NYTS Announces Launch of the Master of Arts in Religious Leadership and Administration for Fall 2014

New York Theological Seminary will launch a new Master of Arts in Religious Leadership and Administration (MARLA) degree this fall. The 48-credit graduate degree is designed to prepare women and men for administrative leadership in churches, other religious institutions, and faith-based organizations. The program integrates foundational theological disciplines with the best management and leadership practices germane to faith-based and non-profit organizations. Candidates for the degree can expect to acquire analytical and strategic knowledge and skills that are designed to enhance growth and promote sustainability in religious and non-profit organizations.

The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Hostetter, former CEO of Vinik Asset Management, current Chair of Auburn Theological Seminary’s Board of Directors, and Trustee and Adjunct Faculty at New York Theological Seminary, is the Director of the MARLA program. Dr. Hostetter brings to the position a wealth of knowledge of leadership in both the religious and non-profit world. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, he is currently an Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. In addition to serving as a Trustee at both Auburn and NYTS, he has been a member of the board for several other organizations, including The Actors Fund, Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, and Holmes Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center in New York. Dr. Hostetter holds both an MDiv and a DD from New York Theological Seminary, as well as a BA from Harvard and a JD from Columbia Law School.

The MARLA is the fourth professional MA degree now offered by NYTS. Like these other three professional MAs (in Pastoral Care and Counseling, Religious Education, and Youth Ministry), the MARLA includes face-to-face and online instruction, with classes offered in the evenings and on some Saturdays, and several entirely online. Courses in the degree include Leadership Theory and Practice; Ethics for Religious Administrators; Basic Accounting for Churches and Non-Profit Administration; Non-Profit Organizations and the Law; Strategic Planning; Religious and Non-Profit Financial Administration; and Stewardship and Development. During their first year in the program candidates for the degree attend two overnight retreats with candidates from other master’s degree programs at the Seminary. MARLA students must also complete a year-long practicum in a field placement that is appropriate for their degree. Students in all NYTS degree programs have access to the library system of Columbia University, which includes the Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary.

Prospective candidates for the MARLA are normally expected to possess an accredited undergraduate degree or its equivalent, and should be ready to prepare for specialized service in the area of administrative leadership. Prospective candidates should also be ready to work in a faith-based or non-profit organization as part of their education. Applications are accepted at any time, and candidates who are accepted can enroll in the next scheduled semester or intensive period. For further information on admissions or for an application contact:

New York Theological Seminary
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 500
New York, NY 10115
(212) 870-1211