Divinity (MDiv)
Credential: Master of Divinity
Location: Lancaster (hybrid), Washington DC (hybrid), Online
Program Director: Matt W. Lee, PhD
Program Mission Statement: The mission of the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program is to prepare students for a lifetime of effective service to the Church and society in a vocational ministry role. A learning journey that integrates biblical, theological, and ministry studies help students develop the wisdom and character needed for the present and future service entrusted to them. Students will be equipped with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to faithfully lead and serve in diverse ministry contexts. Students will be prepared to address the challenging questions and problems of the day while faithfully upholding the truth of God's word.
The MDiv degree is the most commonly pursued academic credential for ordination and acceptance into ministry-related doctoral degree programs like the Doctor of Ministry.
Additionally, to better serve the life-engaged adult learner, courses within the program are delivered in two modalities. The fully online modality offers maximum flexibility by enabling students to complete coursework without rearranging their schedules to attend in-person residencies. The hybrid modality provides students with the unique opportunity to complete most of their coursework online while still experiencing face-to-face on-site learning with their peers. Students can choose between either modality for most courses in the program.
Program Learning Outcomes: As a result of this program, students will…
1. Apply methods of interpretation, research, and biblical languages study to the discovery of biblical truths.
2. Articulate and defend sound theology according to historic Christian orthodoxy.
3. Construct theological and ethical solutions to challenging questions and problems facing the Church and society.
4. Formulate the character and competencies necessary for ethical and authentic servant leadership in the manner of Jesus Christ.
5. Plan redemptive spiritual communities built on Christ-like character, authentic servant-leadership, and a robust theology and philosophy of ministry.
6. Develop ministry skills in areas of evangelism, discipleship, care, administration, and communicating biblical truth.
Additional Program Information:
The Master of Divinity (MDiv) at Capital Seminary & Graduate School is a uniquely balanced program designed to produce the competencies necessary to lead from a biblical worldview. The program prepares students for a leadership role in multiple ministry contexts by focusing on developing the head, heart, and hands of the student.
Our educational philosophy guides our approach to teaching and learning, course design, and faculty selection.
We believe that ministry leaders need to both think and do well. Therefore, we commit to providing students with a solid biblical and theological foundation and the tools to continue exploring and applying Scripture as lifelong learners. We believe the Bible offers philosophical and practical foundations for ministry in any context. Therefore, classroom content and Scriptural principles are integrated and applied to professional practice in every course. At the same time, we commit to preparing students with the knowledge and skills for ministry as leaders, caregivers, teachers, and disciple-makers.
We believe that the character of the leader is crucial for impacting ministry. Therefore, courses seek not only to educate the mind in ministry competencies but also to nurture the development of biblical character qualities in our students. We recognize that ministry leaders lead out of who they are and are becoming. Therefore, we commit to integrating spiritual formation to develop spiritual, emotional, and physical health in ministry leaders' personal and professional lives.
We believe adults learn more effectively in nurturing communities. Therefore, the graduate student is viewed as a self-directed learner. Adult learning methods are emphasized, making the classroom environment an educational workshop that emphasizes interactive methods that utilize the professor's and student's unique gifts and life experiences.
We believe in life-long education. Therefore, courses emphasize critical thinking skills related to life and ministry and provide practical research skills for maintaining continuing education in Christian ministry beyond a formal degree program. We recognize that our ministry contexts are diverse and rapidly changing. Therefore, we commit to developing students who know their context and who can exegete culture and Scripture.
Curricular Options: The Master of Divinity offers three tracks. Track #1 Master of Divinity with a concentration consisting of 12 credits in a concentration that will provide students with further knowledge and ministry skills. Track #2 Master of Divinity: Christian Care Specialization and Track #3 Master of Divinity: Formational Leadership Specialization. A specialization is a focused area of training that exceeds the scope of a concentration. Students completing a specialization will be awarded a diploma that includes the specialization in the program title.
Students are encouraged to choose a concentration or specialization at the beginning of their program.
MDiv - Curricular Structure and Degree Requirements
| Master of Divinity Curricular Structure |
Credits |
| ORI 500 Orientation |
0 |
| Biblical and Theological Foundations Courses |
18 |
| Ministry Leadership Foundations Courses |
12 |
| Biblical Skills Development Courses |
15 |
| Ministry Skills Development Courses |
12 |
| Concentration Courses |
12 |
| Open Elective Courses |
6 |
| Program Total |
75 |
Biblical and Theological Foundation Courses (18 credits)
Biblical and Theological Foundations courses may be met through Advanced Standing. See the section below for more details.
| BTC 523 | Biblical Narrative - Old Testament | 3 |
| BTC 533 | Biblical Narrative - New Testament | 3 |
| BTC 563 | Biblical Interpretation | 3 |
| THE 501 | Christian Doctrine I: Revelation, God, Humanity, and Sin | 3 |
| THE 502 | Christian Doctrine II: Christ, Salvation, Church, and the Future | 3 |
| APO 555 | Ethics and Cultural Engagement | 3 |
Ministry Leadership Foundation Courses (12 credits)
| MIN 511 | The Church in God's Mission | 3 |
| MIN 512 | Personal Spiritual Formation | 3 |
| MIN 513 | Historical Perspectives on Church & Culture | 3 |
| MIN 514 | Contemporary Issues in Church & Culture | 3 |
Biblical Skills Development Courses (15 credits)
Ministry Skills Development Courses (12 credits)
| MIN 504 | Communicating Biblical Truth | 3 |
| OR | |
| BIB 535 | Introduction to Biblical Preaching | 3 |
| MIN 522 | Power, Change, and Conflict | 3 |
| MIN 523 | Leading Evangelism and Discipleship | 3 |
| MIN 524 | Principles and Practices of Christian Care | 3 |
Concentration Courses (12 credits)
The following concentrations are available in the MDiv program. Click the link to see the courses.
Bible Exposition Concentration
Christian Apologetics Concentration
Children & Family Ministry Concentration
Formational Leadership Concentration
General Biblical Studies Concentration
General Ministry Studies Concentration
Leadership Studies Concentration
Pastoral Studies Concentration
Theology Concentration
Open Elective Courses (6 credits)
Students may take 6 credits of electives from the following seminary course prefixes: APO, BIB, CFM, LSP, MFL, MIN, PAS, THE.
MDiv Christian Care Specialization - Curricular Structure and Degree Requirements
| MDiv Christian Care Curricular Structure |
Credits |
| ORI 500 Orientation |
0 |
| Biblical and Theological Foundations Courses |
18 |
| Ministry Leadership Foundations Courses |
9 |
| Biblical Skills Development Courses |
15 |
| Ministry Skills Development Courses |
6 |
| Christian Care Courses |
27 |
| Program Total |
75 |
Biblical and Theological Foundation Courses (18 credits)
Biblical and Theological Foundations courses may be met through Advanced Standing. See the section below for more details.
| BTC 523 | Biblical Narrative - Old Testament | 3 |
| BTC 533 | Biblical Narrative - New Testament | 3 |
| BTC 563 | Biblical Interpretation | 3 |
| THE 501 | Christian Doctrine I: Revelation, God, Humanity, and Sin | 3 |
| THE 502 | Christian Doctrine II: Christ, Salvation, Church, and the Future | 3 |
| APO 555 | Ethics and Cultural Engagement | 3 |
Ministry Leadership Foundation Courses (9 credits)
| MIN 511 | The Church in God's Mission | 3 |
| MIN 513 | Historical Perspectives on Church & Culture | 3 |
| MIN 514 | Contemporary Issues in Church & Culture | 3 |
Biblical Skills Development Courses (15 credits)
Ministry Skills Development Courses (6 credits)
| MIN 504 | Communicating Biblical Truth | 3 |
| OR | |
| BIB 535 | Introduction to Biblical Preaching | 3 |
| MIN 523 | Leading Evangelism and Discipleship | 3 |
Christian Care Courses (27 credits)
| CHC 505 | Foundations for Christian Care | 3 |
| CHC 510 | Christian Care of Individuals | 3 |
| CHC 511 | Christian Care of Individuals Lab | 3 |
| CHC 515 | Christian Care of Families | 3 |
| CHC 516 | Christian Care of Families Lab | 3 |
| CHC 520 | Christian Care and Group Process | 3 |
| CHC 525 | Training Christian Care Givers | 3 |
| CHC 590 | Christian Care of Individuals and Families Practicum | 3 |
| CHC 595 | Training Christian Care Givers Practicum | 3 |
MDiv Formational Leadership Specialization - Curricular Structure and Degree Requirements
| MDiv Formational Leadership Curricular Structure |
Credits |
| ORI 500 Orientation |
0 |
| Biblical and Theological Foundations Courses |
18 |
| Ministry Leadership Foundations Courses |
12 |
| Biblical Skills Development Courses |
15 |
| Formational Leadership Courses |
24 |
| Open Elective Courses |
6 |
| Program Total |
75 |
Biblical and Theological Foundation Courses (18 credits)
Biblical and Theological Foundations courses may be met through Advanced Standing. See the section below for more details.
| BTC 523 | Biblical Narrative - Old Testament | 3 |
| BTC 533 | Biblical Narrative - New Testament | 3 |
| BTC 563 | Biblical Interpretation | 3 |
| THE 501 | Christian Doctrine I: Revelation, God, Humanity, and Sin | 3 |
| OR | |
| MFL 502 | Integrative Theology | 3 |
| THE 502 | Christian Doctrine II: Christ, Salvation, Church, and the Future | 3 |
| APO 555 | Ethics and Cultural Engagement | 3 |
Ministry Leadership Foundation Courses (12 credits)
| MIN 511 | The Church in God's Mission | 3 |
| MFL 501 | Self-Care for the 21st Century Leader | 3 |
| MIN 513 | Historical Perspectives on Church & Culture | 3 |
| MIN 514 | Contemporary Issues in Church & Culture | 3 |
Biblical Skills Development Courses (15 credits)
Formational Leadership Courses (24 credits)
Open Elective Courses (6 credits)
Students may take 6 credits of electives from the following seminary course prefixes: APO, BIB, CFM, LSP, MFL, MIN, PAS, THE.
Admission, Retention, and Graduation
Admission Requirements
Admission into a master's degree program at Capital Seminary is consistent with the general admissions policy and practice of LBC|Capital. Admission criteria is located in the Admissions Information section of the catalog.
Transfer Credit
Transfer credit is awarded in accordance with the general transfer policy in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of the catalog. Transfer credits are reviewed and approved by the Program Director. This program has the following program specific transfer credit information. Transfer credit must be from an institution other than LBC|Capital.
| Seminary Program |
Program Credits |
# of Transfer Credits |
Age of Transfer Credits |
Min. Grade of Transfer Credit |
| Divinity (MDiv) |
75 cr. |
up to 50% |
10 yrs. (biblical languages)
15 yrs. (all other courses)
|
C |
Advanced Standing
Students demonstrating sufficient (at least 30 credits of undergraduate biblical, theological, or ministry courses) may be awarded up to 12 credits of advanced standing in the MDiv Program. These advanced standing credits will be applied to 9 credits of biblical and theological foundations (applied to
BTC 523,
BTC 533, &
BTC 563) and 3 credits of electives. Additionally, students with earned undergraduate credit in the biblical languages may earn up to 6 credits of advanced standing in biblical skills courses. Language credits may be applied to either Greek I and II or Hebrew I and II, but not both.
The MDiv program director will have the final authority on determining if a student's previous coursework qualifies for advanced standing and how advanced standing shall be applied to the MDiv program.
Program Retention
Academic progress in this program is monitored after each term. The Academic Probation policy and Academic Dismissal policy found in this catalog are applied to all LBC | Capital students.
Graduation Requirements
The following requirements must be successfully completed in order to receive a Seminary degree or certificate:
- Satisfactory completion of all course work
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Fulfillment of all financial obligations
- Adherence to biblical standards and ethics in living one’s lifestyle
Faculty
Program Director: Matt W. Lee, PhD
Dr. Matt Lee is the director of the MDiv Global Program and an assistant professor at LBC | Capital. He obtained his MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary, his MA in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, then his PhD in Christian Apologetics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to LBC | Capital, he served in various pastoral roles from 2001–2022, notably at SaRang Church in Seoul, Korea, as the lead pastor for the young adult singles ministry. Dr. Lee has released multiple worship music recordings in addition to publishing a number of writings which includes his book, Cultural Contextualization of Apologetics. Dr. Lee is a pastor-teacher, a passionate disciple-maker, and a fervent minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He believes in the power of the Gospel to change everything and seeks to carry out such Gospel-driven ministry through teaching, preaching, and disciple-making. He is married to Lindsey, and they have two children, Olivia and Matthew Jr.
Education:
PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Christian Apologetic, Louisville, KY
MDiv, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA
MA, BIOLA University, Christian Apologetics, La Mirada, CA
BS, University of Southern California, Music Industry
Faculty:
| James Ayers, PhD |
Mark Farnham, PhD |
Debra Johnson-Cortesi, PhD |
Timothy Sidebothom, PhD |
| LaSondra Barnes, DMin |
Douglas Finkbeiner, PhD |
Joseph Kim, PhD |
Rebekah Strangarity, MA |
| Casey Barton, PhD |
Adam Flynt, DMin |
Miles (Skip) Lewis, EdD |
Marc Talbert, PhD |
| Sherry Bell, MA |
Gordon Gregory, Jr., DTh |
Mark McGeever, DMin |
Currie Tilley, Jr., EdD |
| Kirk Belmont, DMin |
Steve Grusendorf, PhD |
Mark Meyer, PhD |
Alex Tufano, MAJame |
| Aaron Brown, MDiv |
Penny Gushiken, MA |
Timothy Nicholls, PhD |
John Wilkinson, PhD |
| Terriel Byrd, PhD |
Samuel Harbin, DMin |
Randal Pelton, PhD |
Nathaniel Yates, PhD |
| Mark Cote, DMin |
Ryan Hartwig, PhD |
Brian Pinzer, PhD |
Esther Zimmerman, PhD |
| Rick Chung, DMin |
Deborah Hinkel, MA |
Joshua Rhodes, MA |
|
| Douglas Curry, DMin |
Albin Huss, PhD |
Alex Sackey-Ansah, PhD |
|
| Mark Eckel, PhD |
|
Ed Scheuerman, DMin |
|