The Black Church Studies Certificate Program (BCSCP) at Yale Divinity School (YDS) offers a Certificate in Black Church Studies for students who wish to respond to the evolving work of the Black Church and to the critical needs of marginalized communities. The program is open to students interested in serving in historically Black congregations, and /or who are inspired by the rich and ecumenically diverse traditions of the Black Church.
The BCSCP at YDS supports the inquiry of, and engagement with, practices of African American churches and other Christian communities throughout the African Diaspora. To cultivate such inquiry the BCS Certificate Program offers opportunities for dialogue with emerging and existing leaders in the Black church and in the broader community.
Through course work, colloquia, special lectures and other culturally relevant events, the BCSCP creates the opportunity for innovative and interdisciplinary thinking, and space for dialogue that supports the development of a student’s unique voice and perspective on Black religious life.
BCSCP Requirements
- Course work of at least twelve (12) credit hours of African American religious inquiry. One course must examine some aspect of African American history.
- Participation in one (1) colloquium per semester
- Participation in either the annual YDS/ New Haven Pilgrimage or the Biennial BCSCP Retreat.
- Complete one (1) supervised ministry in a BCSCP approved site.
- Participate in a regular meeting designed specifically for BCSCP participants.
- MDiv students are required to confirm with the BCSCP director their intention to receive the BCS certificate at the beginning of their second year of study, no later than the last day to change a course grade for that semester.
- MAR students are required to confirm with the BCSCP director their intention to receive the BCS certificate at the beginning of the spring semester of their first year of study, no later than the last day to change a course grade for that semester.
- STM students are required to confirm with the BCSCP director their intention to receive the BCS certificate at the beginning of their course of study, no later than the last day to change a course grade for that semester. STM students are also required to offer a presentation tied to their research project in relation to Black Church Studies, at the end of their course of study.
For Spring 2025
Spring 2025 course work that meets the requirements for the Black Church Studies Certificate Program are listed below:
- REL 3615 Managing Crisis in Churches and Non Profits
- REL 3630 Church Music Skills
- REL 613 Christian Hymnody*
- REL 614 Introduction to Womanist Theology and Ethics*
- REL 626 Systematic Theology
- REL 807 Introduction to Pastoral Theology and Care
- REL 810 My Neighbor’s Faith: Building Interreligious Community
- REL 812 Principles and Practices of Preaching
- REL 823 Trauma, Moral Injury and Crisis Ministry
- REL 834 Preaching for Introverts
- REL 942 Islam at the Intersections: Readings in Liberation, Race, Gender and Sexuality
- REL 948 The Gospel Imagination: Tradition and Revolution*
- REL 980 Lived Religion in Nairobi: Travel Seminar
- REL 994 Moral Issues in Public Policy: Poverty, Health Care and Voting Rights
The courses starred * satisfy the BCSCP history course requirement.
Please note that REL 3990 Negotiating Boundaries in Ministerial Relationships is a prerequisite for any supervised ministry.