A transformational journey of discipleship focused on helping you develop vocational excellence in your current or desired context – all on your time and from wherever you are.
This context-based program prepares persons for leadership in faith-based settings, ordination in most denominations, doctoral studies, and personal spiritual growth. Bible, theology, ministry practice, and the integration of faith and work are at the core of the program. Through the program, you will develop personal resources as well as integrated proficiency in the content, character, and craft required of spiritual leaders.
By inviting Kairos to walk on this journey with you, you’re seizing a unique opportunity to deepen your faith while simultaneously developing the content, character, and craft to flourish in your vocation. You’ll develop a mentor team that walks with you throughout the entire program. And then, we will invite you to integrate discipleship, vocational excellence, and proficiency learning.
The Master of Divinity is 72 credit hours and consists of the following outcome-level courses:
Areas of focus: journey preparation, mentor team development
Areas of focus: spiritual formation, life in Christ, fruit of the spirit
Areas of focus: Old and New Testaments, Bible interpretation, Biblical exegesis
Areas of focus: mission of the church, ethnohermeneutics, gospel communication, gospel communication in practice
Areas of focus: God, Christ, humanity, creation, spirit, church, Christian worship
Areas of focus: early church history, the reformation, modern church history, denominational heritage, Christianity
Areas of focus: ethical reasoning, Christian ethical reflection, Christian leadership
Areas of focus: collaborative leadership, care, counseling, human and organizational systems
Areas of focus: high-level integration, diversity of perspectives, empathetic listening
Areas of focus: ethnohermeneutics, project research, project/thesis, doing theology in context, cross-cultural immersion
Areas of focus: Christian discipleship, walking with fellow Christians, vocational resilience
Areas of focus: program reflection, building a community of support, and lifelong learning preparation
While engaged in this program, you will walk with a mentor team through the following:
With a focus on formation, biblical study, vocational discernment, theological reflection, and integrated practice, the Master of Divinity helps you connect your journey of discipleship with what God is doing in the world. Through the program, you will develop and demonstrate proficiency in its 13 integrated outcomes: Starting Well, Christian Spirituality, Skillful Biblical Exegesis, Cultural Exegesis and Gospel Proclamation, Theology and Worship, Christian Tradition, Christian Ethics, Collaboration and Care, Integration in Community (I & II), Contextual Project, Mentored Life, and Continuing Well. If you find yourself wondering, “What is an outcome?” then read our blog post about it here.
Throughout the program, you have the opportunity to work with your mentor team to design learning experiences that are entirely shaped by what you are doing (or will do) in your current or desired vocational context. Are you planting a church? Building a youth ministry program? Developing curriculum? Then use that in your program! Are you managing finances? Writing code? Building homes? Developing software? Leading teams? Then use that in your program! If an experience or project is connected to what it means to flourish in your vocation, then use it to make progress in your program!
If you are interested in focusing on a particular area of study to meet your specific vocational or developmental needs, you can work with your mentor team or a Kairos partner to customize or concentrate in any area of interest. This means you can dive deep into missional theology, systems design and thinking, pastoral care, Clinical Pastoral Education, biblical languages, spiritual formation and direction, chaplaincy, finances, strategic leadership, and much more. The choice is yours!
Learning experiences in Kairos are built around an invitation for you to explore some aspect of your vocation, Christian thought and practice, or the human experience. You have the opportunity to progress through these learning experiences in the way that is most helpful to you in your context and vocation. You also have the opportunity to work with faculty members to create entirely new or customized learning experiences that help you develop vocational excellence and expertise. Learn more about customized learning here.
Many students count the small group reflection sessions as a highlight of their time in Kairos. As a key part of the Kairos journey, these sessions are required for most programs. They include peer-to-peer dialogue around real-life situations.
We’d love to help you discern if this is the next best step for you. Start a conversation with us today or check out our “Discerning Your Calling” step-by-step guide.
Ready to move forward? Here are a few things you’ll need to get started (more details in the catalog).