Course Information

Do your best to present yourself to God as ...a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.    2 Timothy 2.15


Dumisani offers two main courses: Basic Ministry Studies and a Bachelor of Theology Degree. Those who have completed basic studies but who do not qualify for university entrance or wish to do the degree may complete an Advanced Ministry Studies course.

We produce basic Correspondence Courses and other Christian literature in English and Xhosa. Anyone interested in these should write for more information. 

Basic Ministry Studies and Advanced Ministry Studies are not considered to be Further or Higher Education programmes: they do not lead to qualifications as understood by South African Government regulations. They are, however, designed to aid the personal development of individual Christians and to train people for the Christian ministry, for example, the Free Church in Southern Africa accepts these Courses as providing training for their ministers.

Basic Ministry Studies (BMS) are designed to equip students for “lay” service in church and community: one year full-time, and two year part-time study. This course also functions as a “Bridging Course” in order to enable a student to attain entrance to degree-level studies.
The course is organised into four component parts: Biblical; Theological, Historical and Practical; Ministry and Leadership; and General.

Bachelor of Theology (BTh): this is a Higher Education Programme fully accredited by North-WestUniversity (formerly Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education). It includes instruction in the Biblical Languages and non-theological Courses judged to be useful for a pastor. This Programme equips for a wide range of job opportunities. This Programme gives credits at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Levels 5 and 6.

Bachelor of Arts, Honours (BA Hons): this higher degree is designed to enable students to continue their theological studies at a higher level and provides a way into post-graduate research programmes. The minimum duration of full-time study is one year, and the maximum period for study allowed is two years. The minimum duration of part-time study is two years and the maximum period three years. The BA (Hons) is is coordinated by the Forum for University Theological Education.

Advanced Ministry Studies (AMS) are studies of the BTh curriculum undertaken by students who do not fulfil the requirements for university registration. They are designed to equip students for ordination to pastoral ministry: two years, full-time; or four years part-time study.

GENERAL OUTCOMES
The envisaged outcomes of the courses are:

1 to equip Christians for a fuller life of devotion and of service within the context of their own church and so to make them more responsible and caring in their attitudes towards the family, society and the environment;

2 to equip suitably qualified men for the work of the full-time ministry within their churches and communities;

3 to develop the gifts of suitably qualified ministers so that they might be of fuller service to their church, family and community;

4 to provide experience of learning techniques which will equip learners to learn for themselves, both under supervision, during the Programmes for which they are enrolled and, on their own, thereafter. More specifically, learners should learn to organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively; they should know how to collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

5 to provide sources of information regarding Biblical and theological subjects, suitable to the learners’ circumstances and abilities and to which they may continue to have access on the completion of their studies;

6 to develop mature Christian character which will encourage and enable learners to put the knowledge gained to practical use;

7 to provide instruction in the varied branches of Biblical and theological study: the Old Testament, the New Testament, Systematic Theology, Church History and Practical Theology, and to do so at increasingly greater depth as the learners progress in their studies;

8 to use a range of techniques in the learning process, including contact sessions (involving lecturing, discussion etc), home assignments on an individual or group basis, and practical off-site work. More specifically, learners should be able to identify and solve problems using critical and creative thinking and recognising the wide range of elements connected with any problem; they should be able to work effectively with others as a team member; they should be able to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

9 to provide instruction at a cost which will be within reach even of those who were formerly disadvantaged;

10 to provide educational opportunities, at least at the lower levels, to persons already employed, without interrupting their employment and without compromising the quality of their education;

11 to prepare all learners for higher studies should their abilities, desires and circumstances permit this.