Master of Divinity for Lay Ministry Candidates

The Master of Divinity program seeks to prepare students for pastoral leadership. Solid understanding of the theological tradition and the integration of intellectual, spiritual, human, and pastoral dimensions of the minister's life lie at the heart of this degree.

Excellence in ministry is formed through the integration of pastoral knowledge, capacity, and commitment. The Master of Divinity degree program for lay ministry candidates provides lay students with the opportunity to engage in theological study while simultaneously participating in the formation program. In doing so, it effectively prepares them for their own ministries in the church.

For detailed program outcomes, see the Academic Catalog.

Degree Requirements

1. A total of 78 graduate credits.
• A maximum of twelve credits earned in web-based courses may be applied to the degree.
2. A grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 (C+ average) on a 4.0 scale.
3. Required courses:
• Introduction to the Christian Tradition (3 credits)
• Pentateuch (3 credits)
• Prophetic Tradition (3 credits)
• Synoptic Gospels (3 credits)
• Pauline Letters (3 credits)
• Christology (3 credits)
• Ecclesiology (3 credits)
• Theology of Sacraments and Worship (3 credits)
• Fundamental Moral Theology (3 credits)
• Christian Social Ethics (3 credits)
• Evangelization and Catechesis (3 credits)
• Introduction to Pastoral Care (3 credits)
• Homiletics (3 credits)
• Integration Seminar (3 credits)
• CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) (4 credits)
• Field Education (5 credits)
4. Constrained Electives:
• Introduction to Pastoral Ministry (3 credits) OR Theology of Lay and Ordained Ministry (3 credits)
• Pastoral Liturgy I OR Pastoral Liturgy II (3 credits)
• Social Ministry OR Rural Social Issues (3 credits)
• Introduction to Ecclesial Law OR Parish Administration (3 credits)
• Systematics (3 credits)
• Church History (6 credits); 3 credits are required in two of the following time periods:
  0-1200; 1200-1600; 1600-present
• Spirituality (3 credits)
5. General Electives (3 credits)
6. Participation in the formation program.

Master of Divinity students who are lay ministry candidates may also earn an MA degree, either simultaneously with or after their MDiv studies. The requirements are successful completion of fifteen more credits (for a total of 93 credits), two graduate papers or a thesis, the language proficiency exam, and comprehensive exams.

Last updated: 4/25/08 RB

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Saint John's School of Theology·Seminary
Collegeville, Minnesota 56321
Phone: 320-363-2102
Toll-Free: 800-361-8318
Fax: 320-363-3145