M.Litt,

Pastoral Ministry Track

Pastoral Ministry Track

Master of Letters, Customized for Ministry

Our Master of Letters in Classical Protestantism, Pastoral Ministry Track, offers a unique and low-cost alternative to an M.Div, partnering with churches, presbyteries, and dioceses to re-imagine the shape of theological education. Our online and residential courses provide students with a unique grounding in the theological, biblical, historical, philosophical, and linguistic foundations of the Protestant faith. Meanwhile, your ecclesial mentors provide, life-on-life on-the-ground training in the practical skills, experience, and character traits needed for pastoral ministry.

Elements of Our Program

Our M.litt, Pastoral Ministry Track program is a three-year, 78-credit course of study that could serve as an alternative to an M.Div. or MATS program at a seminary. As a confessional institution, we require that Pastoral Ministry students choose a tradition-specific sub-track. For now, we are offering Anglican Studies, and Reformed and Presbyterian Studies; we hope to add a Baptist Studies track in Fall 2023. Most courses are online-only, meeting 2hrs./wk. for 10 wks, but our Foundations module includes residential intensives and recorded lectures.

Foundations

RESIDENTIAL DISCIPLESHIP WEEK

5 days at Davenant House

RESIDENTIAL INTENSIVE 1

How to Read the Bible and the World

(3 credits)

RESIDENTIAL INTENSIVE 2

A Protestant Christendom

(3 credits)

LECTURE PACKAGE 1

The Ways of Knowing

(1 credit)

LECTURE PACKAGE 2

God: Essence and Attributes

(1 credit)

LECTURE PACKAGE 3

An Introduction to Biblical Wisdom

(1 credit)

LECTURE PACKAGE 4

God: The Trinity

(1 credit)

LECTURE PACKAGE 5

The Story of the Reformation

(1 credit)

LECTURE PACKAGE 6

Christ and His Work

(1 credit)

bible

Core Course

Natural Law and Scriptural Authority

(1.5 credits)

Five Bible Electives

(1.5 credits each)

Writing

Two 8,000-word integrated research papers

(1.5 credits each)

Theology

Core Course

Protestant Moral Theology

(1.5 credits)

Five Theology Electives

(1.5 credits each)

Writing

Two 8,000-word integrated research papers

(1.5 credits each)

philosophy

Core Course

Philosophy for Theology

(1.5 credits)

Core Course

Approaches to Defending the Faith

(1.5 credits)

Core Course

Philosophy as a Way of Life

(1.5 credits each)

Three Philosophy electives

(1.5 credits each)

Writing

Two 8,000-word integrated research papers

(1.5 credits each)

Christian History

Core Course

The Reformation of the Modern World

(1.5 credits)

Five Christian history Electives

(1.5 credits each)

Writing

Two 8,000-word integrated research papers

(1.5 credits each)

Language and Literature

Three Latin Courses

(2 credits)

Three Additional Language Courses

Latin, Greek, or Hebrew

(2 credits each)

Or
Four Literature Electives

(1.5 credits each)

Pastoral Ministry

Ministry-Focused Courses

Moral Theology for Counseling

(1.5 credits)

Classical Rhetoric for Preaching

(1.5 credits)

Exegesis for Preaching

(1.5 credits)

8,000-word Reflection and Application paper

(1.5 credits)

Confessional
Sub-TRacks

In place of general electives in Theology and Christian History, Pastoral Track students take six courses specific to the theology and history of the Anglican tradition, or the Reformed and Presbyterian tradition.

Practicum

Throughout their three years of study, students work with an ecclesial mentor-whether it’s their senior pastor, diocesan bishop, or other designated leader-to acquire the skills, experience, and character needed for on-the-ground ministry.

Looking for a program aimed at laymen instead?

If you’re not pursuing pastoral ministry, but are looking for a firm grounding in the theological, biblical, historical, philosophical, and linguistic foundations of the Protestant faith, check out our regular M.Litt program

Tuition

For OUr M.LItt Program

For full-time Pastoral Track students, the total cost of our program is just $10,898, including full room and board at two 2-week Residential Intensive courses. Part-time students pay somewhat more, but still much less than any comparable programs.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time

Degree-seeking students can, like non-degree seeking students, register for individual courses on a term-by-term basis and apply these credits to their degree, so long as they fulfill all degree requirements within six years of matriculation (exemptions for longer periods of completion may be granted on a case-by-case basis by appeal to the Provost). The standard rate for such classes is $399 for most 1.5-credit classes, and $623 for 2-credit language classes. However, full-time students (those taking at least four and ideally five classes per term) pay at a lower rate: $275 for 1.5-credit classes and $436 for 2-credit language classes.

Full-time students also have the option to pay tuition for each year in advance at the rate of $4,150 per year (residential courses paid separately), which represents an additional 18% discount off of the regular full-time discount, and a steal compared to comparable graduate and seminary programs!

Required Core Courses

All M.Litt. students take these eight courses, which constitute the heart of the unique Davenant approach to retrieving the legacy of classical Protestantism, with an emphasis on reformed catholicity and the integration of God’s “two books” ― Scripture and nature.

Natural Law and Scriptural Authority

An introduction to the shared Catholic-Protestant natural law tradition and how Scripture both presupposes it and illuminates it.

Philosophy for Theology

An introduction to the basic philosophical grammar necessary to understand the tradition of Western theology.

The Reformation and the Modern World

Why was the Reformation necessary? Was it all for the good? And how has it shaped our world today?

Introduction to Protestant Moral Theology

A primer on how to render obedience to God’s law and stay faithful to the order of creation.

Approaches to Defending the Faith

A survey of different apologetical schools and how to cultivate ourselves as defenders of the faith today.

Philosophy as a Way of Life

A rediscovery of the true nature of philosophy as appropriated by Christianity: a search for wisdom in the light of Christ.

How to Read the Bible and the World

A residential intensive exploring how we learn from both God’s Word and God’s world, and how to discern the structure and key themes of each.

A Protestant Christendom?

A residential intensive offering a Reformational approach to the intersection of political and spiritual authority.

Confessional Sub-Tracks

Students can choose from the following two options (others to be added in future years, Lord willing).

These six courses will be substituted for general elective requirements in the Theology and Christian History modules.

Anglican Studies Track

6 Courses
History

Anglican Church History I

Anglican Church History II

Theology

Thirty-Nine Articles

Anglican Theology (rotating focus)

Further Study

Anglican Polity

Anglican Liturgy

OR


Reformed & Presbyterian
Studies Track

6 Courses
History

Continental Reformed Church History

British Reformed Church History

Theology

Reformed Confessions

Reformed Theology (rotating focus)

Further Study

Reformed Polity

Reformed Liturgy

OR


Baptist Studies Track

6 Courses
History

Baptist History I: Europe

Baptist History II: United States

Theology

Baptist Confessions

Baptist Theology (rotating focus)

Further Study

Baptist Polity

Baptist Liturgy

traiNing for Pastors — By Pastors

Throughout their three years of study, students work with an ecclesial mentor—whether it’s their senior pastor, diocesan bishop, or other designated leader—to acquire the skills, experience, and character needed for on-the-ground ministry.

For the Practicum part of our program, students will be given our Pastoral Practicum Guide outlining the following requirements. Each term, students will check in with Davenant on their progress.

  1. Students should meet with mentors regularly throughout their program to discuss a specific list of topics aimed at preparing them for ministry.
  2. Students will engage in regular or frequent supervised ministry throughout their program.
  3. Students are required to preach a sermon or equivalent public teaching opportunity six times during their program. Students are encouraged to attend a Simeon Trust Workshop, which will count towards a year of mentorship and two sermons.

Faq

Do I need to be a graduate student or seminarian to participate in a course?

No, in fact, you do not need to currently belong to an academic institution at all. Undergraduate students, pastors, teachers, and independent scholars are welcome as well.

Do I need to apply?

If you want to participate as a degree-seeking student in either our Certificate or M.Litt program, then yes, you do, although the application process is very straightforward. Apply HERE for the M.Litt, or the M.Litt Pastoral Ministry Track. If you are participating as an auditor or just want to take individual classes for credit now (which could later be applied to the Certificate or M.Litt), then no, you can just register for individual courses.

Are there any prerequisites for courses?

Not generally, although certain individual classes may require certain other classes as prerequisites. All classes are open to students 18 years old and above who are capable of deep reading, charitable engagement, and coherent writing (though of course students will be expected to grow in these skills through participation).

Can I enroll in more than one certificate?

Yes, you can! Students enrolled in multiple certificates can count up to 2 courses as dual credit, as long as the courses meet the requirements of both certificates.

What is the time commitment?

The standard format for all online courses will be 10 weeks, 2 hrs/wk. Credit-seeking students should plan on spending roughly 4 hrs./wk. on average outside of class for each online course. Full-time students should plan on enrolling on five classes each term (no less than four, no more than six).

How do the live classes work?

All of our live classes use industry-leading videoconferencing software, Zoom. Recordings of each class session, including any “whiteboards” or screen-shares, will be made available for students who were unable to make a particular class meeting.

Does it matter what time zone I am in?

It is important that for-credit students be able to participate in most of the live classes, although auditors may participate via recordings only if desired. It is our goal to schedule live class times that will fit within normal waking hours for all enrolled students, wherever they live on the globe, though obviously the times will be more convenient for some than others. After the registration deadline, students will be polled to determine suitable class meeting times, and the time that works best for all participants will be selected. If the resulting time does not work for you, you will have the option of (a) switching to auditor and watching recordings, (b) switching to a different course, (c) receiving a full refund.

Is there a drop/add date?

We will not normally be allowing students to join one of the classes after the registration deadlines for each course, although students may drop, go down to Auditor status, or switch to another class in case of an unresolvable schedule conflict. This is our refund policy:

  1. Drop (full refund): Students may drop a course after the registration deadline and before the start of the term for a full refund,
    minus $30 processing fee.
  2. Drop (partial refund): Students may drop a course after the start of the term and before the second class meeting for a 50% refund.
  3. Switch: Students may switch courses after the registration deadline and before the second class meeting with no processing fee.
  4. Withdrawal: Students who drop a course after the second class meeting and before the start of the fourth week will receive no refund but will earn a “W” on their transcript. Students may not drop after the third week and will receive a letter grade.
What is the transfer credit policy?

Students may request to transfer credits of graduate courses from another graduate institution. Undergraduate credits will not be accepted. Acceptance of credits will be conducted on a case-by-case basis and may require a course description from the other institution’s catalog.

Courses from the previous institution must have earned a minimum of B. Up to 6 courses may be transferred in the subject areas of Theology, Philosophy, Church History, or similar. Up to 6 language courses (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) may be transferred. A proficiency exam will be required for those transferring full language requirements.

Credits will be translated into our program and may not reflect the same number of credits. Generally, 3 credits (one class) will transfer as 1.5 Davenant Hall credits (one class), though this will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Transfer credits cannot substitute for core courses in each module, though elective credit may be granted. Credit may be granted for a maximum of 2 integrated essays.

To request transfer credit, please submit your request and unofficial transcript to the Assistant Provost Tim Jacobs (T.JACOBS@DAVENANTINSTITUTE.ORG).

How do the residential courses work?

Residential intensive courses will run for two weeks in the summer and should be considered full-time commitments during the two weeks. Davenant Discipleship Weeks will be scheduled with each student during either the Christmas break or the period between the end of Trinity Term and the Residential Intensives.

Are scholarships available?

At present, no. We have made an effort to price these classes at rock-bottom levels, so that cost will not be an obstacle to most students. Moreover, students who complete the M.Litt will be eligible for generous scholarships from the Davenant Institute toward future graduate study. In particular, any student who successfully completes the M.Litt and then goes on to finish a PhD in an approved program (including the partnership with Union Theological College) will, upon successful completion of their PhD, receive a reimbursement of all tuition paid for the M.Litt. See the TUITION REIMBURSEMENT POLICY for details.

Is your program currently accredited?

Davenant Hall is not currently accredited by any outside agency, although we believe our courses and our program as a whole conform to high standards of professional qualification, academic rigor, and student assessment. However, we are currently building relationships with other academic institutions to have our courses and degrees recognized for transfer credit or advanced standing.

Can I receive credit toward a degree at another institution?

Our program is new, but the Davenant Institute has excellent relationships with numerous institutions of higher education, at the undergraduate, graduate, and seminary levels, and will be working over the coming years to establish transfer-credit arrangements with such institutions. If you would like to inquire about the possibility of such an arrangement with your current institution, please contact Colin Redemer, our Provost, at c.redemer@davenantinstitute.org.

Have additional questions? Get in touch!

Davenant Hall iS Reimagining

Theological Education.

Would you like to join us? We’d love to hear from you. If you have any further questions about the M.Litt. Pastoral Track or the application process, don’t hesitate to reach out.