Luther Rice for Military Chaplaincy?

[Navy CCPO]

I am a Chaplain Candidate in the Navy I have completed 1 year and half of seminary at the McAfee school of Theology in Atlanta but can no longer attended classes full time.
I need to transfer to a seminary that offers 100% online M.Div program. I am considering Luther Rice but I am concerned that I might have some issues superseding as a Navy Chaplain once I have graduated.
Does anyone know the track record of Luther Rice putting graduates into military chaplaincy? Does anyone know military chaplains who have served or are serving that graduated with M. Div from Luther Rice? I have seen a lot of chaplains that earned a D. Min from Luther Rice, but this was received after serving.

Thanks.

 

[Greektim]

I am a Chaplain Candidate in the Navy I have completed 1 year and half of seminary at the McAfee school of Theology in Atlanta but can no longer attended classes full time.
I need to transfer to a seminary that offers 100% online M.Div program. I am considering Luther Rice but I am concerned that I might have some issues superseding as a Navy Chaplain once I have graduated.
Does anyone know the track record of Luther Rice putting graduates into military chaplaincy? Does anyone know military chaplains who have served or are serving that graduated with M. Div from Luther Rice? I have seen a lot of chaplains that earned a D. Min from Luther Rice, but this was received after serving.

Thanks.

You might consider Liberty's online program. Even Piedmont Baptist Grad school has an online MA that is the MDiv equiv for military chaplains. There are more options than Luther Rice.

 

[Salty]

Baptist Bible College of PA has a program for Chaplains - not sure if they have on-line.....

 

[Rhetorician]

I am a Chaplain Candidate in the Navy I have completed 1 year and half of seminary at the McAfee school of Theology in Atlanta but can no longer attended classes full time.
I need to transfer to a seminary that offers 100% online M.Div program. I am considering Luther Rice but I am concerned that I might have some issues superseding as a Navy Chaplain once I have graduated.
Does anyone know the track record of Luther Rice putting graduates into military chaplaincy? Does anyone know military chaplains who have served or are serving that graduated with M. Div from Luther Rice? I have seen a lot of chaplains that earned a D. Min from Luther Rice, but this was received after serving.

Thanks.

Hello Navy CCPO,

I hate to "rain on your parade" as it were, but you may want to consider this. I checked on Military Chaplaincy way back. Grad school education required that the endorsement was predicated on the fact that the seminary training had to have so many hours PLUS the school had to be accredited. Whether this is regional accreditation or ATS accreditation I cannot remember. But it is a relevent question to ask I believe?

I would check with the officials to see if Luther Rice is A) accredited with the accreditation they need or want, B) how many hours are needed to get the credential.

Like I say, I am not trying to dampen your spirits just wanting you to ask all of the correct questions going in.

I would love to hear others insights who have dealt with the circumstance more recently.

Let me hear back from you when you find out please via here or PM.

"That is all!" :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Greektim]

Hello Navy CCPO,

I hate to "rain on your parade" as it were, but you may want to consider this. I checked on Military Chaplaincy way back. Grad school education required that the endorsement was predicated on the fact that the seminary training had to have so many hours PLUS the school had to be accredited. Whether this is regional accreditation or ATS accreditation I cannot remember. But it is a relevent question to ask I believe?

I would check with the officials to see if Luther Rice is A) accredited with the accreditation they need or want, B) how many hours are needed to get the credential.

Like I say, I am not trying to dampen your spirits just wanting you to ask all of the correct questions going in.

I would love to hear others insights who have dealt with the circumstance more recently.

Let me hear back from you when you find out please via here or PM.

"That is all!" :smilewinkgrin:

I am pretty positive that the accreditation required is one that is recognized by the department of education. I.e. TRACS accreditation is sufficient. Therefore, Luther Rice, Piedmont Baptist Grad School, Bob Jones, and others are all adequate for chaplaincy. I know this b/c I used to work for one of these institutions as an academic adviser. I also have a good friend at one of these schools earning an MDiv to go to the chaplaincy (already approved by the army).

They have recently changed their requirement. It use to be a minimum of 72 grad hours. So one could get an ma in Bible and a ma in counseling. Now... it has to be an MDiv or an equivalent 72 hour degree. Multiple masters degrees no longer count.

 

[Rhetorician]

Stand corrected!

I am pretty positive that the accreditation required is one that is recognized by the department of education. I.e. TRACS accreditation is sufficient. Therefore, Luther Rice, Piedmont Baptist Grad School, Bob Jones, and others are all adequate for chaplaincy. I know this b/c I used to work for one of these institutions as an academic adviser. I also have a good friend at one of these schools earning an MDiv to go to the chaplaincy (already approved by the army).

They have recently changed their requirement. It use to be a minimum of 72 grad hours. So one could get an ma in Bible and a ma in counseling. Now... it has to be an MDiv or an equivalent 72 hour degree. Multiple masters degrees no longer count.

Greek Tim,

Thanks for the correction. Good to know.

"That is all!" :thumbsup:

 

[PilgrimPastor]

I am pretty positive that the accreditation required is one that is recognized by the department of education. I.e. TRACS accreditation is sufficient. Therefore, Luther Rice, Piedmont Baptist Grad School, Bob Jones, and others are all adequate for chaplaincy. I know this b/c I used to work for one of these institutions as an academic adviser. I also have a good friend at one of these schools earning an MDiv to go to the chaplaincy (already approved by the army).

They have recently changed their requirement. It use to be a minimum of 72 grad hours. So one could get an ma in Bible and a ma in counseling. Now... it has to be an MDiv or an equivalent 72 hour degree. Multiple masters degrees no longer count.

I had a guy in my a recent on campus course in my D.Min. at Tennessee Temple who also has a M.Div. from TBS (TRACS Accredited and previously ABHE) who is a full time active duty army chaplain with that M.Div.

I was not a chaplain when I was in the military but after serving 8 years in the Marine Corps I spent two years in the Army National Guard as a recruiter and when I enlisted officers and looked into chaplaincy myself in the ANG requirements for both were simply federal accreditation. The above is accurate to my knowledge, it must be an M.Div. of at least 72 credit hours and many are available online. Tennessee Temple offers one I believe at 72 credit hours in chaplaincy, for example.

The rule of thumb in the federal government is that if you can use GI Bill there (TRACS, DETC, Regional, ATS, ABHE, you name it) then the credential is recognized. Now, I don't know how competitive the chaplaincy recruiting is these days, when I got out nearly 10 years ago, all branches needed chaplains and minimum requirements were all one needed. It could be more competitive now but I would not guess so.

 

[Greektim]

I had a guy in my a recent on campus course in my D.Min. at Tennessee Temple who also has a M.Div. from TBS (TRACS Accredited and previously ABHE) who is a full time active duty army chaplain with that M.Div.

I was not a chaplain when I was in the military but after serving 8 years in the Marine Corps I spent two years in the Army National Guard as a recruiter and when I enlisted officers and looked into chaplaincy myself in the ANG requirements for both were simply federal accreditation. The above is accurate to my knowledge, it must be an M.Div. of at least 72 credit hours and many are available online. Tennessee Temple offers one I believe at 72 credit hours in chaplaincy, for example.

The rule of thumb in the federal government is that if you can use GI Bill there (TRACS, DETC, Regional, ATS, ABHE, you name it) then the credential is recognized. Now, I don't know how competitive the chaplaincy recruiting is these days, when I got out nearly 10 years ago, all branches needed chaplains and minimum requirements were all one needed. It could be more competitive now but I would not guess so.

Just to clarify, a 72 hour MDiv equivalent like an MABS offered at Piedmont Baptist Grad School is sufficient. I think the criteria must be 1 graduate degree at least 72 hours long (not 2 36 credit grad degrees). That degree must also be in a field of divinity such as theology or biblical studies (or muslim or jewish or wiccan or etc.). Thus the preferred and standard choice is an MDiv, but there are still a few other options.

 

[Siberian]

I am a Chaplain Candidate in the Navy I have completed 1 year and half of seminary at the McAfee school of Theology in Atlanta but can no longer attended classes full time.
I need to transfer to a seminary that offers 100% online M.Div program. I am considering Luther Rice but I am concerned that I might have some issues superseding as a Navy Chaplain once I have graduated.
Does anyone know the track record of Luther Rice putting graduates into military chaplaincy? Does anyone know military chaplains who have served or are serving that graduated with M. Div from Luther Rice? I have seen a lot of chaplains that earned a D. Min from Luther Rice, but this was received after serving.

Thanks.

All things considered, the Navy recruiters will look at an MDiv from Luther Rice exactly the same as one from any other accredited seminary. I know three LRS MDiv grads who are currently serving in the Chaplain Corps for the armed services. You would be good to go.

Other requirements are: a bachelor degree from an accredited institution, licensed/ordained/endorsed by an ecclesiastical body from a recognized denomination, under 40 years old, and able to pass their physicals.

 

[PilgrimPastor]

All things considered, the Navy recruiters will look at an MDiv from Luther Rice exactly the same as one from any other accredited seminary. I know three LRS MDiv grads who are currently serving in the Chaplain Corps for the armed services. You would be good to go.

Other requirements are: a bachelor degree from an accredited institution, licensed/ordained/endorsed by an ecclesiastical body from a recognized denomination, under 40 years old, and able to pass their physicals.

Ya, the truth is that military recruiters look for minimum qualifications and an interested applicant; especially in times like these where recruiting is tough.

Most recruiters would like to be more discriminating than they can reasonably be. For the officer corps its a little different, more discriminating, but at the end of the day, its about meeting at least minimal qualification guidelines.

 

[Navy CCPO]

Thanks everyone so much for your insight on this subject. Thanks PilgrimPastor for your information. I already have an ecclesiastical endorsement, etc. and have been accepted into the CCPO. Thanks for sharing about all of your own experiences and knowledge of military chaplaincy and seminary education.

Navy Chaplaincy is pretty competitive right now. I attended ODs this past summer and was told that there are about 35 applicants accepted each year.

I plan on completing the 90 hour program since I have already earned 42 at a previous seminary.

I would like to thank you all for your help. BaptistBoard is excellent!!!

 

[mandym]

I am a Chaplain Candidate in the Navy I have completed 1 year and half of seminary at the McAfee school of Theology in Atlanta but can no longer attended classes full time.
I need to transfer to a seminary that offers 100% online M.Div program. I am considering Luther Rice but I am concerned that I might have some issues superseding as a Navy Chaplain once I have graduated.
Does anyone know the track record of Luther Rice putting graduates into military chaplaincy? Does anyone know military chaplains who have served or are serving that graduated with M. Div from Luther Rice? I have seen a lot of chaplains that earned a D. Min from Luther Rice, but this was received after serving.

Thanks.

Luther Rice is a good school but they do not have a regional accreditation. Liberty (as was mentioned) has a solid online program.

 

[Siberian]

Luther Rice is a good school but they do not have a regional accreditation. Liberty (as was mentioned) has a solid online program.

Does that have a bearing on the OP or do you just like saying it? Any type of federally recognized accreditation is sufficient for military chaplaincy.

 

[mandym]

Does that have a bearing on the OP or do you just like saying it? Any type of federally recognized accreditation is sufficient for military chaplaincy.

You know, I don't get the need some people feel to become rude over such minor issues.

 

[Siberian]

You know, I don't get the need some people feel to become rude over such minor issues.

Okay, point well put. My bad and my apologies for that last comment.