Jewish-friendly/Jewish-oriented D.Min/Th.D degrees

[Stonybeach]

Interesting (and slightly frustrating): a quick google search for M.Div degrees is mainly turning up Christian-oriented degrees and not really any Jewish-oriented (or at least interfaith) ones.

It appears that some CAP units offer virtual attendance. The Chaplain Assistant character development position is also available. Don't forget that membership in CAP as a "First Responder" may be eligible for tuition discounts at various universities. When it comes to military service, it is beneficial for Chaplains to have a broad religious background (Interfaith). My experience with military chaplains revealed that they were already ordained in their specific religion as priests, rabbis, bishops, etc., and the chaplain training focused on duties related to counseling, comfort, and fellowship for service members with diverse religious backgrounds. For example, I am not Jewish, but a Rabbi who was a Chaplain gave me counsel. It was great! If you are considering becoming a Rabbi, that educational track is completely different. One may be able to be ordained as an interfaith clergy member from one of these master's programs, then become an interfaith Chaplain, but that obviously does not make one a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, or an LDS bishop.

I thought this one was interesting but pricey: https://www.gtu.edu/projects/icp

There appear to be numerous unaccredited online chaplain programs, but I have no idea of their utility, especially if one is not presently ordained.

[sanantone]

I recommend going to my thread at Degreeinfo for seminaries that are accepting of humanists, atheists, and agnostics. Most of those programs are either interfaith or offered by a liberal Christian denomination, such as Disciples of Christ, ELCA, Religious Society of Friends (Quaker), United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church (to a lesser extent). Unitarian Universalist seminaries will also accept any faith. Divinity schools, as opposed to seminaries, tend to be at more secular institutions. For example, Duke has a divinity school that offers a hybrid MDiv.

Off the top of my head, Luther Seminary, Brite Divinity School, and Claremont School of Theology (accreditation problems) offer distance MDiv programs that are pluralistic. There's also a small number of non-MDiv programs that are 72 credit hours, but I don't know their faith requirements.

https://www.ahu.edu/programs/online-mast...curriculum

[EliEverIsAHero]

I recommend going to my thread at Degreeinfo for seminaries that are accepting of humanists, atheists, and agnostics. Most of those programs are either interfaith or offered by a liberal Christian denomination, such as Disciples of Christ, ELCA, Religious Society of Friends (Quaker), United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church (to a lesser extent). Unitarian Universalist seminaries will also accept any faith. Divinity schools, as opposed to seminaries, tend to be at more secular institutions. For example, Duke has a divinity school that offers a hybrid MDiv.

Off the top of my head, Luther Seminary, Brite Divinity School, and Claremont School of Theology (accreditation problems) offer distance MDiv programs that are pluralistic. There's also a small number of non-MDiv programs that are 72 credit hours, but I don't know their faith requirements.

https://www.ahu.edu/programs/online-mast...curriculum

An inherent problem with pluralistic models (not all, but many) is that their pedagogical starting point is often from Christian theological assumptions, with Judaism as a side note. (Disclaimer that this is not a diss on interfaith programs as a concept). 

I encountered a milder version of this while taking secular courses on Religious Studies in my undergraduate education and during my first rodeo in graduate school; even a scholar who is well-traveled within the religious cultures they study (eg I took a lot of courses on Islam and Buddhism) will have some difficulty not projecting their own, often Christian-influenced, biases and assumptions on to the culture they study ethnographically. This can be a relatively minor flaw within a secular, ethnographic-historical approach to Religious Studies, but likely creates problems for a student's training in an applied context like we're discussing. 

A common etic rather than emic starting point is to imply that Judaism is Christianity sans Jesus. To anyone who operates with that starting point I highly recommend the Rabbi Telushkin's Jewish Literacy as a corrective: same-ish basic stories as Christianity, vastly different eschatology, etc.

Likewise, looking at M.Div programs, very few are "Jewish" and a handful of the first results that advertise themselves as such are Messianic - as any historian of modern religion knows, a movement that originates in Christianity while wearing Jewish aesthetics. Making those programs a more codified version of the issues we're talking about here.

[wow]

I have looked at the MTS at Brite because they have a program on Jewish-Christian relations (historical and contemporary, NOT Messianic). That said, it is not a good fit for what you're looking for. It's liberal Christian, but still Christian.

[sanantone]

I recommend going to my thread at Degreeinfo for seminaries that are accepting of humanists, atheists, and agnostics. Most of those programs are either interfaith or offered by a liberal Christian denomination, such as Disciples of Christ, ELCA, Religious Society of Friends (Quaker), United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church (to a lesser extent). Unitarian Universalist seminaries will also accept any faith. Divinity schools, as opposed to seminaries, tend to be at more secular institutions. For example, Duke has a divinity school that offers a hybrid MDiv.

Off the top of my head, Luther Seminary, Brite Divinity School, and Claremont School of Theology (accreditation problems) offer distance MDiv programs that are pluralistic. There's also a small number of non-MDiv programs that are 72 credit hours, but I don't know their faith requirements.

https://www.ahu.edu/programs/online-mast...curriculum

An inherent problem with pluralistic models (not all, but many) is that their pedagogical starting point is often from Christian theological assumptions, with Judaism as a side note. (Disclaimer that this is not a diss on interfaith programs as a concept). 

I encountered a milder version of this while taking secular courses on Religious Studies in my undergraduate education and during my first rodeo in graduate school; even a scholar who is well-traveled within the religious cultures they study (eg I took a lot of courses on Islam and Buddhism) will have some difficulty not projecting their own, often Christian-influenced, biases and assumptions on to the culture they study ethnographically. This can be a relatively minor flaw within a secular, ethnographic-historical approach to Religious Studies, but likely creates problems for a student's training in an applied context like we're discussing. 

A common etic rather than emic starting point is to imply that Judaism is Christianity sans Jesus. To anyone who operates with that starting point I highly recommend the Rabbi Telushkin's Jewish Literacy as a corrective: same-ish basic stories as Christianity, vastly different eschatology, etc.

Likewise, looking at M.Div programs, very few are "Jewish" and a handful of the first results that advertise themselves as such are Messianic - as any historian of modern religion knows, a movement that originates in Christianity while wearing Jewish aesthetics. Making those programs a more codified version of the issues we're talking about here.

I get what you're saying. Brite, Lutheran, and even the divinity schools at secular universities are still going to be grounded in Christianity. Even the secular religious studies programs I saw at state universities appeared to have a slight bias toward Christianity. I think it's discriminatory for the DoD and VA to require a format that is unique to Christianity. I believe Claremont School of Theology has Jewish and Hebrew studies programs. Other options are Unitarian Universalist seminaries and truly interfaith schools, such as Hartford and Graduate Theological Union. 

Hartford offers a dual master's to meet the VA requirement.

https://www.hartfordinternational.edu/ac...tudies-and

[Stonybeach]

Hello Eli...,
Have you considered the DOIL from City University, Kansas City, MO? https://www.cityvision.edu/lp/online-chr...nnovation/

I am intrigued by the concentration in Trauma-Informed Counseling Management.

Afterwards, attempt an online Chaplaincy certification program, accredited or unaccredited. You could help out at the hospital, community, or perhaps with the Civil Air Patrol. I appreciate the 10% tuition scholarship for First Responders, for which CAP members should be eligible. In any case, the tuition is very reasonable, and the school is accredited by the DEAC.

[wow]

Hello Eli...,
Have you considered the DOIL from City University, Kansas City, MO? https://www.cityvision.edu/lp/online-chr...nnovation/

I am intrigued by the concentration in Trauma-Informed Counseling Management.

Afterwards, attempt an online Chaplaincy certification program, accredited or unaccredited. You could help out at the hospital, in the community, or perhaps with the Civil Air Patrol. I appreciate the 10% tuition scholarship for First Responders, for which CAP members should be eligible. In any case, the tuition is very reasonable, and the school is accredited by the DEAC.

The doctorate is geared toward Christians working in Christian organizations.

[Stonybeach]

[/quote]

The doctorate is geared toward Christians working in Christian organizations.
[/quote]


".... it is also designed for leaders of other parachurch ministries, nonprofit organizations, and social enterprises. "

It appears to have a "Christian" foundation in that we need good people who serve the community, but are also open to accepting folks from other faiths. It appears that the doctoral degree encompasses business and leadership courses, rather than specifically focusing on religion.

Some of the best "Christians" I have met are not even Christian!

[wow]

The doctorate is geared toward Christians working in Christian organizations.
[/quote]


".... it is also designed for leaders of other parachurch ministries, nonprofit organizations, and social enterprises. "

It appears to have a "Christian" foundation in that we need good people who serve the community, but are also open to accepting folks from other faiths. It appears that the doctoral degree encompasses business and leadership courses, rather than specifically focusing on religion.

Some of the best "Christians" I have met are not even Christian!
[/quote]

I understand you are trying to be helpful. I am not saying there is anything wrong with the program. I'm saying that it does not appear to meet the criteria set out by the OP. Parachurch ministries are Christian, and elsewhere they specifically talk about nonprofit organizations and social enterprises being Christian ones. The page you link to calls it, "Online Christian Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Innovation designed especially for leaders in Christian social service organizations." The individuals delivering the program may not be hostile to Judaism or Jews as individuals, but the program clearly has a specific Christian worldview that the OP has indicated they are trying to avoid.

This may be a great program for many people. It is not Jewish-oriented.

[Stonybeach]

The OP has a goal of:
1. Attending "Jewish-friendly/Jewish-oriented D.Min/Th.D degrees"
2. Becoming a Chaplain in the US Armed Forces or German Armed Forces.

I can't speak to the German Armed Forces, but the US Armed Forces typically require ordination. I don't know anyone who is not ordained who has become a Chaplain in the US Military. The Civil Air Patrol typically has ordained clergy as well. I am quite certain the OP knows that to become ordained as a rabbi in Judaism requires attending a Rabbinical school. The OP came to this forum, obviously looking for an alternative pathway in education that leads to becoming a Military Chaplain.

I personally would be concerned about losing my identity and affiliation in the religion/culture I belong to by being ordained in another sect, even if it is "Interfaith." I would not look for a "Jewish-friendly" program, but rather an actual Jewish school of Rabbinical studies with a pathway to ordination as a Rabbi. With all that said, I admit that I am making assumptions based on the few details provided.

I would, however, consider becoming a civilian chaplain who is "licensed/credentialed" but not ordained, which would allow me to serve the community while maintaining my religious identity and affiliation. https://ifoc.org/

Another possible option is to abandon the Chaplain track and pursue a PhD, PsyD, or DSW that leads to licensure, and then attempt to obtain a direct commission in the military or reserves (a highly competitive process). City Vision University would not accomplish that goal! Sorry for even mentioning it, I was intrigued by the Trauma-Informed Counseling concentration.