Shiloh Bible College Ethiopia Prospectus
Content Introduction...1 I. Statement of Faith 2 II. Mission Statement and Core Values.. 3-4 III. Philosophy of Education... 4-6 IV. Tuition and Fees 6-7 V. Academic Calendar.. 7 VI. Academic Requirements, Policies and College Regulations... 7-13 VII. Student Life...14-15 VIII. SBCE Student Council and Library.16-17 IX. Advanced Diploma in Theology... 18-22 X. Advanced Diploma in Theology Course Description... 23-26 XI. Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology... 27-34 XII. Course Descriptions for Bachelor of Arts in Theology 35-42
Introduction Shiloh Bible College Ethiopia was found in 1994 in collaboration with Shiloh Bible College, Oakland California, which is operated by Shiloh Christian Fellowship. Shiloh Bible College Ethiopia and Shiloh Bible College Oakland, California own the programs and materials used by the college and assume ultimate responsibility for its academic, spiritual, and financial viability. SBCE is administered by its Board of Directors who bears final authority over its operation. The Board of directors operates according to its registered constitution and bylaws and is made up of seven members from various denominations SBCE is an interdenominational institution, which accepts students from various doctrinally sound churches. The college receives financial support from Shiloh Bible College, Oakland, California. SBCE is affiliate to ACTEA (Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa) and is working toward full accreditation. Shiloh Bible College in Oakland, California is accredited by Accrediting Commission International (ACI) for Schools, Colleges and Theological Seminaries, of Beebe, Arkansas. SBCE is working in partnership with Evangelical Church Fellowship of South Ethiopia. SBCE is offering Advanced Diploma, Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Certificate in Mission Outreach Programs. 1
Statement of Faith We believe in 1. the Holy Bible, both Old and new Testament, as verbally inspired Word of God. 2. the one True God, revealed on the Scriptures as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 3. the creation of man as good, the fall of man from his original state in to sin from which he has no power to redeem himself. 4. the all- sufficient atonement of Jesus Christ, God s Son,to cleanse anyone who believes, on Him from all sin, and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone. 5. water baptism, taught in the Scriptures as a requirement for everyone who believes that it identifies with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. 6. a life of holiness and separation from the world and sin, no longer serving them, but serving the Lord with a pure heart. 7. the Baptism of the Holy spirit as a separate, distinct experience subsequent to salvation, providing antimonite of power for life and service, normally accompanied by speaking in tongues. the church as the Body of Christ, the assembly of God/people of God, chosen to reveal God s plan and purpose in the earth, and the local expression of this church function according to the New Testament order and organization. 8. the manifestation of all nine gifts of the Holy Spirit in the local assembly, God dividing the gifts among the believers severally as He wills. 9. individual and collective praise and worship, all expressions of praise in the Old and New Testaments meant for practice in the church today. 10. the restoration to the church of all that the prophets have spoken, and the subsequent visual and bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ to set up His Kingdom on the earth. 11. the promise of eternal life for all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Savior and eternal domination for those who reject Him and die in their sin. Mission Statement SBCE is undergraduate level Bible College whose mission is to glorify God by providing excellent and biblically sound theological education for Christian women and men to prepare them to be mature, anointed, God- centered Christian servant leaders and missionaries who will both live out and teach the full council of God thereby producing God honoring, obedient disciples of Christ in the nation of Ethiopia and beyond. 2
Statement of Core Values Love for God and Neighbor We are committed to our duty to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Loving God means we worship Him and seek His glory in everything we do; and loving our neighbor entails making disciples of all nations and engaging in holistic ministry. Word of God We are committed to the Bible as the Word of God. We aim to study the Scriptures diligently so that we may obey them wholeheartedly. We foster personal relationship with God while training students ministry skills and character formation through our whole programs. Whole church to the whole world We believe Christ sends the whole church as His witnesses to the whole world. The local church mobilizes all her members for witness. Church leaders are to equip the whole church for witnessing Christ in all aspects of life including the home, marketplace, education, business, politics and our strategic contribution is to equip the equippers. Community SBCE is part of international community because the church is God s people from all nations. Yet, as Ethiopian Bible College, we seek to be aware of the needs of our continent and to equip students in particular context. The Ethiopian context in which we are located provides the basic concrete situation within which we do theology, while also providing strong motivation for cross- cultural missions and ministry. Unity We are interdenominational college serving the whole spectrum of the Bible- believing community, upholding our Pentecostal heritage which we constantly need to define and defend. We value our God- given unity. We also value our diversity as an expression of our freedom in Christ and foster the discussion of issues with a view to strengthening our unity in Christ. Prayer We depend on God for all our needs and we express this dependence by increasingly becoming a praying community. We believe prayer opens doors, sends out laborers, helps us to know God s will and empower our witness so that many come to faith in Christ. Worship We are committed to worship God as it is expressed in both Old and New Testaments. In worship we draw into the presence of God through singing, dancing and other expression of worship in line with the biblical principles. 3
Philosophy of Education The SBCE faculty is aware that the college s educational mission is a community endeavor shared with the staff and Board. The churches of our students and their family are also participate in their preparation for ministry. Nonetheless, as a College we bear a special responsibility for guiding this process. In expressing our philosophy of education, we hope that the Christian community will affirm the value we cherish and support our commitment to live out our values with our students, professionally and relationally. Truth and Education: The Word of God is the sure tool for evaluating all claimed Truth. All truth is consistent with God s person, His word, and His work; God is the source and measure of all truth. This requires diligent and constant research and study of the Scriptures, of the witness of the church in the past and of the situation in our day to which the truth of God must be addressed. Both the Old and the New Testaments teach that God expects His people to evaluate truth claims using the criterion of the Word of God, by means of their intellect (continuously renewed by Christ), with help and gift of the Holy Spirit. God also expects His people to subject their own thinking and teaching, as well as others, to biblical and evidential tests. We endeavor to develop the capacity of our students to do the same. Truth and Life: Education must be Experience- oriented Truth integrates thought and life. Therefore, our experience of truth must also integrate thought and life. The Bible shows that knowledge is incomplete unless it affects actions. Therefore, we always examine our lives for evidence that the truth we teach is affecting our actions and relationships. We also seek to draw our students into the learning process so that thought and life integrated in their experiences as well. This reminds us that we can never be satisfied with simply communicating ideas without relating them to the lives of our students. In this sense, we affirm that education must always be experience- oriented. Science and Scripture We believe that God is the creator and sustainer of all that exists. Since we need to understand and appropriate God s truth in creation, it is our responsibility to make critical use of the disciplines and insights developed in the social and natural sciences. It is the Holy Scriptures however, that makes us wise unto salvation. We determine above all else, therefore, to be men and women of the Word and to teach our students to be the same. We Respect Persons We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His own image and likeness, gifting them with a personal, social, and spiritual nature like His own. Since sin entered the race, every aspect of human nature has been warped and distorted. Distortion is not eradication, however. Every human being is still God's image- bearer and of infinite worth. For that reason, we relate to every person beginning with our families, students, and colleagues with appropriate respect and care. If we abuse or dishonor one another through contempt or manipulation, we dishonor God. 4
We Equip the Equippers The church exists as an exhibit of God's grace and for the purpose of extending His kingly reign to every aspect of life and society. The mission of the church has been committed to the whole people of God, to whom the Spirit gives gifts for ministry. The risen Christ gives to His church men and women who are especially gifted for equipping others to use their spiritual gifts. It is our task as a Bible College to equip these equippers, who then will train God's people and lead them in ministry. Thus, the SBCE exists to serve the church, and our instructional programs must always reflect this reality. We Model the Truth We study the Scriptures not only to learn God's truth; we also study them to obtain guidance in the practice of our profession. The Bible is not a textbook on education, but we find educational principles implicitly represented and explicitly modeled in both Old and New Testaments. We are impressed with the centrality of moral instruction for character development. We note the high responsibility of those who hold God's truth to communicate it to others, and the priority assigned to the integration of truth and life by teachers and learners alike. Our Lord's incarnation focuses the centrality of this integration, forcefully reminding us that we must be models if we are to be teachers. Jesus, Our Ultimate Model Teacher We are challenged by Christ's sensitivity to the people He taught, to their prior understandings, needs, and learning readiness. We admire His creativity in relating spiritual and moral truths through concepts familiar to His listeners. Jesus did not allow His followers to be passive learners, however, but challenged them to actively consider the things they heard and to search out the meaning of His statements. We are humbled to realize that His authority never depended on affected authoritativeness or aloofness, but was rooted in His understanding of Himself and His mission, His profound knowledge of the Scriptures, His embodiment of truth, and His skill as a teacher. We are Servants and Stewards Jesus defined His own mission as servanthood both to God and to men. We recognize that elitist attitudes and ambitions are entirely inconsistent with servanthood, so we reject these. We seek, instead, to humbly relate to all whom God brings into our lives, and to serve our students as we serve our Lord and His church. Our motivation toward excellence derives from our responsibility to be stewards of the gifts, opportunities, and resources God has committed to us. We seek to discipline our personal and professional lives, and thus to honor Him in the way we administer our stewardship. We seek also to communicate these values to our students. The Image of Christ is Our Aim Jesus Christ was not only a model teacher, He is also the embodiment of personal and spiritual wholeness - - what the Bible refers to as maturity. Throughout the New Testament epistles, Christlikeness is the aim of the Christian life. Thus, it is appropriate that it should also be the ultimate goal of the educational process. As we teach, therefore, we strive to stimulate growth. Although growth for its own sake is sterile and directionless, growth into Christlikeness gives meaning to the educational task and provides a criterion for assessing progress. SBCE exists to help people grow, to develop their God- given gifts, to expand their horizons, to acquire new cognitive and ministry skills, and to sharpen old ones. But the end of our training is always Christlikeness. 5
Tuition and Fees The annual cost for a full time Student is 15,080 EB not including housing costs. However that amount is offset by scholarship and college financial support from Shiloh Church in Oakland, CA and Fire Over Africa (A U.S. non- profit). Ethiopian students make the following contribution toward the cost of their education. International students may refer to the section on International Student fees. Tuition and Fees Student Contribution (Ethiopian Students) Tuition per instructional hour Application fee Registration fee (per semester) Late registration penalty Change of registration Technology fee (when available per semester) Graduation fee (includes rental of cap, gown and hood) Binding (at cost) Transcript fee (per transcript; first transcript after graduation free) Birr 35 Birr 20 Birr 30 Birr 10 Birr 10 at cost at cost at cost Birr 20 Audit Charges Audit fee (per course) Birr 60 Payment Policy All tuition and fees and other charges must be paid in full during the semester in which they are incurred. If a student fails to meet this requirement: The student may not enroll in a subsequent semester until the balance is paid in full. Beginning the first month after the end of the semester, interest at the rate of 1 percent per month (12 percent annually) will be charged on the unpaid balance. Refund of Tuition The Bursar s office refund of tuition can only be issued after a student has officially reduced the number of hours taken or officially withdrawn from the College. The last day of attendance is the date the completed form is received in the Bursar s Office and determines the applicable percent of refund in the schedule below. The refund schedule is applied to the total amount of tuition assessed and not to the actual cash paid at the time of registration. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of hours taken or to withdraw and still be obligated to make payments until the adjusted tuition balance is paid. 6
Standard Refund Percentage Schedule Week of class Percent of Refund 1 st and 2 nd weeks 100 %(less 50 birr fee in cases of total withdrawal) 3 rd week 80% 4 th week 60% 5 th and 6 th 20% after 6 th week 0 % Refund for summer session and January interim courses are made on the basis of one- day equals one week in the above schedule. Other Costs Books: Students should plan to spend approximately birr 120 per course for books and supplies. Payment of Fees and Graduation A student may not graduate or receive a final transcript until all balances due to the college are paid. Academic Calendar The School year begins in August. The College is closed for three weeks between semesters in late December and early January. Most Ethiopian holidays are observed. Rainy season courses are held over eight week s period from June until August. Academic Calendar will be posted for each year. Admission Procedures Academic Requirements, Policies and College Regulations All applicants must: 1) Get an application form from the Registrar s Office. 2) Submit a completed application form, personal statement of purpose, birr 20 application fee and two recent photographs to the registrar s office. 3) Submit official academic transcripts (ESLCE or others) and confidential letters of reference from their respective churches directly to the Registrar s Office by the appropriate institutions or individuals. 4) Application deadlines are typically three weeks before the start of any semester. 7
Admission Requirements SBCE s programs are open to those who have put their faith in Christ, regardless of race, sex and age, who have completed 12 th grade except for the Certificate program, who are involved in active ministry in their local churches, and who seek to serve Christ better. The programs are open regardless of race, sex and age, to applicants from recognized denominations. Academic Achievement The following academic achievements are important. They are recognized university acceptance standards. 1) A copy of ESLCE result (from Old Program). a. For Diploma: a minimum GPA of 1.6 is required b. For Degree: a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required 2) Grade 12 + Diploma graduates from Non- Theological Institutions with a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required 3) 10+ 2 years of Preparatory with pass mark for entering higher institutions according to new education policy of the Government. 4) 10+3 graduates 5) Pass SBCE entrance exam Entrance Exam and Interview All applicants, except the for the Certificate program, are required to take a written English exam. The exam is on grammar and writing clear and logical essay. Applicants who pass the entrance exam are interviewed by the Admissions Committee. The applicants are expected to prove the ability to converse in English. The Admission Committee decides whether or not the applicant is eligible to enter a program based on documents, exam results and interview. All eligible applicants are admitted into available places. Applicants rejected by the Admissions Committee are given the reasons for non- acceptance, and they may apply again for next year. Students Classifications Full- time Students are students who take at least twelve credit hours or more in a semester. Part- time Students are students who take less than twelve credit hours in a semester. Inactive Students are students who have not taken any course for one academic year. They can sign for new class when they get approval from the registrar office. Discontinued Students are students who have not taken a course for three to five academic years. They have to be re- admitted into a program before continuing classes. Matured Students are those who may be accepted into the degree program on the basis of their maturity. These people are over 35 and have been involved in church ministry for many years. They are 8
those who do not meet the entrance requirements because the opportunity to take ESLCE was not available to them or the ESLCE standards were different to what is required now. Continuing Students are those who graduated but registered for additional course in the program from which they graduated. Special Students are students who desire to register for a limited number of courses which will benefit them in their ministry. They have no real need to continue as regular students. Academic Load Academic Regulation Students have to refer to the catalogue section where Programs of study for recommended course loads for each semester in their program. A student who registered for one of Bachelor of Arts Degree programs in four years will take a full- time course load each semester. A full- time course load for a semester takes 15 academic hours. If a student s GPA is 3.0 or higher, more than 18 hours of class work may be taken with permission from the Academic Dean. SBCE is affiliated to Accrediting Council of Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA) and therefore has the obligation to keep the required standard of accreditation according to ACTEA s guidelines. ACTEA requires a total of 1500-1800 hrs of structured learning activity per year. This means a) 34-36 weeks a year b) 12-14 clock hours a week/ 400-500 clock hours of instruction per year c) 40-45 hours of learning activity per week Based on the above guidelines, SBCE has determined the following range of hours for each course: 1) Total 1700 hours of structured learning activity per year. The details are as follows: a. 96 chapel hours per year b. 1604 total instructional hours per year c. 160 instructional hours per course / semester i. 48 clock hours instruction in classroom ii. 112 clock hours work outside classroom or 2 hrs and 30 minutes outside of classroom instruction for every hour in class or 7 hours per week per course. 2) Learning activities for each course include: a. Classroom instruction (these are in- class hours not including break time) b. Learning activities done outside the classroom such as: i. Worksheet/ Reading guide questions/ weekly quiz ii. Exams: mid and final iii. Paper/ papers/ exegetical works/ word studies/ character studies iv. Group work v. Reading of the text or other assigned reading vi. Other works assigned by the teacher based on the nature of the course 9
Class Time 1) Full- time classes are conducted from Monday to Friday every morning from 8:30-12:00 am for sixteen weeks (one semester) Break time is always from 10:00 am 10:30am. 2) Weekend classes are conducted Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon. a. Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 pm in the evening and b. Saturday morning from 8:30-12:00 am; break 10:00am- 10:30am c. Saturday afternoon from 2:00pm- 5:30pm; break 3:30-4:00pm Grading Grade Point Average (GPA): At SBCE Grade Point Average is calculated based on courses done only at the SBCE. 94-100% A 4.0 Grade points 90-93 A- 3.7 Grade points 87-89 B+ 3.3 Grade points 84-86 B 3.0 Grade points 80-83 B- 2.7 Grade points 77-79 C+ 2.3 Grade points 74-76 C 2.0 Grade points 70-73 C- 1.7 Grade points 67-69 D+ 1.3 Grade points 64-66 D 1.0 Grade points 60-63 D- 0.7 Grade points 00-59 F 0.0 Grade points Incomplete I Pass* p Withdrawal W (or dropped ) Incompletes: A grade of incomplete I indicates that some of the work has not been completed due to some emergency situation beyond the student s control. Incompletes are normally granted in the case of personal illness of more than brief duration illness in the family that has required the student s attention; death in the family; personal or family crisis of a traumatic nature; or unexpected increase in job responsibilities. In some cases the student may need to obtain a leave of absence. It is the students responsibility to obtain the form from the registrar have it signed by the instructor and the Academic Dean; and return. The arrangement for the incomplete must be made before the end of the semester in which the I is given. The request must be in writing and addressed to the Bible College providing an explanation as to why the work was not completed. The incomplete must be removed in a manner arranged with the instructor within one semester of the incomplete. The instructor designates no credit if the completed work is not turned in within one semester of the incomplete. 10
Withdrawals SBCE does not encourage students to withdraw from a course. If the student withdraws from a course it should not be after the fifth week of class. If a student withdraws after fifth week, a W (withdrawal) will be given in the transcript as appropriate. W does not have credit or grade point average penalty. Procedures for Withdrawals A student who desires to withdraw needs 1) to take a Permission to Withdraw Slip from the Registrar 2) to get the signature of the course instructor 3) to obtain the signature of the Academic Dean 4) to submit the Permission to Withdrawal Slip to the Registrar before the end of the 5 th week of classes. Grade Appeals Any student has the right to appeal a grade to the Academic Committee. Such an appeal should be made in writing to the Academic Dean and must state clearly why the student believes the grade is unfair. This appeal should follow procedures outlined by the Academic Dean. Transfer of Credit: Work completed by students at other colleges or universities will be evaluated upon receipt of an official transcript from that institution. The following guidelines will be used with regard to the number of credits that will be accepted by transferring students. a) Transfer for credit earned at other institutions is petitioned to the Academic Dean. b) Transfer credits must be from an accredited institution. c) Transfer credits must have at least a B grade and less than 20 years old. d) All transfer credits must be received and approved at least one semester before the student expects to graduate. e) Grades from transferred courses will not be computed in the SBCE grade point average. f) Required classes may not be transferred unless one of the following exceptions applies: a) The course was completed satisfactorily at a college known by Shiloh Bible College Ethiopia to teach the same curriculum. b) The course is one of college writing skills. Transfer from Advanced Diploma program to Bachelor of Arts Degree program Students who graduated from Advanced Diploma do not automatically transfer to Bachelor of Arts Degree program. In order to be transferred to degree program, the student has to complete the Advanced Diploma program with a GPA of 2.5. If the student is accepted into the B.A program all credits earned in Advanced Diploma will not be transferred into the B.A program. 11
Academic Status 1. Academic Warning: A student who fails to maintain a cumulative grade average (CGPA) of 2.0 will receive a warning on his report card from the registrar. 2. Academic Probation: Following reception of a warning in the semester, a student should achieve a semester GPA of 2.0, but his/her CGPA will remain less than 2.0; in this case the student will be placed on probation. 3. Academic Dismissal: A student who gets less than 1.5 GPA after completing the first 15 credit hours will be dismissed. If a student is unable to get a CGPA of 2.0 after having received a warning letter and after placed on probation, he/she will be dismissed. 4. Re- admission: A student who wants to be re- admitted to the program he/she was dismissed from can apply after a year from the time of dismissal. However a student will be re- admitted if he/she proves that there has been a change in the reasons for his/her dismissal. Conditions for Re- admission: a) A student who achieved cumulative GPA below 1.5 when he/she was dismissed will start as a new student. Then the student is expected to maintain a semester GPA of 2.00; otherwise he/she will not be given re- admission. b) A student who achieved cumulative GPA above 1.5 when he/ she was dismissed will start from where he/she has stopped when dismissed. Such student will be accepted on probation only for two consecutive semesters. c) Minimum GPA required for re- admitted students to continue their studies: CGPA when dismissed Repeating a Course Chrs. taken Before dismissal Minimum Semester GPA required after re- admission to bring the CGPA To 2.0 1.5 30 3.00 1.5 45 3.50 1.5 60 4.00 1.5 >61 Start from the beginning Students may re- register and repeat a course in which they earned an F. They receive the grade, grade points and credits of the repeated course and the grade from the previously failed course is removed from the permanent transcript. The student is not penalized for the first attempt. Attendance, Absence, Tardiness, leave of Absence and Auditing Attendance: The policy of Shiloh Bible College Ethiopia is that 3 unexcused absences will automatically place the student in an audit status for that class, in which case nonacademic credit will be given. 12
Absence: Unexcused absences can affect your grade. Absences can be excused if it is due to an illness, death in the family, or unavoidable job related emergency. Tardiness: Arrival to a class 20 minutes late will be counted as an unexcused absence. Leave of absence: The student who must be absent for an extended period of time will need to apply for a leave of absence from the registrar. The instructors and administrator must sign the leave of absence. This allows the student a period of time which to make up the work missed without loss of credit. All make up work must be completed by the close of the first semester after the student s return to classes. Auditing a Course: a) Students must indicate whether they are enrolling for credit or audit as when they enroll in a class. b) Students are not allowed to audit courses that are required courses in their program. c) There should not be more than 15% of auditors in a given class. d) Priority for class enrollment is given for those desiring to take the course for credit. e) Auditing students should pay audit charges (see tuition and fees) f) A student may change from credit to audit until the fifth week of class. g) Request to audit courses must be referred to the Academic Dean. Transcripts Transcripts of work at SBCE can be obtained by using a transcript request form obtained in the Office of the Registrar. They can also be obtained by a letter of request stating name, date of birth, program of study and last year attended, address to which the transcript is to be mailed, signature and the fee for an official copy (see fee). Unofficial transcripts do not require a fee. The Office or the Registrar processes transcripts within 10 working days of receipt of request. Graduation Requirements 1) The student must return all borrowed books to the library. 2) The student must fulfill all financial obligations to the SBCE, including reimbursement for any lost library books. 3) The student must complete all the required hours of the program of study with a 2.0 grade point average or better. 4) The student must do all Spiritual formation requirements 5) The student should demonstrate evidence of a mature Christian life and commitment during the years in the SBCE and receive the graduating interview committee s recommendation of such. 6) The student should demonstrate evidence of a willingness to serve Christ and His church in Christian community and in the mission field. Academic Honors are awarded as follows: Cum Laude 3.50 GPA Magna Cum Laude 3.75 GPA Summa Cum Laude 3.90 GPA 13
Student Life Student Conduct Students at SBCE must keep the highest standards of Christian conduct, moral and ethical behavior as set forth in scripture. This standard entails every part of the students life in the campus and outside the campus. All students must pursue biblical model of love and holiness in all their life. For instance, students should refrain from premarital and extramarital sexual activity, from malicious comments about others, from gossip and complaining, and from lying and all other forms of dishonesty. SBCE believes in highest academic standards in all academic work. Any form of cheating or plagiarism is therefore totally intolerable (see below). Students are encouraged to have a free interaction of ideas. They are also free to ask questions in class and are free to disagree with the teacher, but should not be argumentative or disruptive. SBCE insists that student should respect one another, their teachers and the school administrators. SBCE also expects the students to have sound relationship with their home church and the doctrines of the home church. If the student fails to conform to these standards or otherwise is such that it harms the student s testimony and that of the school, he/she will be subjected to disciplinary procedures and measures. 1. The case will be first referred to the Dean of Students. 2. The Dean of Students will begin a program of counseling with the students 3. If the behavior of the student does demonstrate improvement, or if the nature of the offence requires immediate disciplinary, the Administrative council will convene to deal with the offence. 4. The disciplinary action, if required, may include one or more of the following: a. Probation b. Suspension c. Expulsion d. Notification of the student s local church 5. Students placed on disciplinary probation may continue with their studies but face immediate disciplinary suspension if there is a further infraction. 6. Students placed on disciplinary suspension may apply to the Colleges Council for re- entry on a probationary basis. 7. Students who are expelled may not apply for re- admission. Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty violations SBCE believes that academic integrity is a fundamental aspect of a person s spiritual character and intellectual development. Thus, plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty deemed to be an affront to the holiness of God. 14
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is taking and using someone else s thoughts, words and writings, music or inventions as one s own original work. Thus, SBCE regards any use of another person s intellectual property without giving due credit as theft. One of the following classifies one s work as plagiarism: a) Using another person s word without giving the proper credit either in the text of writing or footnotes, endnotes or parenthetical citations. b) Using idea of any work of another person without giving due credit. c) Photocopies of any work of another person without acknowledging them. Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty- penalties and process: an instructor who detects academic dishonesty in the work of a student will notify the student in writing and sends a copy of the notification to the Academic Dean and assesses one of the following penalties at his or her discretion: 1. Requires the student to do the work again 2. Gives a lower mark for the assignments by at least one letter grade 3. Gives a zero grade for the assignments. 4. Gives the student an F for the course. 2. Cheating: Cheating occurs when a student is: 1. Copying from previous assignment done by others. 2. Reporting falsely by deliberately manipulating in any way, by altering, suppressing conflicting evidences and so on. 3. Copying from friends or books during exam time. 4. Working on a project or an assignment with other students and presenting it as if it were done alone. 5. Trying to get exam papers or answers before the exam is held. Any student who is caught cheating will be disciplined by: 1. Redoing the work. 2. Reducing the mark for the assignment by at least one letter grade or 3. Forfeiture of all credit for the assignment If the Academic Dean deems that the instance of academic dishonesty is a repeated offense, the student s church will be notified and one or more of the following additional penalties may be incurred: 1. Give the student an F for the course 2. Suspend the student from SBCE for a semester or more after the semester in which the offense occurred. 3. Expel the student from SBCE permanently. 15
SBCE Student Council The purpose of student council is to promote community life and fellowship, organizing students social events, representing student concerns to the administration, and putting together the annual SBCE yearbook. Generally, the student council functions as a liaison between the student body and the administration in an advisory capacity. Hence, SBCE student council: 1. plans and organizes and seeks to develop the community life of the college 2. is responsible for the formation and oversight of the various committees within the college concerning students activities such as the chapel committee, the choir committee and the prayer committee Chapel SBCE encourage students to actively participate in chapel program. The chapel program is designed to render students spiritual nourishment and practice their gifts within the SBCE community. The chapel s program entails worship, prayer and fellowship day. The chapel committee will design program and plans the chapel program and schedules for each year. The worship program is conducted from Monday through Saturday. Prayer programs will be indicated in the academic calendar. Classes will be cancelled for the day and a program of prayer is organized throughout the day and a praise service, with a special speaker, in the evening. It is a must that all students attend these programs. The Fellowship day is intended for fun and fellowship. It gives students opportunity to get to know each other in an informal setting. All students are to be present. Library hours Library Rules and Regulations SBCE s library is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m from Monday through Saturday moring. Yet, the Library is closed 1. during chapel hours 2. on Sundays 3. on days on which SBCE office is closed Book Borrowing: In current situation, SBCE does not loan books to students. Faculty Others a. A book checked out by a faculty can be retained for a semester. b. SBCE expects from the faculty sensitivity to the needs of the students. Other theological schools students or qualified can use the library on condition that they present their credentials to the library staff upon entering the library and request the permission to use the library. However, they are not eligible to sign out books. 16
Admission to the Library Any student who wishes to use the Library has to present student identification card or proper credentials to the Library staff. Library Conduct The purpose of the Library is for quiet study and research. Any students who disturb this atmosphere will be warned once but if he/she repeats, he/she will be asked to leave the library. If there is a need for discussion, students can use one of the classrooms not in use. Personal Properties in the Library Normally no bags or brief cases are allowed in the Library. Women are permitted to take purses into the library provided that they are willing to be inspected by the Library staff. Textbooks can be brought to the library but are subjected to scrutiny by library staff. Current Program Descriptions May be accessed separately on the Website. 17
I. Advanced Diploma in Theology : This program has two categories: accredited and non- accredit diploma program. a) Accredited diploma program is designed for students who meet the entrance requirements of the national education policy for higher education at diploma level and who aspire to continue their studies in Degree level. It is intended to train and equip those who aspire to do general ministry in their church by providing them foundational Christian doctrines, Biblical studies, Basic Biblical leadership principles, basic mission and historical studies and practical guidelines for Christian life. b) The non- accredited diploma program is for the Amharic media program, but it is similar to that of the accredited diploma program as to content, quality and breadth. Specific objectives of Diploma program: the graduates of this program will demonstrate maturity in the following three areas (Knowing, Being and Doing). Knowing (Knowledge): The graduates 1. will have foundational biblical, theological and historical knowledge of Christian faith. 2. will have adequate knowledge to teach and preach the message of the Gospel at small group, congregation and at certificate level. 3. will have adequate knowledge of the principles of interpretation of Scripture, presenting the message of the Gospel with clarity and have biblical study techniques to further their own study of the scripture 4. will have basic knowledge of Christian leadership principles Being (Character): The graduates 5. will be established in their Christian faith and become true worshiper and servant in the Kingdom of God 6. will demonstrate mature Christian character by relating the principles of the Bible to today s world. 7. will demonstrate obedience to the word of God and experience of the power and gifts of the Spirit. 8. will have assurance in their calling and confidence in their ministry and in the message they present. 9. will display humility by respecting their brothers and sisters in Christ and learning from the community of faith. 10. will be prepared to be committed to a sacrificial and responsible life for the cause of Jesus Christ. 11. will be prepared to be committed to a lifelong learning Doing (skills): The graduates will be able 18
12. to prepare teaching materials on basic church teachings for small groups and certificate level Bible schools 13. to prepare clear, powerful, and biblically consistent sermon and be able to deliver them effectively 14. to counsel in areas of common family and ministry problems and difficulties 15. to lead small churches 16. to make disciples through the word and example of their life Core values to be taught throughout the program and infused in some way into every course: 1. Christian character a. reflecting the fruit of the Holy Spirit b. encouraging sacrificial life for the cause of Christ c. stewardship, holiness, honesty, faithfulness, keeping commitment 2. Worshiping God and Jesus our Lord in humility and in the Spirit according to the Scripture 3. Jesus as the model of Christian life and ministry 4. The scripture as the final authority of for life and practice 5. Affirming gifts of the Holy Spirit for today 6. Servant leadership as modeled by Jesus and New Testament apostles 7. The relevance of the course to today s issues 8. Promoting unity in the church and respecting one another s expression of faith in Christ 9. Affirming and developing students calling and ministry 10. Developing the necessary skills for communicating and presenting the Gospel, leading and making disciples. 11. The Great commission in the form it is given in John 20:21 19
Advanced Diploma in Theology Entrance Requirements: Applicants: Must have faith in Christ for at least 2 years Must be involved in active ministry in their local churches Must be able to present recommendation letter from their churches that describes their Christian life and calling Academic Requirements: A) Accredited Advanced Diploma program a. ESLCE (old program) a minimum of G.P.A 1.8 is required. b. Grade 10 EGLCE (New program) a minimum G.P.A of 2.0 is required c. High school transcript d. Other academic documents ( if available) e. Two photos of the applicant f. Pass SBCE entrance exam B) Non- Accredited Diploma Program: a. ESLCE (Old program) a minimum of G.P.A 1.5 is required. b. Grade 10 EGLCE (New Program) a minimum of G.P.A 1.6 is required. c. High School Transcript d. Other academic documents (if available) e. Two photos of the applicant 20
Advanced Diploma in Theology Curriculum To graduate both from accredited and non- accredited Advanced Diploma Program (Amharic) requires a satisfactory completion of 90 semester hours of academic credit. Every course is a three credit hour course which takes 56 class hours (48 clock hours) of study. A fulltime student can finish the program in three years whereas a part- time student finishes in four years. Distribution of Courses and Credit Hours by Division for Diploma in Theology Division Number of Courses Credit hours Biblical Studies 6 18 Theological Studies 6 18 Leadership Studies/Ministerial Studies 6 18 Historical and Mission Studies 2 6 Spiritual formation / Christian living 1 3 General Education 6 18 Reported Ministry 2 - Electives 3 9 Total 32 90 Percentage The Requirements of Advanced Diploma in Theology Program are as follows: Division of Biblical Studies: BS102 New Testament Survey... 3 BS101 Old Testament Survey...3 BS107 Gospel (Matthew, Luke, Mark or John).....3 BS103 Romans and Galatians.......3 BS105 Biblical Praise and Worship...3 BS108 Book of Acts. 3 Total..18 Division of Theological Studies: TS201 Theology I (Bible, God, Man and Sin... 3 TS 202Theology II (Christ, Salvation and the Holy Spirit).3 TS204 Ecclesiology and Church Sacraments.. 3 TS209 Doctrine of Islam.......3 TS205 Christian Ethics.. 3 TS 208 Cult...3 Total. 18 Division of Leadership /Ministerial studies: CL302 Pastoral Care /Ministry.... 3 CL301 Biblical Foundation of Christian leadership.......3 CL304 Hermeneutics.......3 CL305 Homiletics.....3 CL306 Principles of Making Disciples..3 CL3 307 Principles of Personal Discipleship for Leaders....3 Total.......18 Division of Historical and Mission Studies: HS401 History of Christianity....3 HS402 Biblical Theological of Mission....3 Total. 6 General Education: GS601 Basic English Grammar I...3 GS602 Basic English Grammar II.....3 GS602 Basic Writing and Reading I... 3 GS605 Composition and Writing....3 21
GS604 Psychology....3 Spiritual Formation: Total...18 SP501 Personal B. Study and Prayer Sequence of Diploma in Theology Courses Full- time students are advised to follow the following sequence of courses to finish within two years. First Year First semester BS101 OT Survey..... 3 hours BS102 NT Survey.....3 hours TS201 Theology I...3 hours SP 501 Spiritual Gift.....3 hours GS601 Basic English Grammar I..3 hours 15 hours First Semester CL304Hermeneutics...3hours BS106 Biblical Praise and Worship...3hours HS401History of Christianity...3hours GS603 Basic Writing and Reading Skill...3hours TS 204 Ecclesiology and Church Sacrament... 3hours Total 15hours First Semester BS109 Book of Acts..3hours TS203 Pneumatology...3hours TS209 Doctrine of Islam..3hours TS203 Christian Ethics.....3hours GS612 Composition and Reading II.3hours Total.15 January Interim Second Year Third Year Second Semester TS202 Theology II... 3hours TS208 Cults.... 3hours CL301 BF for Christian Leadership.3hours GS614 Basic English Grammar II and Speaking..3 hours SP502 Personal Discipleship for Leader 3 hours 15 hours Second Semester BS 103 Romans and Galatians 3hours CL 304 Homiletics..3hours CL302 Pastoral Care/Pastoral Ministry. 3hours TS 206 African Traditional Religion. 3hours GS603 Composition and Reading...3hours 15 Hours Second Semester TS 207 Eschatology..3hours CLM 901 Christian Counseling..3hours BS107 Gospel (Matthew, Mark or Luke).3 hours HS M 402 B Theology of Mission.. 3hours GS604 Psychology.. 3hours Total 15 22
Advanced Diploma in Theology Course Description Biblical Studies BS102 NT Survey This course surveys the 27 New Testament books with respect to history, author, date, literary genre, purpose of writing, addressees, theology and important themes. The course is designed to give students basic understanding of each book in relation to its place in the New Testament Canon and planted solidly in the historical and cultural context of the Greco- Roman world. Also, this course attempts to demonstrate the continuity and discontinuity between the Old and New Testament revelation. It is gives a general introduction to foundational Christian doctrines, Christian life and Christian mission. (Prerequisite: Old Testament Survey) BS101 OT Survey This course is an overview of the 39 OT books of Law, History, Poetry and Prophets. The course gives pertinent background on history, purpose of writing, date of writing, literary genre, addressees and authors of each book. It gives special focus to the story of salvation, God s plan for the world, the covenants of God, messianic prophecies and how Jesus Christ is seen throughout the Old Testament. Also, this course demonstrates the continuity and discontinuity of the Old and The New Testaments embracing the narrative structure and presentation of the story of God s people through God s dealing with Israel. In so doing, this course builds the foundation for other New Testament theology. BS107 Gospels: (Matthew, Mark or Luke) This course is designed to do detail study of one of the Gospels. Its historical, cultural, textual, theological, missiological and practical aspect will be studied in detail. It demonstrates the fulfillment of the promises made in the Old Testament about the Messiah and special emphasis will be give to its principle for practical Christian life. Taking any one of the synoptic Gospels gives exposure to the basic teaching of other two gospels. The course also practically engages students in exegetical work to employ interpretation principles in their study. (Prerequisite: New Testament Survey BS103 Romans and Galatians This course is an exegetical book study of two of Paul s most important epistles. This course explores and discusses Paul s theology of sin, grace, salvation, the law, the relationship of Israel and the New Testament people of God, the Spirit and Christian life in the context of the two epistles. Special emphasis is given to the teaching on bondage and liberty in context of Paul s teaching and refuting false teaching. The course gives a verse- by verse study and students completing the course will find themselves better equipped for living today in liberty, and better able to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. Also, this course engages students to apply exegetical and interpretation principles in their studies. (Prerequisites: New Testament Survey) TS201 Theology I This course is the first of a two part series on basic Christian Theology. Pat I covers Christian doctrines related to the Bible, God, Angles, Man and Sin. The course is intended to give students basic knowledge of Christian teaching. It discusses revelation, inspiration, the authority and reliability of Christian Scriptures, the nature and character of God, Trinity, the nature of man, the nature of sin and effects of sin. The course is also designed in a way that students develop the habit of worshiping God in reverence and holy life. 23
TS202 Theology II This course builds upon Theology I and explores the doctrine of Christ, Salvation, Redemption and the Holy Spirit. Since Christology is one of the doctrines that significantly mark Christian faith, this course gives special emphasis and time to discuss Christology in depth and wider breadth. It also discusses Ethiopian Orthodox teaching on Christology and show the difference between the evangelical teachings on Christ. Also, the course introduces both the historical debate and current teaching on Christ particularly pertaining to Ethiopian context. In addition to Christology, this course discusses various evangelical understandings of salvation and explores biblical text seeking for balanced teaching on salvation and redemption. Moreover, the course introduces the nature and place of the Holy Spirit in Christian faith and practical life. TS204 Ecclesiology and Church Sacrament This course is an- in- depth study of the nature, responsibility and functions of the church, focusing on the leadership ministries in the local church as presented in the New Testament. Different traditions of church government are discussed. The course covers aspects and relationships of five- fold ministry, and eight- fold supporting ministries and outreaches. The course raises issues of church leadership in Ethiopian particularly eldership and five- fold ministry seeking to give balanced and bible- based principles and answers to students. In addition, the course discusses church sacraments like water Baptism and the Lord s Supper from biblical texts. However, the course gives respect and freedom to different churches understanding of these sacraments. TS209 Doctrine of Islam This course is designed to introduce students to the doctrine of Islam and basic teachings help students to respond to challenges leveled against their faith from Islam. It also gives students a better understanding of the situation of Islam and its challenge in Ethiopia and the responsibility of Christians. Christ in the Koran and Muslim concept of man, Sin and revelation are discussed. Leadership and Ministerial Courses CL304 Hermeneutics This course is designed to give students foundational principles for the interpretation of scripture. It discusses different methods of interpretation beginning from patristic and up to modern thought. Evaluation of each interpretation method will be presented. Special emphasis is placed upon the specific principles of interpretation within a historical, grammatical and literary approach to biblical interpretation. Students will practice the principles with selected text. The narrative dimension of Scripture and its implication for biblical interpretation is also explored. CL301 Biblical Foundations of Christian Leadership This course explores the topic of leadership from a biblical and theological perspective. Essential biblical principles bearing on the purpose and character of leadership will be examined. Instances of leadership in the Old and New Testaments will be analyzed within their biblical context, and in terms of contemporary understanding of leadership, with a special focus on the leadership of Jesus Christ as seen in the New Testament. The Scriptural paradigms of servants and shepherd, as models for leadership, will be discussed in details. 24