The Master of Divinity degree is designed primarily for students who plan to be ordained clergy and serve in Word, sacrament, service and order. It may also equip a person for other specialized ministries. In most cases, a Master of Divinity degree is the pathway for those called to lead, teach and serve in Word and sacrament. The M.Div. has been the most widely recognized and preferred degree for those seeking Elder or Deacon orders in The United Methodist Church.
Your call to ministry can be full of surprises and will likely take you in many directions. The objective is to be prepared. Those who believe they have been called by God to serve in a mainline denomination are perfect candidates for an M.Div. degree.
Discerning your call can be challenging. You may find our Call to Ministry Checklist to be helpful.
Calls to ministry are not neat and tidy, so do not be concerned if you find yourself questioning your call. There are many who begin theological education because the call is just that: a start to the journey.
Seminary can be a time for continued discernment. Speak to those who know you, who know your passion, your faith journey, your aspirations and goals. Spend time in prayer and meditation, and talk to those who know your skill sets, gifts and graces. Oftentimes, students find themselves knocking at the theological graduate school door and wondering why they’re there. All may not be in alignment, so do not lose heart. Your call may be to simply take the first step; seminary.
Do you find yourself wanting a stronger, better equipped voice to share your faith? Do you have the desire to share your faith? Are there individuals in your circle who are telling you that you should look at becoming ordained or seek a position at a church or faith-based community? Are you an active churchgoer who desires to be better equipped to serve in a lay capacity? During worship or other parts of your daily life, are you yearning to do more to serve God and others? If so, this may be a sign of a call to ministry.
Some people feel they need to be doing more for others and feel inadequate to do so. They have a sense of needing “more.” Do you often feel this way? If serving in a lay capacity is no longer serving your spirit, you may be called to something bigger.
Are you longing to learn how to share the Gospel or to teach God’s Word? Maybe you’re more timid and this is a gift you believe God wants you to develop. No matter what, you are encouraged to use this skill for the greater good.
When you think about assisting others by your teaching about God’s love, or serving in other ways, do you know or sense that people benefit from your service? In other words, do your actions cause a generous, positive reaction in other people’s lives? If so, you are utilizing your gifts and God is working through you already. It may be time to consider next steps.
Sometimes, we become bogged down with our own self-experience and can become myopic, only seeing a limited vision that God is calling us toward. What are your trusted mentors saying? What do strangers affirm in you? What does your spiritual community have to say?
The most challenging yet rewarding part of servant leadership is offering all that you are and all that you have to God. Serving others and embracing God’s call on your life is a courageous act of selflessness. “Here I am.”
You may be called to ministry if one or more of these pertain to you.
There are many benefits to earning a degree, whether it be to further your education, learn, or grow and develop your skill set. Not only does a Master of Divinity degree yield these benefits, it also offers much more. These benefits include:
Most Master of Divinity programs will all offer many classes to help strengthen and discern your call. Some sample classes will reflect:
With a Master of Divinity degree, students can continue to pursue their dreams of becoming an ordained elder and a lead pastor of a United Methodist Church, or a church of their denomination if credentials are accepted.*
The roles of an Elder in The United Methodist Church are, but not limited to:
The M.Div degree not only qualifies students to become an elder in their church, as they can also seek out other vocational opportunities, such as:
* We strongly encourage you to check with the ordaining body of your denomination with particular denominations before beginning your pathway if not a member of The United Methodist Church.
At Perkins School of Theology - Southern Methodist University, you will play an increasingly meaningful role in a community of lively dialogue that encourages deep thought and honest reflection. It is our expectation that you will graduate not only with a clearer understanding of yourself, but also with a broader and more sympathetic understanding of the beliefs of others.
Our Master of Divinity program is our most popular program. More than 70 percent of our student population is working towards earning their M.Div., where they will go on to lead churches throughout the world.
-Rev. Adam Hamilton
1988 Perkins M.Div. Graduate
Founding Pastor at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.
Learn More About The M.Div Program at Perkins
If you have questions or would like to speak with someone from admissions, we encourage you to book a meeting with us.
If you'd like to explore our other graduate programs, you can do so with our new interactive guide.
Access Exploring Ministry Degrees Guide