The term “Christian Spirituality” refers to a person’s or community’s experience of participation in the reality of the Triune God disclosed in Jesus Christ. To the extent this experience is given expression, it becomes accessible to others (and even at times a means of others’ own experience of God). Such communication of persons’ experience may take form through oral, textual, liturgical, or artistic expression; through practices of prayer or other spiritual disciplines; or through personal or communal forms of life or political engagement. Christian Spirituality as an academic discipline is then the focused and interdisciplinary study of particular Christian expressions of the experienced reality of God.

An S.T.M. in Christian Spirituality can assist clergy and lay leaders in pursuing their interests in an academic setting, providing historical, theological, and pastoral foundations for both critical analysis and faithful deepening of spiritual life. Trinity Lutheran Seminary and Bexley Hall have faculty members whose areas of expertise fully support this program.  Additionally, Trinity’s course offerings in Lutheran spirituality offer an excellent contribution to advanced study in this area in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Academic Requirements:

The academic requirements are the same as for an S.T.M. in other areas: 25 hours of coursework (including six hours for the thesis and 12 hours of coursework in the area of concentration).

The following courses (all of which are 2 credits) would qualify as courses fulfilling the 12 course hours in the Spirituality concentration.  (Note that 2000-level courses can be increased to a 3000-level course with increased work, by arrangements with the instructor, dean and registrar).

• Foundations Seminar in Christian Spirituality (required for S.T.M. in this area)
• Early Christian Piety
• Women in Medieval Church History
• Religion, Spirituality, and American Culture
• Spirituality and the Arts
• Christian Spirituality and Prayer
• Monastic Spirituality
• Spirituality of Bonhoeffer
• Lutheran Spirituality
• Celtic Christianity
• The Seven Deadly Sins
• Spirituality, Ministry, and Trauma/Violence

Language requirement:

As with other S.T.M. concentrations whose courses are taught primarily through the Ministry Division, there is not a specific language requirement for all S.T.M. students in this area.  However, language proficiency may be required because of the student’s particular thesis topic (e.g., German, French, Latin, etc.). The student will consult with his or her thesis advisor and the Director of Graduate students regarding language proficiencies that may be required for the thesis. 

Relationship between spiritual direction and the S.T.M. in Christian Spirituality:

This course of study does not lead to certification in spiritual direction.  However, some individuals may find this S.T.M. degree program, which provides historical, theological, and practical foundations for the study of Christian spirituality, to be complementary to their certification programs.