Ministry Training

The ministry degree program at Meadville Lombard Theological School offers students preparation to become ordained ministers or priests in various Christian religious sects and traditions, to preach at churches or religious schools/organizations. Students seeking a divinity degree will have gained knowledge in the theology and polity of a particular church, church law, liturgy and ritual, principles of pastoral ministry, homiletics, evangelism, church/parish organization and management, Christian ethics, church history, and related studies. Get more details below including other Illinois colleges that offer ministry training.

Learn more by requesting information now!

Meadville Lombard Theological School

701 College Rd, Lebanon, IL

The Meadville Theological School was founded in Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1844. Its founder was a prosperous businessman, Harm Jan Huidekoper, who had discovered Unitarianism and wanted to help spread its message of liberality and hope in the "west." From its very beginning "no doctrinal test" was ever to be made a part of admission to the school. To become less isolated and to find a more enriching intellectual environment, Meadville moved in 1926 to become a part of the University of Chicago academic community.

Lombard College, originally the Illinois Liberal Institute, was founded in 1851 in Galesburg, Illinois, and its Universalist Divinity School in 1881 in Chicago. When the undergraduate college discontinued operations during the Great Depression, the Divinity School began a merger process with Meadville.

From 1929 to 2011, Meadville Lombard was located at South Woodlawn Avenue in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.  Our school began a new chapter when we relocated to our current location on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago's South Loop.

Students Enrolled in the Ministry Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Meadville Lombard Theological School offers a master's degree program in ministry.

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Clergy

Description

Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. Provide spiritual and moral guidance and assistance to members.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, clergy employment is expected to grow at a rate of 5.6% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• St. Louis, MO-IL
  • Total Employment: 330
  • Average Hourly Rate: $23.13
  • Average Annual Salary: $48110

Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary

Description

Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).