Little, St. James Episcopal Church (New Haven), provides an overview with a guided tour of New Haven and area churches.

September 8–12
How to Develop Mission and Church Archives.
Ms. Martha Lund Smalley, Yale Divinity School Library, New Haven, Connecticut, helps missionaries and church leaders identify, organize, and preserve essential records. Cosponsored by First Presbyterian Church (New Haven). Eight sessions. $145

September 15–19
The Internet and Mission: Getting Started.
In a hands-on workshop, Mr. Wilson Thomas, Wilson Thomas Systems, Bedford, New Hampshire, and Dr. Dwight P. Baker, OMSC associate director, show how to get the most out of the World Wide Web for mission research. Eight sessions. $145

September 22–26
Doing Oral History: Helping Christians Tell Their Own Story.
Dr. Jean-Paul Wiest, director of the Jesuit Beijing Center, Beijing, China, and Mrs. Michèle Sigg, DACB project manager, share skills and techniques for documenting mission and church history. Cosponsored by Wycliffe International. Eight sessions. $145

October 6–10
Communicating Gospel Truth to the Totally Unreached.
Rev. Ajith Fernando, Youth for Christ, Sri Lanka, leads participants in considering how the Gospel can be communicated to people with worldviews that are very different from the biblical worldview. Cosponsored by Christian Reformed World Missions, CrossGlobal Link, Rolling Hills Covenant Church (Rolling Hills, California), and and the U.S. Center for World Mission. Eight sessions. $145

October 13–17
Culture, Interpersonal Conflict, and Christian Mission.
Dr. Duane H. Elmer, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, helps Christian workers strengthen interpersonal skills and resolve conflicts among colleagues, including host-country peoples. Cosponsored by Episcopal Church / Mission Personnel and Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod World Mission. Eight sessions. $145

October 20–24
Nurturing and Educating Transcultural Kids.
Ms. Janet Blomberg and Ms. Elizabeth Stephens of Interaction International help you help your children meet the challenges they face as third-culture persons. Cosponsored by St. John’s Episcopal Church (New Haven). Eight sessions. $145

November 3–7
Understanding the Western Missionary Movement IV: The Second World War and the Old Age of the Western Missionary Movement.
Dr. Andrew F. Walls, honorary professor, University of Edinburgh, and former director of the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World, presents OMSC’s fourth Distinguished Mission Lectureship series—five lectures with discussions. Consultation with participants on topics of interest. Cosponsored by Areopagos, American Baptist International Ministries, Evangelical Covenant Church World Mission, United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, and Wycliffe International. $115

November 10–14
Mission in Europe—East and West.
Dr. Peter Kuzmic, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Evangelical Theological Seminary, Osijek, Croatia, explores the new context and new role for missions in a changed Europe, both East and West. Cosponsored by Black Rock Congregational Church (Fairfield, Connecticut) and Wycliffe International. Eight sessions. $145

November 17–21
Multicultural Partnerships: Strategies for Training and Leadership.
Dr. Judith E. Lingenfelter, Biola University, and Dr. Sherwood G. Lingenfelter, Fuller Theological Seminary, senior mission scholars in residence at OMSC, focus on strategies for building communities of trust and for equipping leaders to empower team members from different cultural backgrounds to work more effectively together. Cosponsored by Christar, InterVarsity Missions, Mennonite Central Committee, Moravian Church Board of World Mission, SIM USA, and The Mission Society. Eight sessions. $145

December 1–5
The Gospel of Peace Engaging the Muslim Ummah (Community).
Dr. David W. Shenk, Eastern Mennonite Missions, explores the church’s calling to bear witness to the Gospel of peace in its engagement with Muslims whether in contexts of militancy or in settings of moderation. Cosponsored by Eastern Mennonite Missions–Global Ministries and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (Livingston, Montana). Eight sessions. $145

December 8–12
Exploring Images of Jesus in Various Cultures.
Dr. Diane B. Stinton, Daystar University, Nairobi, a senior mission scholar in residence at OMSC, examines God’s revelation of Christ as recorded in the New Testament and then explores human reflection on Christ in later centuries and across various cultures. Cosponsored by Mennonite Central Committee. Eight sessions. $145

Spring 2009

February 23–27, 2009
Leadership, Fund-raising, and Donor Development for Missions.
Mr. Rob Martin, director, First Fruit, Inc., Newport Beach, California, outlines steps for building the support base, including foundation funding, for mission. Cosponsored by Evangelical Covenant Church (Lafayette, Indiana). Eight sessions. $145

March 2–6
Missiological Field Research for Ordinary Practitioners.
Dr. Stan Nussbaum, Global Mapping International, Colorado Springs, Colorado, guides participants in designing a small-scale field research project around a problem or opportunity that has arisen in their current ministry situation. Eight sessions. $145

March 9–13
Following Jesus in Hindu Settings.
Dr. Herbert Hoefer, Concordia University, Portland, Oregon, presents the history of Christianity in India, focusing on the response of the Dalits and on followers of Jesus outside the church among caste Hindus. Cosponsored by Park Street Church (Boston). Eight sessions. $145

March 23–27
The East African Revival: Its History, Theology, and Spirituality in Times of Conflict and Genocide, Hope and Transformation.
Dr. Kevin Ward, University of Leeds, in Leeds, England, a senior mission scholar in residence at OMSC, examines the immensely influential East African Revival, considering its historical roots, its theological accompaniments, and its fruit in a variety of contexts. Cosponsored by Episcopal Church / Africa Partnership. Eight sessions. $145

March 30–April 3
“Onward, Christian Soldiers”: Missions and Muscular Christianity, 1900–1914.
Dr. Edith L. Blumhofer, Wheaton College, a senior mission scholar in residence at OMSC, looks at convergences and disjunctions in the era of high Western imperialism, immensely popular missionary exhibitions, and robust missionary confidence. Eight sessions. $145

April 20–23
Models of Leadership in Mission.
Rev. George Kovoor, Trinity College, Bristol, United Kingdom, brings wide ecclesiastical and international experience to evaluation of differing models of leadership for mission. Cosponsored by Areopagos and InterVarsity Missions. Seven sessions in four days. $145

April 27–30
Isaiah 40–55: God’s Mission, God’s Servant.
Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright, Langham Partnership International, London, unfolds the relevance of Isaiah for contemporary Christian missions and ethics. Cosponsored by Bay Area Community Church (Annapolis, Maryland) and Wycliffe International. Seven sessions in four days. $145

May 4–8
Personal Renewal in the Missionary Community.
Rev. Stanley W. Green, Mennonite Mission Network, and Dr. Christine Sine, Mustard Seed Associates, blend classroom instruction and one-on-one sessions to offer counsel and spiritual direction for Christian workers. Cosponsored by Mennonite Mission Network. Eight sessions. $145

  OMSC is committed to a policy of non-discrimination with
regard to race and sex for admission to all OMSC programs.

E-mail study@OMSC.org if you have questions about the Overseas Ministries Study Center and its Study Program. 

Request for Information about Long-term
Residence and Seminar Registration

LONG-TERM RESIDENCE: Send an e-mail to residence@OMSC.org if you wish to apply for residence of one month to one year, including registration for four or more consecutive seminars. Information with an APPLICATION FOR STUDY AND RESIDENCE will be mailed to you.

SEMINAR REGISTRATION: Fill out the SEMINAR REGISTRATION form (above) if you wish to apply for individual seminars (up to three). 

Due to the labor involved in obtaining visas, applicants from a number of countries are encouraged not to apply for study periods shorter than six months.