Preparation for ministry is the pursuit of a lifetime.  We want to partner with you in this noble pursuit. If you are looking to prepare yourself as a minister or are a minister who wants to partner in preparing students for ministry, then we want to enter a partnership with you. The ACU Graduate School of Theology equips people in effective missional leadership for ministry in all its forms. We expect students to willingly embrace this pursuit of training and transformation of their hearts and minds.  

Definition of Contextual Education
What on earth is Contextual Education? Contextual Education is an active process where student ministers practice ministry in a context and reflect upon the practice of ministry. A contextual approach is the heart of minister formation in the GST.

This intentionally active process of formation for ministry involves willing students, faculty, and ministers. Ministry preparation cannot be “classroom only” learning nor can it be merely unguided “on the job” training.

Student-ministers learn by practicing in a ministry setting and learn by reflecting on the practice of ministry. Contextual Education is part of the formative ministry degrees (MDiv, MACM, and MAGS) in the Graduate School of Theology (GST) at Abilene Christian University. Through the sequence of courses students are formed for ministry by practicing what they learn in specific ministry contexts.