Houses of Study
Vocational Formation serves to form Christian leaders through worship, service, vocational discernment, and community. Vocational formation occurs through a variety of contexts at Duke Divinity School, including coursework, field education, spiritual formation, houses of study, and denominational associations. In addition, Vocational Formation provides opportunities for students to engage in vocational discernment and formation, hear from and develop relationships with experienced ministers, strengthen leadership capacities, engage in reflective practices, and gain practical knowledge to aid in the transition from academic life to lay or ordained ministry in the church and the wider world.
Denominationally specific academic and vocational formation for students is offered through Houses of Study. Duke Divinity School offers the full array of courses required for elder’s and deacon’s orders in the United Methodist Church. It also offers courses in the history and polity of other denominations substantially represented in the student population, usually on a two-year cycle.
Houses of Study guide persons from their respective traditions who are preparing for ministry at Duke Divinity School. That care consists of advising students; counseling and preparing candidates for judicatory examinations or interviews; advising the Divinity School on the curricular and extra-curricular needs of those students; participating as appropriate and necessary in teaching of courses designed with students from the respective tradition in mind; creating an atmosphere at Duke University conducive to the effective preparation of that denomination’s or tradition's ministers; and holding events, services, and workshops instrumental toward the transmission of denominational practice, tradition, and doctrine.
The Anglican Episcopal House of Studies
The Anglican Episcopal House of Studies (AEHS) is a full Anglican seminary program within the wider Duke Divinity School. AEHS students participate in all aspects of Divinity School life and the vast resources of Duke University while enjoying the fellowship of a distinct formational group. The AEHS is a vibrant community of learning, prayer, and service that prepares students for Christian leadership in a variety of vocational paths throughout the Anglican Communion.
Containing students from multiple Anglican provinces, AEHS equips the next generation of church leaders through a robust liturgical life, instruction in classical Anglican tradition, and practical training for innovative leadership. Anglican and Episcopal students at Duke are encouraged to grow in many dimensions—academic rigor, professional skill, radical service, and personal holiness—reflecting Christ’s commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. For details about the Anglican Episcopal House, visit divinity.duke.edu/houses/aehs.
The Asian House of Studies
The Asian House of Studies is a formational community of Asian/Asian-American students, alumni, faculty, and staff. It hosts regular social gatherings for Asian/Asian-American students, provides resources for Asian theological studies, and builds a network of Asian church leaders and scholars. It also partners with other organizations in the Divinity School and the wider Duke community to broaden its theological horizon and build diverse Christian communities. For more information about the Asian House of Studies, visit divinity.duke.edu/houses/asian-house.
The Baptist House of Studies
As the students study and attend classes in an ecumenical setting, Baptist faculty and administrative staff serve as their advisors and mentors. For the school’s Baptist students, Baptist House is a theological and spiritual home, anchoring them in their Baptist identity and connecting them with one another and the larger Baptist world.
While Baptists have always attended the Divinity School, their ranks increased since the formation of the Baptist House. Today, more than one hundred Baptist students from across the denominational spectrum are studying at Duke Divinity School. For details about the Baptist House, visit divinity.duke.edu/houses/baptist.
The Hispanic House of Studies
The Hispanic House of Studies (HHS) is a comunidad that seeks to encounter Christ on the roads connecting Duke Divinity to the world. The HHS participates in the spiritual, theological, and ministerial formation of future Hispanic/Latinx and non-Hispanic/Latinx Christian leaders committed to the community and dedicated to being self-aware leaders who can thrive in a diverse context. Through its different programs for students, faculty, staff, pastors, and laypeople, the HHS provides opportunities to be in solidarity with communities resisting oppression in the U.S. and Latin America. Through the Hispanic-Latino/Pastoral Initiative (HLPI) at Duke Divinity School, the HHS offers theological and ministerial formation in Spanish to pastors and lay leaders in the U.S. and Latin America. For details about the Hispanic House of Studies, visit divinity.duke.edu/houses/hispanic-house.
The Methodist House of Studies
Established in 2008, the Methodist House is a gathering of students, alumni, faculty, and staff who are affiliated with the United Methodist Church and other Wesleyan denominations that have active membership in the World Methodist Council. Through regular gatherings, they foster a vibrant environment for social interaction and intellectual exchange in the Wesleyan traditions. The close and historic connections of the Divinity School to the United Methodist Church and the prescribed academic work for ordination are complemented by the wide range of activities orchestrated through the student leadership team of the Methodist House. Membership in an affiliated denomination is not a requirement for participation in activities. For details about the Methodist House, visit divinity.duke.edu/houses/methodist.
Educational Requirements for United Methodist Elders and Deacons
Duke Divinity School offers the theological education necessary to complete the academic requirements for both the order of deacon and the order of elder through the United Methodist Church. The following summary outlines the various routes of academic preparation within Duke’s degree offerings or through Special Student status:
Elder. The United Methodist Church requires completion of the master of divinity (MDiv) degree for those seeking ordination to “Word, Service, Sacrament, and Order” as an elder in full connection.
Deacon. For those seeking ordination to “Word, Service, Justice, and Compassion” as a deacon in full connection, the United Methodist Church has provided three educational options:
completion of a basic theological degree (MDiv, MTS) that includes the requirements for a minimum of twenty-four credit hours (eleven courses at Duke) in basic graduate theological studies (Theology, Old Testament, New Testament, Mission of the Church in the World, Evangelism, Worship and Liturgy, Church History, and courses in United Methodist Doctrine, Polity, and History). All of the basic graduate theological studies requirements are also fulfilled by completion of the MA degree.
for those who already hold a professional master’s degree in the area of specialized ministry in which the candidate will serve (MSW, MA, etc.), the candidate must, in addition, complete a minimum of twenty-four credit hours (eleven courses at Duke) in basic graduate theological studies at a graduate theological seminary recognized by the United Methodist University Senate. This academic route may be fulfilled as a Special Student.
for those who are age thirty-five or older, there is the possible alternate route to ordination as a deacon through professional certification or licensing and additional graduate credit in one’s area of specialization, as well as the required minimum twenty-four credit hours of basic graduate theological studies. This academic route may be fulfilled as a Special Student.
For more information on the various routes of theological education for ordination, a candidate is encouraged to contact the United Methodist Division of Ordained Ministry: (615) 340-7389 or dom@gbhem.org. Additionally, it is always prudent to maintain communication with the candidate’s own annual conference regarding additional requirements for theological education and preparation for ministry.
The Presbyterian/Reformed House of Studies
The Presbyterian/Reformed House of Studies serves as an umbrella of support for students from the Reformed tradition, including members of the PC(USA), PCA, UCC, RCA, and CRC denominations. In this capacity it serves to nurture the Reformed Christian community at the Divinity School by supporting and nurturing students as persons, pastors, and leaders in the life of the Reformed Christian tradition. This includes: commending Christian life and ministry that is catholic and evangelical (in the classic sense of both words); forming a love in students for Reformed communions, especially for their uniqueness and what they share with other communions; and encouraging and equipping students to be insightful about the challenges facing Reformed churches, and also to eagerly and confidently address those challenges. Guidance through the ordination process of the various Reformed bodies and vocational counsel throughout the Divinity School experience is also provided. For details about the Presbyterian/Reformed House of Studies, visit divinity.duke.edu/houses/presbyterian-reformed.
The Office of Black Church Studies
The Office of Black Church Studies (OBCS) enriches the work and witness of Duke Divinity School with theological and spiritual resources from Black Church contexts. The office facilitates teaching, research, publishing, and formative experiences to nurture effective leaders for the church, the academy, and the world. Drawing from intellectual and empirical resources of Africa and the African Diaspora, OBCS strengthens the vocation of the Divinity School and the mission of Duke University to impact congregations, organizations, and societies locally and globally.
OBCS helps form good and faithful leaders through curricula, lectures, and relationships with congregations, denominations, organizations, and networks. Priorities include:
Course offerings to increase theological, ministerial, and leadership capacities of Divinity School and Duke University students;
Lectures to expose the Divinity School and Duke University to seminal and transformational thinkers and leaders in the church and academy;
Resources to advance research and nurture new generations of ministers and scholars;
Networking to enrich ministerial formation and vocational discernment through service learning and relationship cultivation; and
Conversations to explore impacting approaches to transform churches, organizations, and communities for liberation and flourishing.
Academic Study
A distinctive feature of theological education for ministry formation at Duke Divinity School is the requirement of one course in Black Church studies to graduate with the MDiv degree. Pastors and church leaders need exposure to theology, history, and practice from Black Church perspectives to minister effectively in the twenty-first century. Beyond required and elective course options, the certificate in Black Church studies enables students to engage theological, historical, and cultural aspects of Black Christian expressions toward deeper understanding and broader mastery of the life and thought of this complex community of people. It helps to equip leaders to develop capacities of contextualization, conscientization, and construction from Black Church life, thought, work, and witness. The certificate involves academic and experiential learning in the MA, MDiv, MTS, and ThM degrees.
Preaching and Lecture Series
Find information about lectures sponsored by OBCS here.
Continuing Education
The Office of Black Church Studies offers, in partnership with the Duke Divinity School Black Pastoral Leadership collaboration, continuing education and leadership formation experiences. It strengthens capacities through discovering, designing, and disseminating effective models of quality Black Church leadership through research, teaching, and convening. Nurturing strong capacities for contextualization, conscientization, and construction are characteristic of leadership desperately needed in churches and communities in this era. Facilitating networks of high quality leaders who are cultivating thriving churches that foster flourishing communities can contribute to the United States becoming a more just country–where none have too much or too little–and can inspire faith networks working for the good of humanity across the country and around the world.
Church Relationships
Through the Office of Black Church Studies, Duke Divinity School connects with congregations in the region, as well as national and global denominations and networks. These relationships afford excellent experiential learning contexts for ministerial formation and introduce students and communities for placement, mentoring, and service opportunities.
The Office of Black Church Studies provides counsel and advice to prospective Black seminarians and all students who are inspired by the prophetic and pastoral traditions of the Black Church. Inquiries concerning study opportunities available at Duke Divinity School should be directed to the Office of Black Church Studies at obcs@div.duke.edu or (919) 660-3439. For details about the Office of Black Church Studies, visit divinity.duke.edu/houses/obcs.