Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Our M Div Plus Pledge to You

When you enroll in the Master of Divinity program at Garrett-Evangelical, the seminary pledges to stay with you for three years after you graduate to support you along your path of professional formation -- to help you become a bold leader for the church and the world.

M Div Plus is our new program to provide you with a post-graduate, individually crafted executive leadership education that will strengthen your transition into professional life.

The most difficult time for any pastor is the first three years after seminary graduation. There's still so much to learn -- so many skills to refine: leadership, administration, preaching, teaching, counseling and theology, to name a few.

During these three years as you step boldly into your career and toward ordination, we will be there for you -- if you want us to be. The program is available, not required. Whether you participate in M Div Plus is entirely up to you. 

Your M Div Plus Options

Your M Div plus will be tailored to meet your needs. It offers a boutique approach, because one size clearly doesn't fit all. Should you choose to participate, you will choose your own options.

Beginning with the graduating class of 2010, M Div plus will offer leadership and management education, one-on-one coaching, and innovative continuing education focusing on topics and issues crucial to becoming effective clergy through 

• A joint Certification in Church Leadership under a new collaboration with the Kellogg School of Management's Center for Nonprofit Management at Northwestern University.

• Individual Coaching by coaches trained and certified through a program designed in  partnership with Samaritan Consulting Services, a Division of Samaritan Interfaith.

• On The Move Courses and Intensive Retreats... on issues crucial to your career.

Certification in Church Leadership will provide education in leadership and management, addressing topics such as developing a personal leadership style, establishing vision, leading change, team building, motivating stakeholders, conflict resolution, negotiating, and stewardship of church resources. Management education will focus on issues like church management, finance and accounting, revenue diversification, capital finance, managing a high-performing staff, working effectively with volunteers, and reaching a diverse audience.

The M Div plus coaching component will provide individualized, action-oriented and goal-focused support for graduates in their vocational settings. The coaches will be proven effective and experienced clergy trained through a demanding curriculum meeting the competency standards for certification by the International Coaching Federation. This coaching ministry also has enormous potential for improving leadership effectiveness throughout the church.

Ordination

M Div Plus provides an opportunity for Garrett-Evangelical to work with ordaining bodies to ensure any concerns about a candidate are addressed before ordination. Each Annual Conference in The United Methodist Church has installed programs to help new pastors. But they have found them difficult to sustain.

That's where Garrett-Evangelical steps in with M Div Plus... providing the connective tissue that links student, church, annual conference and seminary.

Our Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity is Garrett-Evangelical's core degree. We are committed to providing M Div excellence. After all, nothing less is acceptable in the education and preparation of ministers, who have such important work ahead in the church and in the world. Our new M Div Plus is the next logical step.

We hear the church... We are going to do our best to prepare highly regarded, effective spiritual leaders for a church and a world under a great deal of stress.

We hear the students... We are not going to abandon you after you graduate.