Master of Divinity Degree at Lexington Theological Seminary

• Program Overview – The three-level M.Div. program consists of 76 credit hours of work using a competency-based learning process in the eight areas of ministry shown below.  Level I and II are two, four, six and eight weeks long. Most are taught online; intensive residential modules are taught in 10 day sessions or on a long weekend.  Rather than an accumulation of hours, this program requires that students demonstrate abilities through competency exercises and a capstone project. Students are in a ministry site throughout their degree program in order to benefit from the distinctive formation of congregational life and leadership. At each level, the learning process integrates attention to spiritual, intellectual and practical aspects of pastoral ministry.

• Areas of Ministry – An area of ministry is a way to categorize particular practices that are important for pastoral leadership.  There are four Interpreting areas and four Leading areas of ministry in this curriculum design.

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BOXES FOR AREAs covered

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♦ LEVEL  I  - APPRENTICE LEVEL

• The M.Div. curriculum is designed around a mentor-apprentice model.  During the first or Apprentice Level, the student learns foundational knowledge about ministry. This level consists of short courses and competency exercises that prepare the student to enter the Journeyer level.

• Level I Courses are short courses lasting from two to six weeks. Level I courses are graded as pass/fail except for M.A. & M.A.P.S. degree students.
2 weeks = .5 credit;  4 weeks = 1 credit;  6 weeks = 1.5 credits

• Competency Exercise - When a M.Div. student completes the number of required and optional courses in one area of Interpreting and one area of Leading, the student will then take a Competency Exercise that integrates the two areas of ministry.

LEVEL  II – JOURNEYER LEVEL

• When a student has passed four, integrative Competency Exercises, she/he will then be eligible to take nine, 2-hour electives in the Journeyer Level.  At this level students learn a variety of perspectives and understandings of ministry.

LEVEL III – MASTER LEVEL

• After completing the electives at the Journeyer level, a student moves to Level III, the Capstone Project.  The student, in consultation with his/her mentor, identifies a significant ministry issue in the congregation that will form the basis of research and resource development.  The student draws together his/her research of biblical and theological understandings of the issue with a coherent plan of addressing the issue through liturgical, educational, and programmatic processes and resources.  The project is presented to the assessment team for evaluation.

COVENANT  GROUPS

• Students participate in a total of four Covenant Groups:  two Covenant Groups while taking courses in the Apprentice Level before their Competency Exercises are completed, one while in the Journeyer Level, and one while completing the Capstone Project.  The Covenant Groups are facilitated by faculty and clergy and explore issues of ministry and learning throughout the program.

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CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

LEVEL I / II / III ? etc

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COVENANT GROUPS

 

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♦ LEVEL  I:   APPRENTICE  LEVEL  –  50 Hours

COURSE OFFERINGS

• SUCCEEDING IN SEMINARY (SIS) – 2 Credit Hours
Must be taken within the first 8 hours of courses

SIS 570		The Three R’s of Seminary: Reading, Writing & Research			.5 cr.
SIS 571		The Two P’s of Seminary: Prayer & Praxis			.5 cr.

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		INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE FOR THE CHURCH			10 credits

		♦ IS REQUIRED COURSES  ♦
IS 520		The Origin, Inspiration, and Authority of the Church’s Scripture:			.5 cr.
IS 540		Reading the Torah in the Church Today			.5 cr.

IS 542		Reading the Deuteronomic Histories in the Church Today			.5 cr.
IS 553		Preparing to Help the Church Read the New Testament for Today			.5 cr.
IS 554		The Gospels as Resources for the Church			1 cr.

IS 556		Pauline Letters as Resources for the Church			1 cr.
IS 560		Exegesis for the Church			1.5 cr

		♦ IS 500 OPTIONAL COURSES ♦			2 credits
IS 570		Creation and Science			.5 cr.
IS 571		Wisdom Literature			.5 cr.
IS 572		The Catholic Epistles			.5 cr.

IS 573		Acts of the Apostles			.5 cr.
IS 574		The NT (or Paul) and Women			.5 cr.
IS 575		Feminist Readings			.5 cr.

IS 576		Reading the Bible in the Black Church			.5 cr.
IS 577		Reading the Bible in the Hispanic Church			.5 cr.
IS 578		Liberationist Readings of the Bible			.5 cr.

IS 579		Leadership in the Bible			.5 cr.
IS 580		Reading the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament during Advent			.5 cr.
IS 581		Reading the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in the Broader Religious and Civic Community			.5 cr.

IS 582		Reading the Gospels in Advent			.5 cr.
IS 583		Reading the Bible in Lent			.5 cr.
IS 584		Biblical Book Study (various books)			.5 cr.

IS 585		Reading – (various specific books)			.5 cr.

IS 590

COMPETENCY EXERCISE

1 cr.

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		INTERPRETING THE PAST FOR THE CHURCH			4 credit hours
		♦ IP 500 REQUIRED COURSES ♦			2 cr.
IP 550		Early and Medieval Western church – 100 – 15th Century			1 cr.
IP 551		From Reform to Individualistic Freedom: 16th – 20th Century Western Church			1 cr.

		♦ IP 500 OPTIONAL COURSES ♦			1.5 credits
IP 570		Disciples History			1 cr.
IP 571		Church and the Enlightenment (or Science)			.5 cr.

IP 572		Church and Post-modern Society			.5 cr
IP 573		The Ecumenical Movement			.5 cr.

IP 574		Church’s engagement with social issues in the 19th and 20th century			.5 cr
IP 575		The Church’s move to the Southern Hemisphere			.5 cr.

IP 576		The Church in Mexico			.5 cr
IP 577		The Church and Race Relations in America			.5 cr
IP 579		Women in the Church			.5 cr.

IP 580		The Church in North America			.5 cr
IP 581		Current Challenges to Church examined historically			.5 cr
IP/IF 582		Augustine			.5 cr.

IP 590

COMPETENCY EXERCISE

.5 cr.

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		INTERPRETING FAITH FOR THE CHURCH			10 credit hours
		♦ IF 500 REQUIRED COURSES ♦			7.5 credits
IF 550		Theology and Theological Language – (Prerequisite for all other IF courses)			1 cr.
IF 552		Theology of sermons			.5 cr.

IF 553		Made in the Image of God: Theological Anthropology			1 cr
IF 554		The Nature of God: Theology			1 cr
IF 555		“One Bread, One Body”: Theology of the Church			1 cr
IF 556		“Who do you say that I am?”: Christology			1 cr

IF 557		Theology and Pastoral Care: Discussing Suffering and Hope			1 cr
IF 558		God Save Us: Soteriology			1 cr

		♦ IF 500 OPTIONAL COURSES ♦			1.5 credits
IF 559		Beyond the Pulpit: Teaching Theology in the Church			.5 cr.
IF 570		The Church and Homosexuality			1 cr.
IF 571		African-American/Womanist Theology			.5 cr

IF 572		Caring for Creation: “Greening” the Church			.5 cr
IF 573		Preaching Metaphor			.5 cr
IP/IF 582		Augustine			.5 cr

IF 590		COMPETENCY EXERCISE			1 cr

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		INTERPRETING THE CHURCH’S BEHAVIOR			4 credit hours
		♦ IB 500 REQUIRED COURSES ♦			3 credits
IB 551		Ethical Forms: deontological, utilitarian, teleological, etc.			1 cr
IB 552		God and Science: Introduction to issues in biomedical ethics			1 cr

IB 553		Social Ethics			1 cr
		♦ IB 500 OPTIONAL COURSES ♦			.5 credit
IB 571		Ethics and Popular Culture: What Television Teaches Laity			.5 cr
IB 572		Christian Sexual Ethics			.5 cr

IB 573		Ethics of Ancient Israel: Exploring the World of the Hebrew Bible			.5 cr
IB 574		Standards of Just War & Issues of Peace			.5 cr
IB 575		The Faith Community Faces Racism			.5 cr
IB 576		Globalization and the Hebrew Bible			.5 cr

IB 590		COMPETENCY EXERCISE			.5 cr

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		LEADING THE CHURCH THROUGH CARE			4 credit hours
		♦ LC 500 REQUIRED COURSES ♦			2.5 credits
LC 520		LC 520 Pastoral Care Modalities                                      (self standing, pre-requisite for all other LC courses)			.5 cr.
LC 550		Creating a Congregational Culture of Care (Family Systems)			.5 cr

LC 552		Diagnosis and Referral: The Lost Art of Listening			.5 cr.
LC 554		The Art of Visitation			.5 cr.
		♦ LC 500 OPTIONAL COURSES ♦			1 cr
LC 570		Special Topics in Ministry			.5 cr.

LC 571		Loss and Grief in a Community of Faith			.5 cr.
LC 572		Crisis Response in Caring Relationships			.5 cr.
LC 574		Economic Crisis and Congregational Care			.5 cr.
LC 575		Small Groups as Centers of Care			.5 cr.

LC 577		The Healing Power of Anger: Contending as Spiritual Intimacy			.5 cr.
LC 578		Issues of Care in the Black Church			.5 cr.
LC 579		Issues of Care in the Latino/a Church			.5 cr.
LC 580		Power, Privilege & Difference: Issues that Damage Congregational Life			.5 cr.

LC 590		COMPETENCY EXERCISE			.5 cr.

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		LEADING THE CHURCH IN WORSHIP			6 credit hours
		♦ LW 500 REQUIRED COURSES ♦			4 credit hours
LW 550		Introduction to Worship (self-standing, prerequisite for all other LW courses)			.5 cr.
LW 551		Liturgical Time			.5 cr.

LW 552		Congregational Song			.5 cr.
LW 553		New Birth to Dying in Christ: Baptism, Table, Wedding, Funeral			1 cr
LW 554		Sermon Preparation			1 cr
LW 570		Liturgical Performance & Sermon Delivery			.5 cr.

		♦ LW 500 OPTIONAL COURSES ♦			2 credits
LW 570		Liturgical Performance & Sermon Delivery			.5 cr.
LW 571		Intergenerational worship			.5 cr.
LW 572		Preaching & Teaching			.5 cr.

LW 573		Worship & Pastoral Care			.5 cr.
LW 575		Worship Renewal			.5 cr.
LW 576		Worship Space			.5 cr.
LW 577		Preaching and Leading Worship in the Black Church			1 cr.

LW 578		Preaching and Leading Worship in the Hispanic Church			1 cr.
LW 579		Preaching and Leading Worship in the Small Church			1 cr.
LW 580		Praise Worship			1 cr.
LW 581		Technology in the Sanctuary			1 cr.

LW 590		COMPETENCY EXERCISE			.5 cr.

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		LEADING THE CHURCH IN MISSION			6 credit hours
		♦ LM 500 REQUIRED COURSES ♦			3.5 credit hours
LF 550		Biblical and Vocational Foundations of the Teaching Ministry			.5 cr.
LF 551		Congregation as Context			.5 cr.

LF 552		Cultural Shifts Impacting Teaching of Faith			.5 cr.
LF 553		Stages of Faith			.5 cr.
		♦ LF 500 OPTIONAL COURSES ♦			1.5 cr.
LF 570		Children’s Ministry in the Church			.5 cr.

LF 571		Youth Culture and Faith Formation			.5 cr.
LF 572		Teaching the Bible			.5 cr.
LF 573		Engaging Learners Through Questions and Discussions			.5 cr.
LF 574		Faith Formation in the African American Church			.5 cr.

LF 575		Faith Formation in the Hispanic Church			.5 cr.
LF 590		COMPETENCY EXERCISE			.5 cr.

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♦ LEVEL  II:   JOURNEYER  LEVEL  –  18 Hours

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