Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary // Military Chaplaincy Program

Military Chaplaincy Program

Download informational flyer for January 2010 January Term Military Chaplaincy course.

Program Details:

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary with the assistance of a grant from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation is developing curriculum about and for military chaplains. LTSS became interested in reaching out to military chaplains because of our close proximity to Ft Jackson and the co-location of the Army, Navy and Air Force Chaplain Schools at Ft Jackson beginning in 2010. This project has four primary foci.

1. Discernment: Beginning in January term in 2010, LTSS will offer a three credit course designed to examine the unique ministry of military chaplains. The seminar will help students begin a discernment process regarding military chaplaincy and/or to gain a better understanding of this specialized ministry.

The seminar will include discussions with retired and active duty chaplains, visits to Ft Jackson and the chaplain schools, and discussion/lectures on history, ethics, theology and practice of military chaplains during war and peace time. The course will also look at problems and strategies in pastoral care for helping combat veterans return to civilian life.

2. Professional Development Advance Degrees focused for Military Chaplains:

a. Master of Sacred Theology (STM) - Each year the Department of the Army selects a few chaplains to receive additional education in specialties needed for their particular assignments. One of those needs is ethics instructors for military service schools. LTSS has been fortunate to have active duty Army chaplains attend LTSS working toward an STM in ethics. We hope to expand these offerings to other specialities based on the needs of the military and the seminaries capabilities.

b. Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) designed for active duty and reserve chaplains - LTSS will study the feasibility of designing a DMin program for active duty and reserve chaplains. Military chaplains are deployed around the world providing ministry to service members and their families. We hope to provide a flexible program that will meet the unique needs our our military chaplains.

3. Professional Development - non degree Life Long Learning. In the military chaplaincy there is a strong interest for continuing education to strengthen the capabilities of chaplains in ministering to service members and their families. LTSS plans on developing brief, intensive seminars that will meet those needs and offer these seminars to our military chaplains.

4. Masters of Divinity - Specialty in Military Chaplains (for chaplain candidates). If seminarians meet both the church's and military requirements, they have an opportunity to begin serving in the military during seminary as "chaplain candidates". Students who have been approved as chaplain candidates may enter the Masters of Divinity emphasis on military chaplaincy which will help focus course work, practicums and internship to prepare them for this unique ministry as well as the civilian parish.

LTSS

Military Chaplaincy Program

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