MASTER OF DIVINITY

Detroit and other cities throughout the United States are currently undergoing a period of economic expansion and renewal. Some places more than others—but especially in Detroit—hospitals, universities, schools, businesses, restaurants, sports and entertainment venues are experiencing capital investments and renewed economic growth. The much-needed repair of infrastructure, investment in and repair of historic buildings for new business venues, mass transit, and the arts suggest a strong vision for a transformed and renewed Detroit. On the surface this transformation and renewal can be lauded as a great triumph after a decades-long downward spiral of economic and social decline.

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However, looking beneath the surface reveals a number of serious moral concerns—Gentrification. Water weaponization. Systemic racism. Political corruption. Unequal legal representation. Food injustice. Education injustice. Unequal access to educational opportunities. Massive educational debt. Unfair and illegal application of tax laws. Unaffordable housing. Pensions raided by big banks—Who reaps the benefits of the renewal and who is being left behind? Alongside the good that is happening with the urban transformation and renewal in some of our cities, how is the church to respond to the many problematic issues and injustices roiling beneath the surface? Ecumenical Theological Seminary in the city of Detroit is uniquely positioned to engage these concerns with the voice of faith, addressing the difficult issues with the depth of understanding and the critical awareness needed to equip and empower the prophetic voice for our time.

The second track for completing the ETS MDiv is the Urban Transformation and Renewal MDiv Track. This track allows students whose denominational organization allows for more flexibility in education for pastoral ministry. This flexibility gives you the choice to concentrate your attention and your efforts on a course of study via specialized certificates like the Certificate in Social Justice, or the Certificate in African American Religions, or the Certificate in Race, Racism, and Diversity.

This track would prepare you, after completing the MDiv, to pursue specialized ministry that is designed specifically for the church’s engagement in urban transformation and renewal. There is no generalist approach to completing the elective requirements for this track. Students on the Urban Transformation and Renewal MDiv Track are imagined to have a vision for (and maybe already experience at) urban transformation and renewal from a variety of perspectives. (See the list of available specialized ministry certificates in this academic catalog.)