NAIITS encourages the development and implementation of Indigenous learning styles and world views through encouraging the development of a body of written work that addresses biblical, theological, and ethical issues from within Native North American and other Indigenous perspectives. We do so in concert with those of other ethnicities who would speak into this context. NAIITS currently has five degree program partnerships offering MA and Ph.D programs.
We seek to facilitate the creation of foundations for:
a. The visioning of new paradigms to reach Native North Americans and other Indigenous peoples with the Good News of Jesus; and,
b. The contextualization of the Good News in Indigenous communities
We seek to develop theological partnerships with other cultural communities of faith which will ensure the voice of Jesus is heard in all ways and will ensure biblical orthodoxy in all things. NAIITS is dedicated to genuine dialogue with the historical traditions of Christianity and values the written and living resources encompassed in these traditions
Please use this link to access the NAIITS Online-Learning Site.
For Scholarship Applicants, please fill out the Scholarship Application Form and submit it
NAIITS is dedicated to equipping men and women for meaningful engagement within their own communities, other local cultural contexts as well as globally. The MA-INCD has been designed and tailored for Indigenous people, those serving in Indigenous communities and others simply interested in a non-Western approach to community development education. The MA-INCD focuses on a mutual learning exchange between cultures within and beyond North America. The program is multidisciplinary and strives to develop each participant’s heart and mind through the disciplines of anthropology, sociology, asset-based philosophy and development methods, as well as theology, ethics and spiritual formation.
The Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies program engages a mutual learning exchange between cultures within and beyond North America. The program is multidisciplinary and strives to develop each co-learner’s heart and mind through the disciplines of anthropology, missiology, theology, Bible, church history, ethics and spiritual formation. The program is holistic in scope, seeking to create opportunities for co-learners to gain both knowledge and experience appropriate for the 21st century.
This graduate theological degree is designed and taught by Indigenous scholars and practitioners. Gain a multidisciplinary understanding of Indigenous theology, history and praxis. Encourage others to fully embrace being an Indigenous follower of Jesus Christ. Assist your community in following God’s call. Inspire people to embrace their Indigenous culture. Learn how to fully engage your ministry and its Indigenous context.
The program encourages students to develop Indigenous and contextual approaches to biblical studies, theology and ministry practice in an integrated, community based program. The program is intended to equip Indigenous students that are serving or plan to serve as pastors, chaplains, youth ministers, or leaders in bi-vocational ministry that require specific ministerial focused skills. To this end, the new field experience practicum in a contextual church plant and/or historic contextual congregation, currently under development, will provide a solid, mentored base for consolidating course-based learning.
The NAIITS PhD program is a degree undertaken through supervised research in divinity or one or more of its associated disciplines. The PhD has been created to redress the dearth of Indigenous thinking, writing, and leadership at the highest levels of Christian theology, biblical, ethical and community development studies and teaching.
Excellence in these fields leads the way in the development of more effective Indigenous Christian ministry and praxis. NAIITS’ vision, “to see men and women journey down the road of a living heart relationship with Jesus in a transformative way which does not require the rejection of their Creator-given social and cultural identity”, is uniquely achieved through the NAIITS PhD program.
For more information about the NAIITS PhD, please contact Damian Costello, Director of Post-graduate Studies at dcostello@naiits.com
Explore theology, history and the practice of ministry from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and world Indigenous perspectives.
Traditionally, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities did not compartmentalise their spirituality, or faith. Communities developed their own theologies but these were not necessarily the same as western ideas of theology. Indigenous life is experiential and therefore theology was practice!
In the 21st century, much has changed. We still focus our energies on helping people walk out life in a good way. Now it is a path centered in the person, work, life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus that is also rooted in Indigenous cultures and histories. Whether in the development of new theologies or in our forums for dialogue and teaching, it is this understanding that we speak of as our path toward wholeness.