Eligibility
The bachelor level programme of study “Pentecostal Pastoral Theology” is open to any member of a Pentecostal Church, who has earned a High School (or higher) degree. ITPB is following an equal opportunities policy in its admissions practices. The bachelor programme is also open for ministers in the Romanian Christian Pentecostal Denomination who lack a bachelor level theological education (both, ordained and lay ministers). With such candidates in mind, ITPB is operating a non-residential bachelor programme, in which, persons who cannot attend regular classes have also access to theological education. The bachelor programme in Pentecostal Pastoral Theology aims to offer appropriate training to current and future ministers. As such, it is student oriented, designed to focus what and how the student learns and not on where such learning takes place.
The perspectives of the bachelor programme “Pentecostal Pastoral Theology”
Efficiency in pastoral ministry is directly proportionate to the professional quality of the ordained personnel, the decision-making personnel in the Romanian Christian Pentecostal Denomination, but also to the openness and trust the lay believer has to be pastored. Given these, professional improvement of all aspects pertaining to pastoral ministry (biblical knowledge, communication, spiritual counselling and management) is an objective of ITPB. Therefore, we aim that future ministers are amply trained for pastoral work, both in regard with the functioning of the ecclesial structures within which they will work and the practical application of all its aspects.
Regarding preaching, future ministers are expected to become well acquainted both, with methods of reading and interpreting the biblical text, and with the most efficient ways and methods to communicate the message of the Bible to an audience that has high expectations.
The spiritual assistance provided for the church members requires that the minister not only knows the general spiritual needs of human beings, but also that he has the ability to relate well to each member of the believing community for which he is responsible and to which he is accountable.
Regarding the managerial aspect, ministers face exciting new responsibilities, both in terms of the administration of resources, including human resources (both, volunteers and employees), and in regard with the development of the ecclesial community in light of a society in continuous transformation.
Given the profile of the educational programme offered, ITPB’s alumni are working in various religious institutions that are part of the Romanian Christian Pentecostal Denomination, either as ordained or lay ministers, or as religious educators in private and state owned schools, or as educators within various non-profit organisations, as counsellors, missionaries, or even in companies that provide educational and media services, as translators, editors and producers of media programmes. Some alumni have occupied positions in the leadership structures of the Denomination and others work in various capacities in the Romanian Pentecostal communities in diaspora.