Yale Divinity School

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Ministry Studies

Ministry Studies Support

The Divinity School enables women and men to prepare for the lay or ordained ministries of Christian churches. As part of that preparation, YDS offers a ministry studies support program to each Master of Divinity degree student. The program accommodates the student’s needs and expectations for the degree, and Yale’s requirements. Support for ministry studies within the context of the degree includes the help of academic advisers, the assistant dean for ministerial studies, and the Berkeley Divinity School director of studies.

The M.Div. is a professional degree, required by many Christian denominations for ordained ministry. Utilizing the Divinity School faculty and student body as well as the gifts of the broader Yale University academic community, M.Div. students engage in a three-year program of intellectual discovery and personal formation. The M.Div. degree, when a part of an intentional plan for study, prepares students for their denominational ordination process, in a program that is theologically informed, professionally competent, academically rigorous, and oriented to the life of the church. Yale offers the context and support for this journey of the mind and spirit, providing all of the course work required for most denominational ordination requirements, as well as a broad system of support in the midst of this process. The degree also prepares students who are not ordination-bound for a wide range of careers in professional ministry and church service. Assessment of progress is offered throughout the academic program so that students in the M.Div. program can move forward, with broad institutional support, into the ministries that are most appropriate for their interests, their gifts, their hopes.

In addition to academic work, ministry studies include possibilities for regular worship with the YDS community at Marquand Chapel, at Berkeley Center, and in a wide range of denominational and other settings. The Annand Program for Spiritual Growth, sponsored by Berkeley Divinity School and open to all students, encourages learning the fundamentals of prayer and Christian discipleship from seasoned clergy and lay teachers. The Supervised Ministries programs offer rich opportunities for professional growth within congregational ministry and non-parish settings.

In all aspects of ministry studies, consideration of issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality, and the broad scope of social justice concerns are of central importance.



Ministry Resource Center

The center focuses on the practice of ministry and provides resources to faculty, students, graduates, and congregations for those ministries. The center provides consultation and training related to social service agencies and ministries of congregations, the use of resources, and program planning. It provides a media library of videos, DVDs, CDs, software, and print resources on the practice of ministry ranging from social issues to congregational care to curriculum resources. The center supports students in Supervised Ministry placements in the community by providing program resources, planning assistance, and training for their work. The Ministry Resource Center works to expand visions and meet faith needs through the life of congregations.

--Last updated: April 28, 2009