Master of Divinity

The purpose of the Master of Divinity degree program is to prepare men and women for effective ministry as pastors, evangelists, missionaries, chaplains, counselors, or other ministries. The student is seen as an active learner who is growing while developing his or her own unique gifts and style for ministry. The Master of Divinity program is structured to give each student a balanced exposure to theological studies in three years. The program also provides for flexibility in preparation according to personal calling and needs. A faculty advisor assists the student in selecting the courses most appropriate to the individual’s stage of development, interests, and emerging goals in ministry. The Master of Divinity degree requires the successful completion of 89 semester hours with a G.P.A. of 2.0 or above on a 4 point scale. Up to 44 hours of course work may be accepted by transfer of courses from accredited schools with a grade of “C” or better with the approval of the VP for Academics.

Goals of the Program

The aim of the Master of Divinity program is to prepare those who are called, for full-time ministry in and to the church and the world. This rests on the understanding that the minister, together with and as a part of the church, is a divinely ordained channel for communicating God’s message, love, and grace to a wounded and hurting world. The broad goals of the program leading to the Master of Divinity are to help students:

To acquire a comprehensive understanding of Scripture and the historical and theological heritage of the Church so as to be able to integrate these into a theological perspective which is both biblical and relevant.
To be able to articulate a theology of ministry which relates to one’s own community of faith;
To acquire insight and understanding of the realities and dynamics involved in dealing with people, including cultural realities, personal and group dynamics;
To know and to communicate the righteousness, love and power of a gracious God in all human relationships; To acquire and to develop, in the context of ministry and under supervision, those skills and abilities needed for competent ministry; and,
To grow towards personal, spiritual, and professional maturity so as to be able to function with credibility and endurance in ministry.