LTSS Accreditation

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and Canada, 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15275-1103, 412.788.6505, www.ats.edu.

In 2021, LTSS had its accreditation reaffirmed for the maximum 10-year term.

Master of Divinity

Evaluation of Learning Goals

Goal 0: Students will demonstrate emotional and spiritual maturity and faithful living appropriate to public ministry.

  • Average graduate rating for this Goal was 4.67 out of 5 (3 responses).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using graduate evaluative rubrics (3 graduates):
    • 66% of graduates rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher for being cognizant of personal strengths and growth areas, including biases and behavioral tendencies, and how they impact formation for ministry. 
    • 66% of graduates rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher in their commitment to emotional and spiritual growth, theological study, and self-learning for ministry.
    • 66% of graduates rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher in demonstrating appreciation of different perspectives and experiences and healthy navigation of disagreement and conflict.

Goal A: Students will demonstrate theologically informed and self-reflective engagement of distinct human cultures and communities.

  • Average graduate rating for this Goal was 4 out of 5 (3 spring graduates).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using graduate evaluative rubrics:
    • 84% of students rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher in demonstrating articulate appreciation for how intersectionality comes to bear on diversity and human identity: for example, race, sex, gender, class, ability, etc.  
    • 63% of students rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher in articulating the ways in which cultural context informs Christian belief and practice.
    • 66% of students rated 3.5 or higher in articulating the ways in which cross-cultural experiences and learnings shape/expand one’s Christian formation and theology.

Goal B: Students will analyze Christian scripture and traditions with reference to their original contexts.

  • Average graduate rating for this Goal was 5 out of 5 (3 graduates).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using graduate evaluative rubrics:
    • 45% of students rated 3.5 or higher in careful textual engagement, engaging and understanding textual details. (faculty administration of course rubrics)
    • 51% of students rated 3.5 or higher in tending to historical context(s) as determinative for an author’s intended meaning(s). (faculty administration of course rubrics)
    • 56% of students rated 3.5 or higher in competent engagement of advanced and/or peer-reviewed resources. (faculty administration of course rubrics)

Goal C: Students will interpret Christian scripture and traditions in ways that cultivate Christian community and discipleship.

  • Average graduate rating for this Goal was 5 out of 5 (3 graduates).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using graduate evaluative rubrics:
    • 72% of students rated 3.5 or higher in centering their interpretation on God’s healing and reconciling love for creation and all of humanity.  
    • 66% of students rated 3.5 or higher in tending to the call for personal transformation.
    • 51% of students rated 3.5 or higher for their compelling appropriation of scripture and/or traditions to face contemporary challenge(s).

Goal D: Students will demonstrate leadership in areas of pastoral ministry that generate discipleship and positive change in the church and the world.

  • Average graduate rating for this Goal was 5 out of 5 (3 graduates).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using graduate evaluative rubrics:
    • 67% of students rated 3.5 or higher for demonstrating hope and vision for God’s mission of transformation, reconciliation, healing, and renewal.
    • 60% of students rated 3.5 or higher for demonstrating knowledge of the history and present dynamics of one’s ministry context, including relevant family, congregational, and/or communal system
    • 62% of students rated 3.5 or higher for demonstrating a collaborative form of leadership, predicated on accompaniment, dialogue across differences, and the empowerment of others as agents of God’s love

Time to Completion

Graduates in spring 2026 averaged 3.33 years to complete the degree (3 graduates).

Graduation Rates

Placement Rates

Two out of three graduates completed the degree having qualified for a professional call process, with one already having received a call.  

Master of Arts in Christian Ministry

Evaluation of Learning Goals

Goal 0: Students will demonstrate emotional and spiritual maturity and faithful living appropriate to public ministry.

  • Average graduate rating for this Goal was 4.5 out of 5 (based on 2 spring 2025 graduates; no spring 2026 graduates reported).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using graduate evaluative rubrics (1 graduate)
    • 100% of graduates rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher for being cognizant of personal strengths and growth areas, including biases and behavioral tendencies, and how they impact formation for ministry.  
    • 100% of graduates rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher in their commitment to emotional and spiritual growth, theological study, and self-learning for ministry.
    • 100% of graduates rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher in demonstrating appreciation of different perspectives and experiences and healthy navigation of disagreement and conflict.

Goal A: Students will demonstrate theologically informed and self-reflective engagement of distinct human cultures and communities.

  • Average graduate rating for this Goal was 4.5 out of 5 (based on 2 spring 2025 graduates; no spring 2026 graduates reported).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using course rubrics:
    • 80% of students rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher in demonstrating articulate appreciation for how intersectionality comes to bear on diversity and human identity: for example, race, sex, gender, class, ability, etc.  
    • 60% of students rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher in articulating the ways in which cultural context informs Christian belief and practice.
    • 80% of students rated 3.5 or higher in articulating the ways in which cross-cultural experiences and learnings shape/expand one’s Christian formation and theology.

Goal B: Students will analyze their denominational traditions with reference to their original contexts (specific to ELCA Deacon track and Methodist Studies track).

  • Average graduate rating for this Goal was 4.5 out of 5 (based on 2 spring 2025 graduates; no spring 2026 graduates reported).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using course rubrics (only 1 student assessed):
    • 0% of students rated 3.5 or higher in careful textual engagement, engaging and understanding textual details.
    • 0% of students rated 3.5 or higher in tending to historical context(s) as determinative for an author’s intended meaning(s).
    • 0% of students rated 3.5 or higher in competent engagement of advanced and/or peer-reviewed resources.

Goal C: Students will interpret Christian scripture and traditions in ways that are life-giving to God’s people (Congregational Ministry track) and in faithful dialogue with denominational traditions (ELCA Deacon and Methodist Studies tracks).

  • Average graduate rating for this Goal was 4.5 out of 5 (based on 2 spring 2025 graduates; no spring 2026 graduates reported).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using course rubrics:
    • 80% of students rated 3.5 or higher in centering their interpretation on God’s healing and reconciling love for creation and all of humanity.
    • 40% of students rated 3.5 or higher in tending to the call for personal transformation.
    • 30% of students rated 3.5 or higher for their compelling appropriation of scripture and/or traditions to face contemporary challenge(s) (specific to Congregational Ministry track)
    • 0% of students rated 3.5 or higher for their compelling appropriation of denominational traditions to face contemporary challenge(s) (specific to ELCA Deacon and Methodist Studies track; only 1 student assessed).

Goal D: Students will demonstrate pastoral leadership for the cultivation of Christian discipleship in others (specific to Congregational Ministry track).

  • Average graduate rating for this Goal was 4.5 out of 5 (based on 2 spring 2025 graduates; no spring 2026 graduates reported).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using course rubrics:
    • 100% of students rated 3.5 or higher for demonstrating hope and vision for God’s mission of transformation, reconciliation, healing, and renewal.
    • 82% of students rated 3.5 or higher for demonstrating knowledge of the history and present dynamics of one’s ministry context, including relevant family, congregational, and/or communal system.
    • 100% of students rated 3.5 or higher for demonstrating a collaborative form of leadership, predicated on accompaniment, dialogue across differences, and the empowerment of others as agents of God’s love.

Time to Completion

Graduates in spring 2026 averaged 3 years to complete the degree (1 graduate).

Graduation Rates

Placement Rates

N/A. Our lone MACM spring 2026 graduate was not seeking a professional placement but rather formation for lay ministry. 

Master of Theological Studies

Evaluation of Learning Goals

Goal 0: Students will demonstrate emotional and spiritual maturity and faithful living appropriate to public ministry.

  • Average graduate survey rating for this Goal was 5 out of 5 (based on 2 responses in spring 2023; no MTS responses since then).

Goal A: Students will demonstrate theologically informed and self-reflective engagement of distinct human cultures and communities.

  • Average graduate survey rating for this Goal was 5 out of 5 (based on 2 responses in spring 2023; no MTS responses since then).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using graduate evaluative rubrics:
    • 56% of students rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher in demonstrating articulate appreciation for how intersectionality comes to bear on diversity and human identity: for example, race, sex, gender, class, ability, etc.  
    • 56% of students rated 3.5 out of 4 or higher in articulating the ways in which cultural context informs Christian belief and practice.
    • 56% of students rated 3.5 or higher in articulating the ways in which cross-cultural experiences and learnings shape/expand one’s Christian formation and theology.

Goal B: Students will analyze Christian scripture and traditions with reference to their original contexts.

  • Average graduate survey rating for this Goal was 5 out of 5 (based on 2 responses in spring 2023; no MTS responses since then).
  • Faculty rating of specific outcomes using graduate evaluative rubrics:
    • 20% of students rated 3.5 or higher in careful textual engagement, engaging and understanding textual details. (faculty administration of course rubrics)
    • 40% of students rated 3.5 or higher in tending to historical context(s) as determinative for an author’s intended meaning(s). (faculty administration of course rubrics)
    • 44% of students rated 3.5 or higher in competent engagement of advanced and/or peer-reviewed resources. (faculty administration of course rubrics)

Goal C: Students will demonstrate research and critical-thinking skills within a specific theological field.

  • No assessment data since this Goal was introduced.

Time to Completion

No graduates in spring 2026.

Graduation Rates

Placement Rates

No graduates in spring 2026.