New Orleans Seminary adds academic division

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s (NOBTS) trustees approved a new academic division and new degrees during their spring meeting April 17. The board also elected three new faculty members. Trustees voted to move the counseling program from the seminary’s Pastoral Ministries Division and the social work program from the Christian Education Division into a new academic group called the Division of Church and Community Ministries. The division brings together two programs with similar purposes. Ian Jones, professor of psychology and counseling, will serve as chair of the new division.

“Counseling and social work are closer to each other than the other disciplines in Christian education and pastoral ministry,” NOBTS Provost Steve Lemke said. “We believe there is a synergism that can develop between the two programs.” While state licensing will be available for graduates in these programs, Lemke said the division’s main focus will be on church-based community ministries — “preparing graduates to serve in ministries such as church counseling centers, ministry-based evangelism centers in churches, Christian children’s homes and senior adult homes.”