Wayne Hopkins, of Marshall County, received his certification in the Program of Alternate Studies from the Memphis Theological Seminary, having completed course work to be a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Hopkins participated in a graduation ceremony Saturday at the Bethel University campus in McKenzie, Tenn. He has been ordained and installed as the pastor at Macedonia Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dalton. Hopkins was one of seven to graduate in Saturday’s ceremony.
The Program of Alternative Studies is an alternate route to ordination for approved participants who wish to become Cumberland Presbyterian clergy. Participants are chosen by the local presbytery, according to Memphis Theological Seminary, and must receive at least a two-thirds vote of approval from present members to be considered a candidate of the program.
The program requires a total of 35 courses to obtain certification. According to MTS, students participate in a 15-day intensive session in July on the Bethel University campus, which includes three five-day blocks of concentrated courses. Remaining courses are held online and in locations throughout the country.