Master of Divinity Degree

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Programme Overview

The Master of Divinity is the “gold standard” in North American theological education for those desiring to enter into the ordained ministry. It is a qualification that opens up vocations not only in traditional congregational settings, but also in institutional and military chaplaincy. The MDiv normally requires four years of full-time study, including a one-year internship (vicarage). A student lacking the prerequisites (see below) will require five years to complete the programme.

The primary purpose for which CLTS was founded is to prepare men for the pastoral ministry in Lutheran Church–Canada and, secondarily, her sister churches throughout the world. For this purpose, CLTS offers the MDiv with Pastoral Certification and acts as the examination and certification agency for those churches.

CLTS has also partnered with non-Lutheran church bodies to provide pastoral formation through the MDiv for those who do not have a nearby seminary of their confession. Those church bodies provide practical and confessional training to supplement Concordia’s MDiv.

Curriculum

The following courses, totalling 14.5 credits, are required for successful completion of the Master of Divinity:

Exegetical Theology (4 credits)

EXTH 7P00 Principles and Practice of Biblical Interpretation (0.5 credits)
EXTH 7X05 Pericope Seminar, for three semesters (0.17 credits each)
EXTH 7P10 Old Testament Studies I (0.5 credits)
EXTH 7P30 New Testament Studies I (0.5 credits)
EXTH 7P40 Old Testament Studies II (0.5 credits)
EXTH 7P50 Old Testament Studies III (0.5 credits)
EXTH 7P60 New Testament Studies II (0.5 credits)
EXTH 7P70 New Testament Studies III (0.5 credits)

Systematic Theology (4 credits)

SYTH 7P05 Introduction to Theology (0.5 credits)
SYTH 7P00 Lutheran Confessions I (0.5 credits)
SYTH 7P20 Religious Bodies in Canada (0.5 credits)
SYTH 7P35 Creation to Christ (0.5 credits)
SYTH 7P50 Christian Faith and Life (0.5 credits)
SYTH 7P60 Church and Sacraments (0.5 credits)
SYTH 7P80 Theological Ethics (0.5 credits)
SYTH 7Pxx Church and World Pool Option (0.5 credits)

Historical Theology (2 credits)

HITH 7P00 Historical Theology I: The Patristic Age (0.5 credits)
HITH 7P10 Historical Theology II: Medieval and Reformation Periods (0.5 credits)
HITH 7P20 Historical Theology III: The Emergence of Modernity (0.5 credits)
HITH 7P30 Historical Theology IV: Lutheranism in North America (0.5 credits)

Practical Theology (2.5 credits)

PRTH 7P00 Worship in the Parish I (0.5 credits)
PRTH 7P05 Preaching in the Parish (0.5 credits)
PRTH 7P10 Catechetics (0.5 credits)
PRTH 7P80 Vicarage I (0.5 credits)
PRTH 7P81 Vicarage II (0.5 credits)

Electives (2 credits)

Free electives (1.5 credits)
Research Paper (0.5 credits)

Pastoral Certification

(Lutheran Church-Canada and sister bodies only)

While non-Lutherans may graduate on successfully completing the 14.5 credits of graduate credit specified above, MDiv students seeking Lutheran ordination must also complete the following courses for pastoral certification (3.0 credits):

PRTH 7P20 Choir, for two semesters (0.0 credits)
PRTH 7P35 Evangelism in the Parish (0.5 credits)
PRTH 7P40 Advanced Preaching (0.5 credits)
PRTH 7P60 Worship in the Parish II (0.5 credits)
PRTH 7P70 Pastoral Ministry & Practice I (0.5 credits)
PRTH 7P71 Pastoral Ministry & Practice II (0.5 credits)
SYTH 7P10 Lutheran Confessions II (0.5 credits)

Pre-seminary Studies

Completion of a sound bachelor’s programme is of paramount importance in preparation for seminary study. Particularly helpful majors include English, philosophy, modern languages, history, and classics. As the study of theology is highly oriented to the written and spoken word, work in areas that develop verbal skills is of value. Yet, as the faculty makes these recommendations, it also invites applications from students who have earned degrees in other subjects, noting that such applicants may be asked to take pre-seminary courses in areas where remedial study is called for.

Admission Requirements

CLTS requires a bachelor’s degree from a recognized accredited university and a working knowledge of biblical Hebrew and Greek (demonstrated by successful completion of one full year of undergraduate-level study in each language, or by passing a competency examination to be administered by the seminary). Students who are 40 years of age by 31 December of the year of enrolment may elect to forgo the Hebrew requirement. The seminary may permit a student to begin some course work while learning these languages.

Entering MDiv students who have not successfully taken undergraduate-level theology courses may be required to undergo testing of their familiarity with the content of the Bible and with basic Christian doctrine. Performance in these tests, along with scrutiny of undergraduate transcripts, will determine whether, prior to full immersion in the MDiv programme, students will be required to achieve a satisfactory performance in pre-seminary courses on, e.g. English Bible, basic Christian doctrine, and rudiments of church history.

All prospective MDiv students seeking ordination in Lutheran Church–Canada, or one of its sister churches, must have been practising members of a Lutheran Church–Canada (or sister church) congregation for at least five years prior to enrolment at the seminary.

Non-Lutheran applicants to the MDiv programme must provide written proof that the proper authorities of the church body concerned (a) accept and sponsor them as ministerial candidates, (b) approve their decision to seek admission to CLTS, and (c) pledge to provide them with requisite fieldwork and vicarage assignments.

Further information on the Master of Divinity degree can be found in the Academic Calendar.

Programme Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Divinity programme will:

1. Religious Heritage
a. demonstrate scriptural literacy, exegetical skill, and sensitivity to critical issues;
b. know and interpret major milestones in 20 centuries of church history and doctrinal development;
c. articulate clearly Lutheran doctrine and practice from the 16th century onwards, particularly the content of the Book of Concord;

2. Cultural Context
a. know and embrace the heritage and ethos of Lutheran Church–Canada (or the student’s own church body), and critically assess it, where appropriate;
b. understand the origins and nature of the secularist worldview prevalent in contemporary Canada and the impact of resulting social issues on Christian ministry (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18-25; 9:19-23);
c. be able to articulate and critically assess the teachings and practices of people in the multi-faith and multi-cultural Canadian context in order to proclaim Christ’s love to them (cf. Acts 17:22-34);

3. Personal & Spiritual Formation
a. manifest and seek a deepening faith, devotional life, personal maturity (1 Tim. 4:11-16), and other personality traits becoming a spiritual father in the household of God (1 Cor. 4:14-15);
b. demonstrate and appreciate the need to live “above reproach” (1 Tim. 3:2-7), i.e., in accordance with the Law of God, displaying humility, professionalism, and integrity;
c. display and cultivate a compassionate and kindly approach to other people (1 Pet. 5:1-5);

4. Ministry & Public Worship
a. be able to preach, teach, feed, defend, and guide the flock with skill, rightly applying the Word of God (2 Tim. 4:1-5);
b. appreciate and demonstrate the need to lead as one who serves (Mt. 20:25-28);
c. develop the skills and attitudes to equip members of the congregation to further the church’s mission in the local community and the world (1 Pet. 4:1-11).