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Innovation and Spiritual Entrepreneurship Class

Brite Divinity School is excited to announce that this academic year we have been selected to join eight other seminaries around the country to participate in a unique class experience focused on Innovation and Spiritual Entrepreneurship. Up to eight students can participate in this experience which includes a January intensive travel class and a local ministry experience planned and carried out during this academic year.

 We're seeking eight innovative, passionate students who are ready to collaborate, learn, and make a lasting impact. This class includes two primary aspects:

1. “STARTUP BUS” TRAVEL CLASS, January 8-17, 2025

This fully-funded travel class will be a “Startup Bus” experience in which students will fly to Princeton, NJ on January 8, 2025 to join with students from two other seminaries on a bus on which you will work in small groups on a ministry problem or a project of your choosing. The bus will make stops at innovative ministry sites until meeting up with two other buses in New Orleans and presenting your ministry project on January 16, 2025. Students will return to DFW on January 17, 2025. In addition to coverage of travel and meal expenses, participating students will receive a $1,000 stipend to help make this experience more accessible for working students. Please note that participation in this course means missing the first week of class in the spring semester. The faculty have given their approval for this, but students will be expected to make up any missed work.

2. LOCAL MINISTRY EXPERIMENT

While the Startup Bus will be the main focus of the January intensive, this cohort will work together over the course of the full academic year to imagine, execute, and evaluate a local ministry experiment in collaboration with a community partner.  The experience will begin in the fall by identifying a local problem or project on which to focus, choosing a community partner with whom to collaborate, and planning for the experiment. After the startup bus experience, students will use the spring semester to take their new skills and apply them to the ministry experiment, execute the experiment, and evaluate the experiment.

Why should you apply?

  • Collaboration: Work with like-minded students to create innovative and impactful ministries.

  • Learning: Gain valuable skills in entrepreneurship, design, and social and ministerial innovation.

  • Experience:  Participate in a unique Startup Bus experience with seminarians from around the country.

  • Recognition: Receive 3-hour course credit and a nominal stipend.

Who are we looking for?

Master's level students with a passion for making a difference and the ability to work together to achieve a forward-facing goal. We value diverse perspectives and experience and the ability to see teamwork make the dream work.

Students will be expected to:

  • Participate fully throughout the 2024-2025 academic year.

  • Engage in hands-on learning projects and community partnerships.

  • Develop your entrepreneurial mindset and leadership skills.

  • Be available for the full January term experience, January 8-17, 2025

If you have questions, please reach out to Dr. Erin Edwards, our Director of Ecclesial Innovation, who will be teaching this course and leading this cohort.  Her email is e.r.edwards@tcu.edu.