Master of Divinity Courses in Vocational Areas

Owned by Laura Lehman (Deactivated)
Last updated: May 02, 2024 by Amber Tobey
2 min read

This list of suggested courses will help students and their advisors choose among the elective courses offered, in order to deepen their preparation in areas of vocational interest.

Pastoral Ministry

For students serving or called to traditional or emerging Christian communities.

  • SMCL 642 Congregational Worship

  • SMCL 611 Pastoral Care

  • MOL 620 Transformative Leadership

  • SMCL 602 Foundations of Christian Preaching

  • SMCL 521 Teaching for Christian Community

A denominational polity course is required for United Methodist and strongly recommended for Mennonite Church USA pastoral ministry students; Clinical Pastoral Education is required for United Methodist students and strongly recommended for anyone with this vocation interest

Academic Ministry

 For students who feel called to model for the church what it means to love God with the mind by artfully bringing academic learnings into the life of the church through teaching, writing and on-going scholarship.

  • CTT 523 Anabaptism Today: Topics

  • BIBL 560 Biblical Foundations for Justice and Peacemaking

  • SMCL 602 Foundations for Christian Preaching

  • CTH 641 Mennonite History & Thought

Intercultural & Community Mission

For students who feel called to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in diverse contexts, providing leadership for new communities of faith and neighborhood ministries that embody evangelical spirit, social conscience and public witness, whether locally or internationally.

  • CM 538 Global Christianity

  • CM 635 Faith Based Social Transformation

  • CTE 713 Sermon on the Mount: Peace, Justice and the Reign of God

  • CM 621 Evangelism: Living to Tell

  • CM 724 Racial Healing and the Blue-Eyed Soul

Chaplaincy or Spiritual Direction

 For students who feel called to serve as Chaplains or Spiritual Directors practicing the skills of presence, listening, discernment, and empathy while offering appropriate, caring responses.

In addition to the above MDiv core requirements, students are expected to choose many of their electives from these suggested courses:

  • SMCL 611 Pastoral Care

  • SMFE 601/602 Clinical Pastoral Education—Basic Level

  • SMFE 701/702 Clinical Pastoral Education—Advanced Level

  • FS 521 Introduction to Spiritual Guidance

  • SMCL 564 Theological Reflection on Trauma

  • FS 532 Spiritual Formation for Congregational Discernment

  • CM 621 Evangelism: Living to Tell