In a leap of faith backed by spiritual interest, a Cape Girardeau ministry is forging a partnership with a Hannibal, Mo., liberal arts college to create an associate of divinity degree program.

The Midwest Center for Spiritual Transformation, a ministry of Lynwood Baptist Church, this week unveiled details of the program, which would be accredited through Hannibal-LaGrange College.

Kevin Coffee, pastor of education at Lynwood Baptist Church, said the plan is to begin classes in January, with enrollment underway. The three-year, 60-credit course, taught by accredited area pastors at the Center for Spiritual Transformation on the Lynwood campus, would be a first of its kind in Southeast Missouri, according to Coffee.

"It began from a desire to support, primarily, pastors in our area with a desire to pursue a theological education but because of various obstacles are unable to do so," Coffee said.

The goal, Coffee said, is to design a comprehensive, conservative theological program that is affordable and locally accessible. It particularly targets bivocational pastors of small churches, those working full-time jobs and presiding over their flocks on weeknights and weekends.

Coffee said the cost is $1,500, plus books, or $25 per credit hour. A limited number of scholarships are available for pastors serving congregations of 200 or fewer.

Hannibal-LaGrange is seeking accreditation of the divinity program through the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The hope is to receive accreditation sometime this fall, said David Pelletier, vice president for academic affairs for Hannibal-LaGrange.

Pelletier said the program helps answer a call by the Missouri Baptist Convention to provide theological education to bivocational pastors.

"The difference here is we have a local church taking strong interest in it," Pelletier said. "We've been meeting to find out if we have a viable student base."

Some 45 pastors and lay leaders from Southeast Missouri turned out for this week's meeting, Coffee said, with 13 either expressing strong interest in the program or indicating they would enroll. While the prospective student rolls may seem small, Pelletier said, the divinity course is built for growth.

For more information, contact Coffee at 334-4600, or via e-mail at kcoffee@lynwoodbc.org.

mkittle@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

2935 Lynwood Hills Drive, Cape Girardeau MO, 63701