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Policy Statement:

The Discipleship Training School (DTS/CDTS) is a prerequisite to all other U of N training schools and degree programme. All U of N applicants must satisfactorily complete a Discipleship Training School (DTS/CDTS), including the outreach or field assignment, before being permitted to attend any other course/school, or being accepted into a degree programme. It is the responsibility of all post-DTS school leaders to inform all prospective students of this "DTS First"

Operational Definition of Terms:

For the purposes of this policy a Discipleship Training School is defined as any YWAM/U of N Discipleship Training School (DTS) or Crossroads Discipleship Training School (CDTS), whose lecture phase is at least eleven (11) weeks in duration, and whose outreach or field assignment is at least eight (8) weeks in duration in accordance with the guidelines established for the DTS/CDTS by the YWAM International Office of Training and the YWAM/U of N DTS Centre.

Purpose:

This policy is set out in order to establish YWAM corporate values and ministry philosophy for the DTS/CDTS into a written format which sets out the normal expectations, valid exceptions, and criteria upon which exceptions are granted, as well as the procedures whereby these are accomplished.

Foundational Values/Principles/Scriptures:

  • YWAM is called to participate actively in fulfilling the Great Commission through preaching the gospel and discipling all nations (Act 13:2; 16:19).

  • YWAM is relationship oriented. We emphasize openness, humility and communication rather than dependence on structure and rules (1Jo 1:7; Gal 5:1).

  • YWAM is committed to understanding the character and ways of God, to hearing God's voice and seeking His counsel as part of the process of decision making (Rom 10:17; Joh 5:30).

  • YWAM is called to recognize the value of godly character in an individual over and above his gifts, abilities and expertise (Php 4:8-9).

  • The U of N approach to education is based upon 2Pe 1:5-8 which stresses balanced development in every area of life B in faith, virtue (character), knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.

  • The U of N live-learn philosophy is a community learning concept. It is based on the scriptural principle of a body of believers who are one in spirit and working together as a team toward the same objectives. It implies a sharing of resources, ideas, talents, and a working together in unity.

Scope:

All applicants to U of N courses/schools and training programme.

Exceptions:

  1. U of N Seminars

  2. 1969-1978 YWAM School of Evangelism

  3. 1977-1986 GENESIS dicipleship training program

  4. 1988 - 2003 YWAM Mercy Ships DTS/CDTS

  5. DTS/CDTS Outreach Deferral

  6. Amnesty for Unregistered and Pre-U of N DTS/CDTS

  7. Transfer Credit for Unregistered YWAM DTS/CDTS

  8. Last Days Ministries

  9. Failure to do a DTS first

1. U of N Seminars

Persons may attend and accumulate up to twelve credits for U of N seminars prior to completing the DTS/CDTS, but only 6 seminar credits in any one course.

2. 1969-1978 YWAM School of Evangelism

Persons who have completed a 1969-1978 YWAM School of Evangelism (SOE) may have their SOE substituted as an equivalent course for this requirement, provided that it qualifies under the established amnesty credit policy and procedures.

3. 1977-1986 GENESIS dicipleship training program

Applicants who completed the GENESIS discipleship training program between 1977 and 1986 may be admitted to and provisionally receive credit for U of N courses under the ‘YWAM DTS/CDTS Transfer Credit Policy and Procedure' guidelines provided that:

a. The student supplies the necessary documentation on a "Historical Course Documentation Form" to the International DTS Centre Director.

b. the school meets the requirements for approval.

GENESIS participants prior to 1977, and after 1986, do not qualify for this policy exception and therefore cannot be considered for credit.

Transfer credit for non-registered YWAM schools will only be posted to the transcript if it is the final course for a U of N degree and is not transferable to another institution.

4. 1988 - 2003 YWAM Mercy Ships DTS/CDTS

Applicants who completed the DTS/CDTS, including both lecture and field assignment phases, at any of the YWAM Mercy Ships locations between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 2003 may be admitted to and provisionally receive credit for their DTS/CDTS based on the documentation provided by Mercy Ships to the U of N International Registrars Offices.

After December 31, 2003 , Mercy Ships training programmes are no longer connected to, nor registered with YWAM/U of N and therefore will not receive U of N credit.

5. DTS/CDTS Outreach Deferral

Deferral Policy: In rare instances it may be appropriate that a person who has completed the lecture course of the DTS/CDTS after December 31, 1991 may be allowed to temporarily defer their DTS/CDTS outreach for a period up to 24 months for reasons of health, personal/family emergency, leave of absence and other timing issues such as schooling for children, or other extenuating circumstances.

Deferral Procedure: Any deferrals must be approved under the following conditions:

  1. They obtain a written recommendation from their DTS/CDTS school leader/Director to have their outreach deferred, and

  2. The joint recommendation is approved by the local YWAM base Director a Council.

Specific approvals required to accomplish the deferral under this provision may vary depending upon the structure at each local base. However, the principle of a check and balance procedure which incorporates the DTS/CDTS school leader and culminates with the approval of the local YWAM base council should be followed.

Deferral Extension (for schools taken after December 31, 1991): In the event that the outreach is not completed within the two year time frame allowed, the person's) would have to retake the DTS/CDTS lecture phase unless permission was received from their DTS/CDTS school leader and the DTS/CDTS Director for an extension of time to complete the outreach, not to exceed an additional 6 month period of time.

Deferral Exception: If a person completed their DTS/CDTS lecture phase prior to December 31, 1991 without completing the field assignment/outreach phase, they will be required to complete a YWAM DTS/CDTS field assignment/outreach before continuing onto other U of N schools. This provision is without time limitations for schools taken prior to December 31, 1991.

6. Amnesty for Unregistered and Pre-U of N DTS/CDTS

  1. Applicants who have completed a DTS/CDTS, including the outreach, before December 31, 1991 which is not a U of N registered school, may be admitted to and provisionally receive credit for U of N courses under U of N amnesty policy guidelines as follows. Each applicant's DTS/CDTS will be reviewed under amnesty guidelines and evaluated for meeting the prerequisite minimum requirements: 11 week lecture phase and 8 week field assignment. If the prerequisite minimum requirements are not met for either the lecture or the field assignment phase, the student will be required to make up the deficiencies.

  2. For schools taken after December 31, 1991 any deficiencies will have to be made up prior to any credit being finalized and before continuing on to other U of N schools. If no programme deficiencies are determined to exist in either the lecture or field assignment, credits will be assigned and the prerequisite will be deemed to have been fulfilled.

Amnesty credit will be posted to the transcript only upon completion of all other U of N degree requirements and is not transferable to another institution.

7. Transfer Credit for Unregistered YWAM DTS/CDTS

Applicants who have completed a DTS/CDTS, including the outreach, after December 31, 1991 which is not a U of N registered school, may be admitted to and provisionally receive credit for YWAM courses under 'YWAM Transfer Credit Policy' guidelines as follows. Only students registered for a U of N degree programme may request transfer credit for non-registered YWAM DTS/CDTS and entry level SOE only provided that:

  1. the student supplies the necessary documentation on a "Historical Course Documentation Form" to the International DTS Centre Director.

  2. the school meets the requirements for approval.

Transfer credit for non-registered YWAM schools will only be posted to the transcript if it is the final course for a U of N degree and is not transferable to another institution.

8. Last Days Ministries

  1. Intensive Christian Training (ICT) conducted prior to September, 1991: Applicants who have completed Last Days Ministries' Intensive Christian Training (ICT) programme (prior to September, 1991) may attend U of N courses/schools after having satisfactorily fulfilled the provisions of the Last Days Ministries ICT/YWAM DTS equivalency policy.

  2. DTS between September 1991 and March 1994: Applicants who have completed the Last Days Ministries DTS (not the ICT) ; between September 1991 and March 1994 may apply to the International DTS Centre of the U of N to receive YWAM transfer credit upon completion of all necessary documentation, including verification by the school leader. Please refer to the document entitled YWAM DTS - CDTS Transfer Credit Policy and Procedure.

Credit will only be posted to the transcript only upon completion of all other U of N Degree requirements and is not transferable to another institution.

9. Failure to do a DTS first

Students who have inadvertently done YWAM/U of N schools before completing a DTS/CDTS (both lecture and outreach/field assignment phases) will not receive credit for those schools except in extremely rare instances. In those highly unusual situations, the student may submit a formal appeal to the International College/Faculty Dean. In most instances the appeal will stop at this point. Should the International College/Faculty Dean believe it to be a legitimate appeal, it is forwarded to the Provost, then to the President and then finally to the Board of Regents.