Admissions: Online Church Ministry Program
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the role of the Academic Advisor?
An Academic Advisor will assist you in developing a plan for your academic studies. This will include selection and timing of courses and other academic experiences. He/she will also introduce you to the PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) credit possibilities.
What is the role of the Mentoring Coordinator?
Dr. Sherrill Hayes will give guidance in spiritual formation as well as help in selecting a local mentor who will serve you during your course of study. Your local mentor will meet with you, providing encouragement and accountablility for both spiritual and personal enrichment.
Financially, I don't know if I can afford to go to college. Is financial aid available?
Warner Southern College's financial aid staff is known for their expertise in working with numerous sources to assist in providing you with financial assistance while completing your degree. Some of these sources include: PELL Grants, Federal Student Loans, Veteran's Benefits, Church Matching Funds, and Church Service Education Grants.
I have had numerous courses and experience throughout my life that I feel have enhanced my decisions to lead a life in ministry - will any of these benefit me in this course work?
Most definitely! Our Warner Southern College Assistant Registrar will advise you on Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and show you how you may be able to obtain up to 30 elective hours for your life experiences.
Do you have special admission requirements?
Yes, all OCM students must be 23 years or older. If you have fewer than 24 college credit hours to transfer, you must meet two of the following three requirements.- Graduation from high school with academic rank in the upper half of your graduating class
- A high school grade point average of 2.25 or better
- A composite score on the ACT-E of 18 or a combined SAT score of 870
Is this program accredited?
As an institution Warner Southern College is regionally accredited. Warner Southern College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Associate, Bachelor, and Master Degrees. The Online Church Ministry program was approved as part of the general approval granted to distance education programs offered by the college.
What happens to my credits since they were earned at a non-regionally accredited school?
Warner Southern College accepts transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions. The student will be required to submit other authenticating information in the situation where credit is earned at a institution without the expected regional certification, like many bible colleges. Even with extra documentation such as catalog descriptions, syllabi, and instructor credentials, there is no presumed assurance that these courses will transfer and in so doing substitute for the required classes of the major. They may, however, count as degree electives with sufficient justification.
What is the theological orientation of the school and department?
Warner Southern College was founded by several congregations of the Church of God in the early seventies. The Church of God, with general offices in Anderson, IN, grew out the holiness revivals of the mid 19th century, and therefore may be classified as a Wesleyan holiness body of believers. All full time faculty are ordained ministers of the Church of God.
What is online college learning like?
Traditional campus courses and Internet delivery courses differ in two respects. 1) Online instruction demands more commitment from the individual student. Since you do not see your professor in class everyday, success in class depends upon more personal responsibility and drive than in campus courses. 2) In the asynchronous learning environment each student becomes a participant in class discussion. Unlike campus classes four or five “talkers” cannot carry the class, instead everyone discusses and responds to the ideas of others. Because of this system, there is actually more student involvement in learning than in what occurs on campus.
What time is involved?
Students doing online learning should plan to spend about the same amount of time as campus courses on out-of-class preparations in reading assignments and completing homework. A common rule for college study is that every hour of class requires two hours of work out of class. So for each week in an eight week course of a three hour class a student should plan to do a minimum of twelve hours of prep work for that one three hour class. In a limited respect students should understand posting time as a substitute for appearing in class. The work required in completing papers for Internet classes would not differ in time expectations from what would be required on campus. Online courses are real college classes that demand good reading skills, good computer and key boarding skills, as well as excellent time management expertise to be successful.
What careers are supported by the coursework of the OCM
This online major offers academic coursework to strengthen and enhance a graduate’s ability and effectiveness to provide praactical theological leadership in both local church and para-church ministries. The focus of the major is broad enought to support the general practitioner in pastoral, discipleship and educational ministries. The major will also prepare a student to successfully engage in Masters work in a graduate school or a seminary.
Who should enroll in this program?
This program will advance the skills and increase the effectiveness of those already ministering as licensed or ordained clergy, as well as support the process of discerning and preparing for a call to ministry. Laypersons, para-church professionals, and the newly called will find the program to be challenging and rewarding.
What is this focus on “call” all about?
The School of Ministry considers the question of personal call fundamental to achieving success in ministry. The call of God on a person’s life represents the divine initiative and invitation to serve the Kingdom of God. The concept of calling cannot simply be equated with volunteering for service but the act of selection and empowerment rests solely with God who calls men and women to serve his church and lead his people. There is a human element in the idea of calling. The community itself functions as the agent of God to confirm an individual’s calling to service.
Are students from other denominations or communities of faith welcome?
A primary concern of the Church of God is Christian unity and openness to the wider community of faith. In one of our hymns we boldly proclaim “We extend our hand in fellowship to every blood washed one.” We therefore encourage mutual cooperation and participation to advance the Kingdom of God by the benefits that may be achieved through the increase of knowledge and skills in an academic program.
What academic and spiritual support is available to students?
The online student is not left alone. Success is a team effort. It is generated on three levels of support. At the student level acceptable progress is advanced in the mutual concern of fellow classmates who begin to establish a virtual community at the orientation experience. These relationships deepen through consistent online interaction. Support is also offered at the faculty level through involved online instructors and academic advisors who effectively use the power of the Virtual Classroom and school email. The last level of support is provided by a personal mentor. The program assigns a spiritual mentor to each student who stands with him or her as an accountability partner. The mentor relationship promotes both academic and spiritual progress.
What have students said about the benefits of the program?
"My experience in the OCM at Warner has been life changing. Much more than the imparting of knowledge I have gained the tools with which to learn, grow, and serve effectively. I enrolled as a frustrated pastor whose desire to serve was dwindling. I was like a soldier who had enlisted in a battle but I had no weapon, no communication and no fellow soldiers. Death was all around me and I was dying as well. I graduate with an arsenal that will more than conqueror the enemy, an army of fellow students and professors to communicate with, and a sense of victory. God is using me to show others the kingdom of Heaven and we have only just begun! The relationships with fellow students and professors are an invaluable part of this journey, treasure them and they will pull you through." ~ Donn Sunshine"I am blessed to be in this program that is designed for working adults who have very little time to attend the traditional college with full time jobs, families and ministry related responsibilities." ~ Bettie McCarty
"I’ve done my research, and this is the most outstanding program for ministry studies on the web." ~ Norris Barr
"I write that to say this: I have never had multiple churches interested in calling me as their pastor before. Having earned my degree through Warner (and probably the fact that I've gone ahead with my masters degree program) has made me much more valuable in the eyes of these churches. I hate to use the word "marketable," but that's what it is." ~ Tim Irwin
"I was very unsure of how well I was going to do. After ten years, going back to school is scary and intimidating. The faculty for to this program, however, were very reassuring. They encouraged us and helped us to understand more clearly what the long distance program is all about, equipping us for ministry. All that we had done in the past few weeks all came together and our professors were right there to answer our questions and give us advice. I found myself uplifted both by my professors and my fellow classmates. What an extraordinary concept to be able to get a degree while staying home, and still have the kind of support found at Warner Southern College. There is nothing that can replace the time spent with these new brothers and sisters in Christ." ~ Barbara Carney
Click here to Apply Online
Call 1-866-401-7075, or e-mail ocm@warner.edu, for more information!
