Divinity, MDiv

Prepare yourself for a fulfilling future in ministerial and public leadership. Our unique, three-year M.Div. program seeks to shape the entire person for faithful service to the church and to the world.

As a student, you'll join a close, Christ-centered community where faculty will teach, form and nurture you throughout your journey at the seminary—and beyond. You may also benefit from the deep connections LTSS has to the local and regional community, where many of our students begin their public service.

Our graduates are prepared to succeed in a variety of ministry settings, especially in congregations.

The major components of our curriculum are fourfold:

• Religious heritage: Understanding Christian heritage through the study of scripture, theology and church history.
• Cultural context: Understanding various cultural contexts of Christian ministry through particular courses and ministry experiences.
• Personal and spiritual formation: Growing in personal faith, emotional maturity, moral integrity and public witness as a member of a community in which you study, worship and serve together.
• Ministerial and public leadership: Practice and reflect upon various kinds of ministries in your internships and other field education experiences.

Students Come from Many Denominations

Many of our students are Lutheran, but not all of them are. At Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, we believe that being Lutheran means being in relationship with other denominations. That’s why some of our students are Methodists, some are Baptists and there are students from other denominations as well.

That’s why some of our students are Methodists, some are Baptists, and there are students from other denominations as well. Your questions and insights have a place here regardless of your denomination.

Some students enter seminary with extensive academic background in religious studies and theology. Others have experience in ministry, which may be relevant to certain courses. If you believe you are one of these students, please contact the registrar at registrar@lr.edu, who will consider your circumstances in consultation with the dean or other appropriate faculty and staff.

Accreditation

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and Canada, the Commission on Accrediting. The following degree programs are approved: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts Religion, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry and Master of Sacred Theology.

Course Delivery Format

Beginning in fall 2022, M.Div. students will have the opportunity to complete the curriculum in a hybrid format as an alternative to residing on or commuting to campus. It will combine remote learning with face-to-face educational experiences, including the required semesters of supervised field experience and on-campus gatherings twice per year.

The hybrid option still offers students opportunities for fellowship and formational events with faculty and residential students.