The Master of Divinity Degree is the central degree program of NTS. Its purpose is to prepare persons for pastoral and spiritual leadership in congregations and other settings. It is the normative degree for those preparing for ordained ministry. The M.Div. Program provides both breadth of exposure and depth of understanding for theological disciplines and ministry skills. It prepares persons for pastoral responsibilities by providing opportunities for the integration of theological study, personal and professional formation, and the practice of ministry in congregational, community, and cross-cultural contexts.

For more information on NTS and its degree programs, visit www.nts.edu, or contact the NTS Office of Admissions at 800.831.3011, 5452 or at enroll@nts.edu.

"Religious communities of all shapes and sizes depend on their spiritual leaders. They expect them to be teachers, counselors, administrators and sages. They turn to them for answers and stand with them at gravesides. But who teaches the teachers?

Up to Date's monthly Religion Roundtable explores the world of theological education, including the handful of institutions right here in the metro area. Guest host Brian Ellison talks with Molly T. Marshall, president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Ron Benefiel, president of Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City as well as Fr. Samuel Russell, president-rector of Conception Abbey and Rabbi Ken Ehrlich of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati about how students -- and the classes they take -- have changed over the years, and about what it's like for students graduating with their degrees as they seek communities to serve."

• The Summer 2009 NTS Connection Online is now posted. The Connection Online provides full content of stories and other items mentioned in the printed magazine.

• Can't wait until your magazine arrives next week? You may download a PDF of the magazine at http://www.nts.edu/summer-2009.

1. Articles on the Didache: Faithful Teaching* website:
   
   "Emerging Ecclesiology: Preliminary observations of horizon churches in a postmodern world" by Dean G. Blevins
   
   "What the postmodern/Emergents can learn from Wesley" by Deirdre Brower Latz 
   
   
   
2. An article in the Church of the Nazarene’s Preacher’s Magazine (Beacon Hill Press, Advent/Christmas 2007-2008):
   
   "John Wesley and the Emerging Church" by Hal Knight 
   
   
   
3. An article in the Church of the Nazarene's Holiness Today Magazine (Beacon Hill Press, March/April, 2008):
   
   "The Ancient-Future Generation" by Keith Schwanz 
    
4. New Resource (added 7/7/09):  Dr. Scott Daniels, Pastor of Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene, has posted to his blog a 5-part series discussing the Emergent Church.  Read from his blog:
   
   Pastor Scott's Thoughts on the Emerging Church

*Didache: Faithful Teaching is an interdisciplinary academic journal offered online that explores the intersections of Christian conviction, culture and education for the Church of the Nazarene and other international Wesleyan communities in higher education.

Class of 1959 and spouses present, L to R: Morris & Eula Weigelt, Wilda & Gayland Aubrey, Odis & Jean Brown, Gordon and A.J. Wetmore, Mary Ellen & James Fox, and Charlene & Thomas Goble. (Additional photos below.)

On Saturday, May 9, 2009 NTS had the privilege of hosting class reunions for the classes of 1959, 1979, 1984, and 2004. Each class joined the others in a lunch catered by Jack Stack Barbecue. During the lunch, people shared an update of how God has guided them in ministry over the years, what they currently do, and where they now live.

Congratulations are especially extended to the class of 1959 that celebrated 50 years since graduation. Additionally, special thanks go to Drs. Weigelt and Wetmore for contacting their classmates.

Class of 1959 & spouses present, L to R: Morris & Eula Weigelt, Wilda & Gayland Aubrey, and Odis & Jean Brown. (1 of 2)

Class of 1959 & spouses present, L to R: Gordon and A.J. Wetmore, Mary Ellen & James Fox, and Charlene & Thomas Goble. (2 of 2)

Class of 1979 present, L to R: Dean Flemming, Dan Geeding, and David Wilson

Class of 1984 present, L to R: Randy Beckum & Lorie Beckum

Class of 2004 present: Windy Lovett

NTS held its 63rd commencement on Sunday, May 10, at 4:00pm at Kansas City (MO) First Church of the Nazarene. The Class of 2009 consisted of 53 graduates, receiving degrees as follows: 31 Master of Divinity; 5 M.A. in Christian Education; 4 M.A. in Intercultural Studies; 13 M.A. in Theological Studies. Five students earned an additional diploma or certificate along with their degree and five students earned certificates only. This class represented five countries: Brazil, Canada, Germany, Korea, and the United States.

Earlier on Sunday morning, also at KC First Church, Rev. Joshua T. Johnson represented his class by preaching the Corlett Senior Sermon entitled Embracing the Cost of Mercy: 2 Peter 3:1-15. The late Mr. Eric A. Mabes, a prominent Kansas City Realtor, established the Corlett Senior Sermon Award in the interest of developing an incentive for more effective preaching. He sponsored the award from 1945 to 1966. In 1966, Dr. and Mrs. L. T. Corlett assumed the sponsorship of this award as a symbol of their continuing interest in the future ministry of the church. The award is now sponsored by R. Wesley Blachly.

Dr. T. Scott Daniels, Senior Pastor of Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene, delivered the commencement address. Dr. Daniels received his B.A. degree from Northwest Nazarene College and received both the M.Div. and Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary, focusing his study in Christian Ethics and Theology. In addition to serving as Senior Pastor at Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene, he is Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology and Preaching at Azusa Pacific and Point Loma Nazarene Universities. Before moving to California, Dr. Daniels was a Professor of Theology for seven years at Southern Nazarene University and Senior Pastor for four years at the Church of the Nazarene in Richardson, TX. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena and the Board of Directors for Bresee Foundation and Coral Center/Neighborhood Urban Family Center in Pasadena. Dr. Daniels has contributed to several books, journals, and magazines. His most recent publication, Seven Deadly Spirits: The Message of Revelation’s Letters for Today’s Church, was released by Baker Academic Press in February 2009. He is a frequent guest speaker on college campuses, in churches, camp meetings, and for various lectures. Scott and his wife, Debbie, have four children: Caleb, Noah, Jonah, and Sophie. They love to vacation together as a family, and they participate in many sports and music activities.

In addition to the commencement ceremony which filled the KC First Church sanctuary to capacity, the weekend was full of various graduation events, including a special graduate chapel on Saturday morning and an all-seminary banquet on Saturday night. Graduates were also inducted into the NTS Alumni Association on Friday afternoon at a special lunch held in their honor. Members of the NTS Classes of 1959, 1979, 1984, and 2004 were also honored at a reunion lunch on Saturday.