Let’s pursue a new call. Together.
Luther Seminary’s accelerated Master of Divinity program prepares students to be agile leaders in Christian communities, building upon their gifts, talents, and ministry experience while offering the theological depth they need to live out their calling.
This fully funded program, known as “MDivX,” is a holy experiment to help the church reimagine theological education in a time of tremendous change. Our objective has been to attract applicants who showed the potential to be spiritually strong, theologically faithful, and entrepreneurially innovative to rethink how we cultivate Christian community in a secular age. Then we covered the principal expenses incurred as part of their degree.
MDivX students and graduates work or study at the intersection of the church and society. They sense a call to public, pastoral ministry and are equipped to be full-time church workers.
Watch the video “MDivX” with Audio Description
Academic excellence
Matching the academic rigor that Luther Seminary is known for, students enrolled in MDivX earn their degrees in 24 months by participating in year-round classes and completing concurrent part-time congregational internships.
We’ve condensed the timeline of our comprehensive, traditional Master of Divinity curriculum, which includes signature courses focusing on the Bible, systematic theology, and leadership for mission.
Students excel on a brisk schedule with the support of faculty who are leading scholars in their disciplines.
This integrated approach offers high-impact learning experiences through real-world application. Students can live and study at the seminary’s welcoming campus or continue to serve a congregation near the communities they already call home, completing courses online and through periodic on-campus intensives.
Unparalleled affordability
In July 2018, we announced the largest single gift in Luther Seminary’s history—$21.4 million—to fully fund
a five-year pilot of an accelerated Master of Divinity program. Due to the generous support of long-time
Lutheran higher education champions Dean and Rosemarie Buntrock, students receive full-tuition
scholarships and stipends for living expenses, books, computer software, and immersive travel
experiences. And they are paid for their internship experiences in accordance with ELCA standards.
MDivX students graduate without taking on additional personal debt, freeing them to accept a call to ministry without taking on an undue financial burden.
Personal qualifications
The following constellation of commitments, character traits, and competencies signaled an individual’s readiness for the MDivX program:
- Gospel-centered: A commitment to Christ, the church, and the ministry of God’s word
- Innovative: The potential to lead, inspire, and relate positively with people with demonstrated values of adaptability and innovation
- Academically rigorous: The academic ability to read and learn with discernment while writing and communicating with clarity and precision
- Spiritually healthy: Personal and relational health that allows for complete commitment to a full-time program lasting 24 months
- Communal and inclusive: A willingness to learn from the neighbor different from them through theological discourse and open conversations while respecting and honoring difference
- Full-time: The ability to commit to full-time, intensive study for 24 months (including ceasing all outside employment or other academic coursework)
Luther Seminary is committed to being a diverse and welcoming community that practices inclusion and equity.
With the Spring 2021 graduation of the first MDivX cohort and the beginning of the third cohort, Luther Seminary has proven the success of this holy experiment to help the church reimagine theological education. Applications are no longer being accepted for the MDivX program, and there are no plans to offer this unique program in the near future.
For Congregations and Partner Sites
MDivX Contact
Jody Nyenhuis
Associate Director, MDivX Pilot Project
MDivX@luthersem.edu
651-641-3429