Outcomes
A graduate of the MDiv program at VST will be equipped and prepared to exercise a vocation of theological scholarship in the service of the flourishing of God’s people:
Self and Contextual Knowledge
- Articulate critical knowledge of self, one’s own denominational or faith tradition, and contemporary cultures, communities, and contexts both locally and globally.
Bible, Preaching and Worship
- Demonstrate knowledge of biblical texts and their contexts in order to integrate biblical vision with contemporary realities in varied expressive formats such as preaching, teaching, and social ministry that witness effectively the mission of the church.
- Demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of worship traditions and lead worship celebrations that interpret divine agency and hold space where God and people meet.
Pastoral and Public Leadership
- Evidence spiritual maturity to care effectively for the pastoral and spiritual well-being of individuals, congregations, and communities.
- Demonstrate deep formation within the student’s own denominational tradition.
- Practice effective leadership in pastoral and public situations amidst a climate of change, being a sign of Christ’s presence while making use of and possibly going beyond current models of ministry.
Indigenous and Inter-Religious Studies
- Demonstrate awareness of a variety of Indigenous ways of knowing and being and show willingness to engage the Indigenous community locally and advocate for Indigenous issues globally.
- Demonstrate knowledge of and sensitivity to religious traditions other than one’s own and show ability to identify and engage in areas of ‘overlapping consensus’ for the good of the world.
Theology and History
- Demonstrate knowledge of theology and history in the service of the flourishing of the church.
Integration
- Demonstrate integration of knowledge drawn from scripture, history, and theology with spiritual and practical insights to analyze and respond imaginatively to contemporary challenges in the practice of ministry.