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Master of Pastoral Theology Degree

  1. A candidate for the MPT degree must have earned the B.D./M. Div. degree or its equivalent, and he must be serving as a pastor in the WELS or a church body in fellowship with the WELS.
  2. The candidate must earn at least 45 credits according to the following stipulations:
    1. (18 Credits)
      • The candidate for this degree will attend six fifteen-hour seminars.
      • The candidate will complete the study required prior to attending each seminar (Scripture; reading books, articles, and essays; watching videos; etc.).
      • The pre-seminary study will count for half of the credit for each seminar. Attendance at the seminar will count for the other half of the credit. The candidate for this degree must complete both parts of each seminar’s requirements in order to receive any credit for a seminar.
      • The six required seminars will be in six different areas of practical theology:
        1. Adult Nurture (3 credits)
        2. Youth Nurture (3 credits)
        3. Administration (3 credits)
        4. Counseling (3 credits)
        5. Outreach (3 credits)
        6. Worship and Preaching (3 credits)
      • Each of the six seminars will be offered at least once in a six-year cycle in connection with the Summer Quarter at the Seminary. Each seminar may also be offered off campus at various locations as enrollment and resources allow.
      • The candidate for this degree must take at least two of the six required seminars on campus at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.
    2. (18 Credits)
      • The candidate for this degree will develop three congregational projects in three different areas of practical ministry (6 credits each). These projects will be done as a follow-up to three of the six seminars. The candidate may begin working on each of the three required projects upon completion of each of the three corresponding seminars.
      • These three congregational projects will be chosen in consultation with supervisors assigned from the respective departments. One of these projects might possibly be chosen in view of the final project that the candidate intends to undertake to complete this degree program (cf. Part III, c).
      • The candidate for this degree will complete the study required as part of his development of each project (Scripture; reading books, articles, and essays; watching videos; etc.).
    3. (9 Credits)
      • Upon completion of the three congregational projects, the student will apply for an advisor to the chairman of the department in which he intends to do his major project.
      • The candidate for this degree will do a final extensive congregational project to complete this master’s degree program under the supervision of his advisor.
      • This final extensive project may be a further development of one of the three projects done in Part II, a combination of several of the projects done in Part II, or an entirely new project.
      • As part of this final project, the candidate for this degree will fulfil the study required (Scripture; reading books, articles, essays; watching videotapes; etc.) beyond that done in Parts I and II.
      • The candidate for this degree will submit a master’s thesis based on this final extensive project. This thesis will reflect the study the candidate did in connection with this project as well as documenting and evaluating what was done in carrying out the project. (9 credits)
      • The candidate for this degree will take an oral examination on the written thesis.
      • The oral examination must be completed at least 45 days before the graduation service in which the degree is to be conferred.
    4. The candidate’s advisor will recommend to the faculty that the Master of Pastoral Theology degree be granted.
    5. The advisor will inform the candidate of the graduation fee.