Is The Master's Institute Accredited?
Is MI a Lutheran school?
Do the students graduate with a degree?
How does MI handle grading?
What kinds of jobs are available upon graduation?
Who teaches at MI?
What is the curriculum?
Does MI teach Greek or Hebrew?
Does one need a college degree to apply?
What is meant by character formation or mentoring?
Does MI offer options for people wanting a shorter program?
Can I take classes on-line?
Is there a school like this one near me?
How do I get an application?
Where can I find your Non Discriminatory Policy?

Is MI Accredited?

The Master’s Institute takes a leading approach to accreditation. We find our accreditation in:

• the close relationships we have with (and our responsiveness to) the churches and church networks we have been called to serve.
• being held accountable by our students, Board, and those churches we are in relationship with, to remain faithful to our God-imparted mission, core values, philosophy of education, and philosophy of leadership development.
• the breadth, depth, and credibility of the men and women who serve as professors at MI.
• the quality and proven track records of our graduates who are now in the field doing Kingdom ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit as competent leaders; our commitment to train students - at the highest level - in the areas of pastoral abilities, leadership skills, and theological acumen prepares them for the kingdom call on their lives.

Is MI a Lutheran School?
Our statement of faith is evangelical, creedal, and sacramental. Being Lutheran is an issue of substance rather than style, of theology rather than methodology. We are Reformational in our understanding of the authority of Scripture and the centrality of grace and faith.

Do the Students graduate with a degree?
Graduates receive a Master of Divinity (Mdiv) Degree along with letters of recommendation from some of the faculty and staff of MI, their mentor or the church at which they interned. Seminary students graduate with solid leadership training, equipping them to serve as pastors, church planters, missionaries, worship leaders and director of music ministries, youth or Christian education ministers, para-church ministers, or workers in other areas of leadership. Many MI graduates are currently employed as senior, associate or youth pastors, and missionaries.

Grading
The faculty, or, in some cases the Director, Spiritual Formation or the Dean of Students, will evaluate your reflections for “Clarity of Thought” and “Comprehension.” The paper will be evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the highest.

Although MI does not use letter grades, your academic papers are evaluated for “clarity of thought” and “comprehension”. MI is equally concerned for excellence in character as it is in academics. If a student were to get an A in theology and a D in character, we would have missed our goal. We are training leaders who can think Biblically, but we also want students whose character is conformed to the image of Christ.

What kind of jobs are available upon graduation?
Graduates are currently serving in the ARC (Alliance of Renewal Churches), LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ), HNI (Harvest Network International) Churches, the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), or have returned to their sending church in some leadership capacity or as a church planter of that congregation. Other church networks are also beginning to discover MI and may receive MI graduates in the future such as Evangelical Free churches, Covenant churches, Vineyard churches, and more.

MI has teamed up with IMF (International Ministerial Fellowship) to help with licensing and ordination. MI will assist students, as requested, in finding a position suitable to their gifts and training and will continue in this relationship with them throughout their ministry if desired. Placement is the primary responsibility of the graduates and their relational networks.

Who teaches at MI?
MI has a staff of adjunct professors. Some are pastors in the Twin Cities who have a gift and passion for communicating the Christian message. Some are seminary professors whose values and gifting fit well with our program. We teach from the Lutheran perspective on Reformation (Word alone, Grace alone, Faith alone).

What is the curriculum?
The curriculum is fashioned in a seminar format, with each weekly seminar running from 8:00 - 3:30 pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Most seminars are contained in one week. Occasionally, a seminar will extend for two weeks. Classes include biblical studies, systematics (the work of the Spirit, the nature of man, etc.), church history, apologetics (a defense of the faith), and practical theology (leadership, spiritual formation, discipleship, etc.).

Does MI teach Greek or Hebrew?
Students desiring to study Greek/Hebrew are encouraged to do so, either through intensive summer courses. MI does not currently offer a Greek or Hebrew class.

Does one need a college degree to apply?
Younger students are encouraged to complete their college degree before applying. Second-career people who sense God leading them into some form of ministry and who demonstrate Christian maturity and leadership are welcome to apply with MI whether or not they have a college degree. Equivalencies for life experiences, leadership, and Christian service are considered.

What is meant by character formation or mentoring?
Academic training is insufficient for Christian leadership. Students need character formation. The MI approach is three-fold: Biblical teaching is one-third of the program, character formation and hands-on leadership training are the other two-thirds. Character formation includes weekly personal time with a mentor who helps to give encouragement, direction, and correction when needed, group mentoring (students meet together for encouragement and accountability), and personal daily devotions (which includes the reading of devotional classics). The mentoring is personal and relational rather than academic. Students are more likely to be asked questions about how they are handling temptation or strengthening their devotional life than about homework assignments.

Does MI offer options for people wanting a shorter program?
The Master's Institute School of Ministry (SOM) is designed to provide training in significant leadership and ministry skills to believers for effective Kingdom ministry in local churches and the workplace. SOM provides participants with the opportunity to receive an impartation of the heart and passion of the teachers through the empowering of the Holy Spirit in a place that is safe for growth and transformation.

Can I take classes on-line?
The Master's Institute does not currently offer on-line classes.

Is there a school like this one near me?
We have one school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Our plan is to develop associate schools around the country as churches express interest and have necessary resources. We work with these churches to set up the program that fits with their resources and needs, providing them with the packaged program of The Master's Institute.

How do I get an application?
Applicants must first meet with the President for an exploratory interview, after which an application will be given to qualifying individuals.
Click here for a Seminary pre-interview request form.
Click here for a School of Ministry application process.

Non Discriminatory policy
The Master’s Institute admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded and made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational or admissions policies, scholarship or other school-administered programs. The Master’s Institute recognizes, respects, and honors diversity due to an individual’s culture, race, and ethnicity.