Where can I acquire a degree in Theology?

Question

Currently I'm just a freshman in high school, but I feel very strongly about becoming a Lutheran Pastor. I'm going to make it clear here that I am NOT asking for your opinions on female Pastors, please keep your comments to yourself. However, I would really appreciate any information you would be willing to provide on four plus year colleges & universities where I could aquire a degree in Theology. Please colleges & universities that are willing to give scholarships, and please give any information necessary on how to work towards obtaining a substantial scholarship. Thank you so much! Have a good day.

Kiara

Location does not matter to me as long as it is in the United States.

Answer 1

A college degree is not sufficient to become a Lutheran minister, but it is necessary.

You may choose any college you wish, although a Lutheran college might be a particularly supportive environment for you. You should probably not confine yourself to applying to Lutheran schools, however, since exposure to many different religious traditions will be an advantage to you when it comes time to apply to seminary.

Personally, I recommend that you go to the most highly ranked college to which you can gain admission. If you get high SAT scores, look at the Ivies (Harvard, Yale, etc.), and elite liberal arts colleges (Seven Sisters, "Little Ivies," etc.). These schools have by far the best departments of religious studies. High SAT scores are the best route toward gaining scholarship support. Also, if you come from a lower income family, these well-endowed schools are the most likely to award full financial aid.

In college, you may major in anything you wish, although Religious Studies would probably be an excellent choice of major or minor for you. You need NOT major in theology at the undergraduate level (especially since theology majors are only offered at religious schools, so Lutheran colleges would be your only option in order to study theology), but you should study the history of Christianity. This is best done in a department of religious studies. Just be sure to do well in your studies, and to do well on the GRE exam, which you will take in your junior year, and which most of the finer seminaries require before application for admission.

If you would really prefer a Lutheran school for your undergraduate work (which I do not strongly recommend), here is a list of the better ones:

Missouri Synod:
Concordia University.

ELCA:
Muehlenburg College (PA)
California Lutheran University
Luther College (IA)
St, Olaf College (MN)
Texas Lutheran University

There are many more, but they are less selective schools.

It is the Master of Divinity degree, which you work toward after college, that will be most necessary. There are many Lutheran seminaries, and there are also interdenominational seminaries that are approved by the Lutheran Church, but you should be sure to attend one that is well-regarded and accredited by the ATS (Association of Theological Schools).

Accredited ELCA seminaries:
Luther Seminary
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Wartburg Theological Seminary

Accredited Missouri Synod seminaries:
Concordia Seminary (MO)
Concordia Theological Seminary (IN)

Highly regarded interdenominational semnaries:
Harvard Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Union Theological Seminary in NY
Graduate Theological Union in CA

Best wishes to you!

Answer 2

I just have general knowledge for you. Someone else may be able to help you more in depth.

My cousin received his Theology degree at University of St. Francis in Minneapolis. The problem is that it is a Catholic University and you want to be a Lutheran Minister.

I did a google search for "Lutheran Universities" and came up with this:

http://www.faithlutherangroton.org/colleges.html

It looks like a pretty extensive list with links to the individual colleges. Most religious universities offer Theology degrees.

Your next step would be to search their websites for the degrees they offer as well as scholarship information. You could also fill out the online form that most colleges have on their websites, asking for general information, degree brochures and scholarship information. If their website doesn't specify exactly what they are looking for in a scholarship recipient... ask them. They may want high school youth leaders, or Sunday school teachers or church volunteers, or all of the above.

Keep your info in a folder, even the ones that don't interest you now. What is important to you in a university may change by the time you're ready to apply. Or their scholarship requirements may change.

You could also go to scholarships.com and see if there is anything there for you.

Well, thats my best motherly advise on that subject. Well, besides telling you that you can be anything you set your heart to. :)

Best of luck to you!!!

Answer 3

I would say find a Confessional Lutheran seminary to attend, so that you don't get indoctrinated with Liberal Protestant Theology, Liberation Theology and Feminist Theology. But in your case that would be impossible to gain admission to a Confessional Lutheran Seminary. I would suggest looking up the Seminaries at
Lutheran Theological Seminary (Gettysburg)
Capital College
Wartburg Theological Seminary
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (Columbia)

I am sure the ELCA has more seminaries than these. These were the ones I remember when I was affiliated with the ELCA.

Answer 4

I go to a somewhat private college. It is a Bible college but only has 30-50 students. I have my Bachelor's degree in Theology and this spring will get my Master's degree. (fingers crossed)
Good luck, try looking up Bible colleges online to find one close to you.