Wake Forest University School of Divinity is an ecumenical divinity school located on the campus of Wake Forest University. The School offers a Master of Divinity degree[1] as well two dual-degree programs in cooperation with other graduate programs at the university: a four-year Master of Divinity/Master of Arts in Counseling program[2] and a five-year Master of Divinity and Juris Doctor.[3] The school currently lists 12 faculty,[4] 15 adjunct faculty,[5] and 15 associated faculty from other university departments.[6]
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Wake Forest University developed out of an institute established by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina in 1834, and its first head was the Rev. Samuel Wait. From the beginning, the education of ministers was a primary purpose. In 1946 the trustees of Wake Forest College and the Baptist State Convention accepted a proposal by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to relocate the college from the town of Wake Forest to the growing city of Winston-Salem. Much of the estate of the R. J. Reynolds family was donated for the campus, and when the college moved to the new location in 1956, the theological seminary remained at the old campus. In 1967 Wake Forest became a university with a graduate school, medical school, and law school. In 1989 the trustees of the University approved the idea of forming a School of Divinity, and Baptist churches were major financial contributors to the new school. The very first gift came from the First Baptist Church in New Bern, N.C. where Samuel Wait once served.
The Baptist heritage informs the School of Divinity, but from the beginning the school has been intentionally ecumenical in terms of faculty, student body, and curriculum. It is the first university-based divinity school to begin with no formal denominational affiliation. The faculty and administration embody the traditional Baptist values of respect for individual conscience and freedom of religion. Rather than imposing a particular theological perspective on students, the faculty of the School of Divinity provide future ministers with the tools and resources that help them to think seriously about God, the church, the world, and their own vocation. In true Baptist fashion, students are challenged to internalize their education so that they can serve as effective agents of justice, reconciliation, and compassion in an ever-changing world
The School of Divinity of Wake Forest University is a graduate, professional school that is Christian by tradition, Baptist in heritage, and ecumenical in outlook. Consistent with Wake Forest’s commitment to academic excellence and in the spirit of the University motto, Pro Humanitate, the School of Divinity prepares leaders informed by a theological understanding of vocation. Through imaginative courses and diverse programs of community engagement, students are equipped to be agents of justice, reconciliation, and compassion in Christian churches and other ministries.
The Wake Forest University School of Divinity aims to:
Foster academic excellence: The divinity school faculty fosters critical scholarship across the varied disciplines of theological education through rigorous academic inquiry in the classroom and through research and publication
Promote interdisciplinary exploration: The divinity school facilitates interdisciplinary studies that promote dialogue and learning through interaction with the faculty and students in other schools and departments of the University.
Encourage global perspectives: Through theological reflection, critical inquiry, and ministry foundation, the divinity school encourages students to explore diverse religious, cultural, and ethnic perspectives within both national and international contexts.
Embody diversity: The divinity school seeks to build a community of learners that includes men and women of diverse racial, ethnic, geographic, and ecclesial backgrounds and that fosters accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Nurture spiritual growth: The divinity school provides opportunities for spiritual growth and exploration of personal and communal spiritual practices.
Collaborate with faith communities: The divinity school joins with churches and other faith communities to create opportunities for mutual learning and critical dialogue, including student internships and various forms of mentoring, consultation, community education, and shared advocacy.
Contribute to the University’s mission: The divinity school shares in the University’s commitment to Pro Humanitate through explorations of religious identity, vocation, social responsibility, and public engagement.
The School of Divinity takes an interdisciplinary approach to educating ministers and strives for a diversity that mirrors the world today. The school’s curriculum blends instruction in traditional seminary subjects such as biblical studies, theological studies, and historical studies with courses taught by faculty of the University’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, as well as adjunct faculty from outside the University community. A truly integrated approach is one of the hallmarks of the School of Divinity.
Degrees Offered:
The School of Divinity offers The Master of Divinity (M.Div) and, combined with other schools of the University, offers the dual degree programs of Master of Divinity/Master of Arts in Counseling (M.Div/MA) and the Master of Divinity/Juris Doctor (M.Div/JD).
Accreditation:
Wake Forest University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[7]
The School of Divinity is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.[8]
Center for Religion and Public Affairs
"The Center for Religion and Public Affairs promotes research, study and dialogue regarding the intersection of religion and public affairs and provides resources for policymakers, divinity school students and religious leaders on these issues. Melissa Rodgers serves as the Center's director"[9] and was recently appointed to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Student Body
The School of Divinity’s first class was roughly 20 students strong; currently the total enrollment is 110 students. While the student body is small, the community and relationships that develop are great assets to the program. The intimacy of the program allows students to interact with the world-class faculty in small class settings and one on one. It also allows the School of Divinity to include integrative experiences into the curriculum. Although slightly more than half of the students are Baptist, the curriculum of the School of Divinity is ecumenical and the students make up a diverse fabric of experience, age, denominational background, and thought. Twelve denominations or faith traditions are currently represented within the student body.
Cross-Cultural Immersion Experience
One example of the School of Divinity’s integrated approach to theological education is the Cross-Cultural Immersion course that each Divinity School Student is required to take prior to her/his graduation. This course is a 10-14 day experience of a ministry situation in a cross-cultural context. The course involves both classroom and real world instruction along with the opportunity to widen one’s understanding of Christian ministry. Currently the Immersion Course offerings include: Rural Ministry in the mountains of North Carolina, Eastern European Ministry in the country of Romania, Near Eastern Ministry in the country of Egypt, and Urban Ministry in New York City.