Academic Programs
The Master of Divinity is a professional degree designed to help men and women preparing for Christian ministry. This degree is required for ordination by many denominations. The degree can be completed in three to four years of full-time study.
The Master of Arts is a program designed to prepare men and women for a wide variety of ministries including advanced graduate study in one of the theological disciplines. It introduces students to the main theological disciplines, provides opportunity for some specialization, and requires a thesis relevant to the student’s goal. It is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate preparation for a variety of vocational goals.
The purpose of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies program is to prepare Roman Catholics for lay ministry at a diocesan or parish level. The degree is designed only for Roman Catholics who do not seek ordination. Graduates of this program will have a basic knowledge of scripture, contemporary biblical scholarship, the Christian tradition, theology, moral theology, and sacramental traditions. They will have skills in developing and executing programs of education, administration of parish life, and pastoral care and nurture of Christian communities.
The Doctor of Ministry program at Lexington Seminary is an advanced professional degree, designed to strengthen ministry practice and leadership in the midst of today’s rapidly changing cultures. The program seeks to train students to be critical interpreters of culture and theology, skilled practitioners, and faithful leaders in ministry. D.Min. studies call for rigorous academic work within the context of collegiality, spiritual formation, and a high level of commitment to the life and witness of the Church. Our goal is to integrate an advanced level of theological reflection and the practice of ministry, thereby raising the standards of ministry and contributing to the continuing renewal and mission of the Church.
Certificate Programs
Some ministerial situations do not demand an academic degree but require that certain skills be demonstrated to qualify for the position or for commissioning. Additionally, a certificate can help an individual transition into a new career area, gain confidence and background in a particular skill or pursue a new area of interest. Certificate programs are intended to meet these diverse needs.
A certificate typically represents the successful completion of a designated number of contact hours. Tuition for certification programs is 50% of degree program tuition. Certificate programs do not qualify for financial aid.
Students may opt to take certification courses for credit at full tuition. Any student opting to take certification courses for credit must be accepted as a Special Student through the Admissions office. Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or United Church of Christ students taking courses for credit can receive a 50% tuition scholarship reduction.
The Seminary is currently in the process of developing on-line certificate modules in critical areas of ministry and we look forward to offerings them in the near future.
Auditing Courses
Persons who are interested in auditing one or more Seminary courses should inquire about current availability with the Registrar, swarner@lextheo.edu . Lexington Theological Seminary Alumni may audit courses at a 50% reduction in the audit fee. Employees of the Seminary may audit courses without charge.
Continuing Education Programs
Lexington Theological Seminary understands itself to be a theological resource center for the church. Accordingly, both on-line and on-site education programs for clergy and laity offered through the Continuing Education Program are designed to enhance the life of the church while providing learning opportunities for diverse constituencies. Continuing Education Units of credit as recommended by the Society for the Advancement of Continuing Education for Ministry (SACEM) are awarded for all programs upon request of the participant. Continuing Education Programs are not available for degree credit.
The Lay School of Theology at Lexington Theological Seminary is a series of Saturday classes taught by the LTS faculty for lay persons interested in learning more about the subjects taught at LTS. Click on this link for current schedule.
Each course meets from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in Fellowship Hall at Lexington Theological Seminary. Registration is $50 for each course or $140 for all three courses in a semester. For more information, contact Bill Turner, 859-280-1253, or e-mail: bturner@lextheo.edu.
West Area Ministry and Lexington Theological Seminary are bringing the Lay School of Theology to the West Area. Scheduled workshops are open to all members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and friends in the West Area. Each workshop will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a light breakfast. Instruction will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be served at the host church.
The registration fee of $25.00 includes the meals. Click on this link for current schedule and host church locations.
- Elders’ Workshops
Periodically, the Seminary offers one-day workshops specifically for persons serving as elders in Disciples congregations. Topics include various subjects on the role of the elders – serving communion, visitation, and public prayer. There are also topics on the history of eldership and biblical subjects. The Seminary also occasionally provides workshops for elders in other cities and states. For information contact Bill Turner, 859-280-1253, or e-mail: bturner@lextheo.edu .
