Diploma in Christian Ministry

The Diploma in Christian Ministry is designed to prepare mature students who sense a call later in life to serve within the Church of the Lutheran Brethren or in other church bodies or mission organizations but do not have the Bachelor's degree which is prerequisite for the Master of Divinity Degree. The Diploma in Christian Ministry provides an opportunity for students who have completed 32 general education credits as prescribed to complete a program of ministry training without receiving a formal academic degree.

The General Education prerequisites are required in the belief that they are needed for the student to have the basic skills to benefit from this course of study leading to being prepared for Christian ministry.

The student will follow essentially the same course of study as prescribed for the Master of Divinity degree.

General Education Requirements

At a minimum, the student must meet the following general education requirements prior to admission into the program (32 credits):

Communications (6 credits)
Speech 3 credits
English Composition 3 credits

Humanities/Fine Arts (6 credits)
Introduction to Philosophy 3 credits
Literature 3 credits

Behavioral/Social Science (12 credits)
Western Civilization, I, II 6 credits
General Psychology 3 credits
Introduction to Sociology 3 credits

Natural Science/Math (3 credits)

The following are also required either prior to or following admission:

Humanities Electives (5 credits)

Total General Education Requirements 32 credits

In addition, 92 credits of seminary credits are also required. The Diploma in Christian Ministry will be granted to students who have completed the 32 credits of prescribed general education requirements plus the 92 required credits outlined in the Seminary Diploma in Christian Ministry program of study.

The Diploma in Christian Ministry Degree

Seminary Year 1:

Prerequisite Greek Course

• NT 103 Beginning NT Greek - 4 credits

Fall

• OT 601 Beginning Biblical Hebrew - 3 credits
• NT 604 Pericopes of John (Greek) - 3 credits
• NT 635 New Testament Introduction - 4 credits
• HT 715 Church History - 3 credits
• PT 900 Overview of Ministry Prep. - 1 credit
• Total Credits - 14

Spring

• OT 602 Introduction to Hebrew Exegesis - 3 credits
• EB 611 Torah & Covenant History - 3 credits
• NT 636 Exegesis Of Galatians - 3 credits
• HT 722 Survey of American Christianity - 3 credits
• PT 901 Homiletics - 2 credits
• Total Credits - 14

Seminary Year 2:

Fall

• EB 612 OT Prophets - 3
• NT 640 Exegesis of New Test. Texts - 3 credits
• WM 751 The Church in Mission - 3 credits
• ST 821 Systematic Theology I - 3 credits
• PT 903 Advanced Preaching - 2 credits
• PT 909 Leadership in Ministry - 2 credits
• PT 950 Field Experience - 1 credits
• Total credits - 17

Spring

• EB 613 Old Testament Poetry & Wisdom - 3 credits
• WM 755 Cross Cultural Comm. In Mission - 3 credits
• ST 822 Systematic Theology II - 3 credits
• PT 904 Advanced Preaching - 2 credits
• PT 911 Teaching Ministry of Congregation - 2 credits
• PT 951 Field Experience - 1 credit
• Total credits - 14

Seminary Year 3:

Fall

• WM 757 World Religions & New Religious Movements - 3 credits
• ST 823 Systematic Theology III - 3 credits
• PT 905 Senior Preaching - 1 credit
• PT 907 Spiritual Care - 3 credits
• PT 908 Pastoral Theology - 3 credits
• PT 920 Worship - 2 credits
• Total credits - 15

Spring

• ST 813 Apologetics - 3 credits
• ST 836 Ethics - 3 credits
• PT 932 Theology & Practice Of Evangelism - 3 credits
• PT 965 Personal Wellness in Min. - 5 credits
• Total credits - 14

Total required credits - 88
Total elective credits (not listed above) - 4

Total program credits - 92