City Ministry Initiative

Reaching Cities With A Kingdom Perspective

The goal of Covenant Seminary's City Ministry Initiative is to prepare God's servants to proclaim and demonstrate the gospel of the Kingdom in a variety of urban and multicultural contexts around the globe. Through an emphasis on biblical principles such as justice, mercy, and reconciliation, the City Ministry Initiative seeks to help every seminary student develop a broader Kingdom perspective and to consider the implications for the church as it ministers in city centers.

The City Ministry Initiative works closely with both the World Mission office and the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute to engage in and reflect on the practice of city ministry. It offers training through:

• courses and special seminars that survey subjects such as church-based community ministry, the Gospel and race, urban and multi-cultural church planting, youth ministry across cultures, poverty from a biblical perspective.
• on-campus student organizations, annual conferences related to city ministry
• the Master of Arts in Religion and Cultures (MARC) degree and the city ministry concentration available to students pursuing the Master of Divinity (MDiv) or Master of Arts (Theological Studies) (MATS) degrees.
• networking with local city churches and for valuable ministry experience an and opportunities to fulfill field education requirements.
• Partnerships and collaborations with various St. Louis-area churches and ministry organizations, as well as those in other strategic locations, provide unique service opportunities and exposure to ministry in urban contexts.

Faculty Leadership in City Ministry

Covenant Seminary faculty members bring a variety of urban ministry experiences to bear in their efforts to train students to proclaim the gospel in city settings around the world.

Dr. Gregory R. Perry, associate professor of New Testament, came to Covenant Seminary in 2003, following more than 10 years of ministry in local churches and on the mission field. While teaching theology in Australia, Dr. Perry chaired a task force to assess and support Australian church planters. He has also served on pastoral church staffs in Atlanta and Northern Virginia, working with small groups, pastoral care, and ministry to single adults. Dr. Perry has been involved in several creative nonprofit ministries seeking to embody the gospel while addressing social challenges in urban Atlanta and Washington, DC. He is currently a board member of Third Millennium, an organization created to bring theological education to church leaders in the developing world. Dr. Perry has a heart to disciple students in creative cultural applications of the gospel.

Dr. Nelson Jennings, professor of world mission, served for 13 years with the Presbyterian Church in America's Mission to the World in Japan, where he was involved with both church-planting and theological education. He currently is president of Presbyterian Mission International, which supports several missionaries who are serving in urban contexts that can provide students with service opportunities. Dr. Jennings and Dr. Philip Douglass (see below) have team-taught courses with a city ministry focus.

Dr. Philip Douglass, professor of practical theology, served as a pastor for 14 years in the Washington, DC area, where he planted three churches. Since coming to St. Louis, Dr. Douglass has started two churches and served for six years as pastor of a local church where he mentored students while continuing to teach full-time at the seminary. Typically, each semester he offers a Church Planting Field Trip for Covenant Seminary students.

Professor Jerram Barrs has been an ongoing catalyst for combating racism. Other faculty members have particular city ministry experiences as well, and the entire faculty shares the burden of encouraging city ministry concerns among all students.

In addition, frequent guest speakers at City Ministry Initiative events and activities provide helpful insights and perspectives on city ministry issues.

Resources for City Ministry

Resources for Urban Ministry (pdf, 105.04KB)
Top 10 Recommended Resources on Urban Ministry (pdf, 73.73KB)

City Ministry Feature Article: "Diaconal Ministries of Justice and Mercy," (pdf, 153.36KB) by Covenant Seminary graduate Tripp Sanders (MDiv '07), offers a helpful perspective on practicing ministry in an urban context.