Pre-Ministry
Rhodes has a supportive, advisory pre-ministry program for students who are considering seminary or divinity school following graduation, and for those who are exploring vocations in ministry and church-related professions. Many Rhodes students have a broad-based understanding of ministry and may wish to explore the pre-ministry program in preparation for careers in pastoral ministry, global service, medicine, social work, teaching, counseling, or law. Students interested in attending seminary or divinity school as preparation for a career in teaching or research should contact any member of the Department of Religious Studies.
Contact Persons:
Students considering a career in ministry should speak with Dr. Steve Haynes, Professor of Religious Studies (901-843-3583) or Walt Tennyson, Rhodes Chaplain (901-843-3849) as soon as possible in their undergraduate careers. By registering with the Preparation for Ministry program, students will have access to advisers, supervised ministry opportunities, and a supportive structure for exploring vocations in ministry.
Because requirements for ordination to the ministry vary greatly among religious denominations, students interested in ordination should also contact a church representative to familiarize themselves with these requirements.
Preparation:
There is no "required curriculum" for students considering the ministry. Traditionally, however, a well-rounded curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences has been the standard preparation for seminary or divinity school. In addition to the Basic Humanities Requirement ("Search" or "Life"), these courses in Language, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Psychology can provide a particularly strong background for seminary or divinity school.
Although these are not required courses for pre-ministry, a selection of these courses, along with Search or Life, will provide a good foundation for advanced theological education:
- Greek & Roman Studies 101-102 Elementary Greek
- Hebrew 101-102 Biblical Hebrew
- History 343 The Civil Rights Movement
- Philosophy 240 Philosophy of Religion (F1)
- Political Science 214 Modern Ideologies
- Psychology 311 Counseling Psychology
- Religious Studies 210 History of Christian Thought (F1)
- Religious Studies 211 Contemporary Theology (F1)
- Religious Studies 214 Early Christian Literature (F1)
- Religious Studies 251 Religion in America (F1)
- Religious Studies 255 Living Religions (F1)
- Religious Studies 460 Chaplaincy Internship
Languages:
Hebrew and Greek are required at some seminaries in order to study the original biblical texts. Latin, Arabic, Spanish, French, and German may be necessary for certain areas of advanced study.
Experiential Education and Supervised Ministry:
Students should also gain experience in urban studies or urban ministry, faith-based social services, international programs, and local church ministries through internships and volunteer programs. Contact the Chaplain′s office for supervised ministry opportunities and other church-related internships.
Servant Leadership and Seminary Inquiry:
Pre-ministry students should enroll in one or more Servant Leadership courses through the Chaplain′s Office in order to explore the integration of faith, service and learning and to consider issues of vocation and ministry. Seminaries, divinity schools and global mission recruiters frequently visit the Rhodes campus. Because there are a variety of theological degrees (M.Div, MTS, MA, D.Min, Th.D, Ph.D) and combined degrees (with social work, law, public policy, or counseling) students should consult with their advisers about the graduate degree best suited to their vocation. During Junior and Senior years, pre-ministry students have opportunities for weekend visits to theological schools to more closely consider graduate study and the discernment of vocation.
Taking the GRE and Applying to Graduate School:
Most seminaries and divinity schools attended by Rhodes graduates are accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and will require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Undergraduate GPA requirements for admission are at least 2.50 for the M.Div. and higher for research degree programs. Rhodes students have almost 100% acceptance rate at major seminaries and theological schools. Scholarships for attending seminary, divinity school, or graduate school in religion are generally competitive and based on undergraduate achievement. In recent years, Rhodes students have been accepted and offered significant scholarships by Columbia Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Emory University, Candler School of Theology, Union Theological Seminary in New York, Harvard Divinity School, Yale Divinity School, Virginia Theological Seminary, McCormick Theological Seminary, and Chicago Divinity School.
