Details

Schedule

Courses run 15 weeks and include online discussions, readings, postings, chats, etc. Students meet face-to-face on campus at the Portland Center from 8am-5:30pm (1 ½ hour lunch) for one week during fall and spring semesters. Summer courses are offered as online or hybrid courses. The Master of Divinity Online Learning Community degree program lasts four years for full-time students and eight years for part-time students.

Download the MDIV Guide Sheet

Face-to-Face Times

Fall: Mid-October

Spring: Mid-February

Mandatory Orientation - Threshold

This is a mandatory three-day event in GFU Portland Center, for online learning community students entering the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership, Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation degree programs. See more here.

Application Deadlines

Rolling application deadline. Apply now for the next start date.

Characteristics of a Master of Divinity Graduate

These characteristics are to be understood in conjunction with our statement of faith and our school distinctives. Our community serves in a Christ-centered, biblically-grounded orthodox evangelical understanding of Christian faith and ministry.

Identity Formation

Being and becoming who God created you to be

having a transformational relationship with Christ and cultivating an intentional spiritual life
increasing one's capacity to love
knowing one's self-worth and capabilities
demonstrating trustworthiness, honesty and integrity
engaging in intentional self-care
modeling one's life after the example of Jesus
discerning one's gifts and calling
fostering congruence between outer social behaviors and inner self-awareness
engaging in a faith community with others

Habits of the Mind

Capable to think critically and creatively

being able to take and defend a position with accuracy, clarity, and gentleness
generating new ways of viewing situations outside the boundaries of standard conventions with open-mindedness, graciousness, and a restrained impulsivity
engaging intensely in tasks even when answers or solutions are not immediately apparent
generating, trusting, and maintaining your own standards of evaluation
gaining an understanding of biblical content and church history
engaging in ongoing theological reflection
contextualizing faith and culture

Skills of Relationship

The ability to manage social exchange

to create healthy environments and relationships of trust and grace
to be responsive and sensitive to human hurt, need, and global justice
to cultivate and maintain a web of relationships
to foster teamwork, collaboration, and demonstrate accountability
to demonstrate flexibility in adapting to changing situations or overcoming obstacles
to seek and appropriately respond to feedback
to steward one's power and voice
to have a capacity to listen and attend to others

Skills of Service

The ability to cultivate effective ministry

to serve as a transforming agent of change
to communicate effectively
to use and interpret Scripture
to inspire others in a deeper spiritual life
to relate social issues to faith
to coach and engage people in ministry
to influence and organize a group in pursuing a common vision and mission
to engage a community in strategic thinking and initiating strategic action
to develop and steward the needed resources
to organize and respond to cultural trends
to instill in others a passion for service and mission
to understand the nature of conflict and gaining skills to resolve conflicts

George Fox Evangelical Seminary