Schools & Departments

School of Divinity

The Divinity School Mission Statement
To provide accessible theological education that prepares adult learners for compelling ministry to address personal and spiritual needs in the church, workplace, society, and across the globe.

The Divinity School Theological Vision Statement
The Divinity School will produce spiritual and ethical leaders of liberating faith in every sector of society who are compelled to contribute to the cause of Christ for a better world.

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Historical Background

Shaw University Divinity School interprets its beginnings as a starting point to understand how it focuses on its external and future context as a distinctive theological school. As the first Historical Black College and University (HBCU) in the South, Shaw University is among the first devoted to formal ministerial training and theological education for former slaves of African descent. From the founding of Shaw University in 1865, the vision of Reverend Henry Martin Tupper, an American Baptist minister, was to provide freed slaves training in teaching, social work, and religious education. As early as 1880, with the assistance of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, Shaw advanced to producing graduates of its theological education program. By 1900, Shaw was known for awarding ministerial certificates from its institutes for missionary and clergy training and a Bachelor of Theology degree. Shaw University continues to pride itself on being an institution of religious learning and social activism with a missional call to service for Christ and Humanity.

Educational Principles

  1. Faith Integration – Produce relevant learning experiences for a broad constituency of pastoral leaders that generate practical benefits for a fulfilling personal life and ministry.
  2. Ministerial Integrity – Build the pastoral leaders’ capacity for venerable leadership, creating a credible church presence and witness for justice and peace in the broader and multicultural society.
  3. Congregation Formation — Develop community intervention competencies to help pastoral leaders learn how to help others authentically and collectively engage diverse individuals and communities.
  4. Vocational Well-being — Provide opportunities for pastoral leaders to learn how to achieve post-graduate psychological and social well-being goals in ministry and the workplace.
  5. Relevant Applications – Provide courses for pastoral leaders seeking to integrate their faith and vocational life in the broader culture and societal context.

Online, Hybrid, and In-Person Degree Programs

Master of Divinity

The mission of the Master of Divinity degree is to prepare persons for ordained ministry, chaplaincy, and general pastoral and religious leadership responsibilities in congregations and other settings and to prepare some students for admission to advanced programs oriented to theological research and teaching. This purpose is consistent with the mission of Shaw University Divinity School; the Master of Divinity program focuses on leadership in the “practice of ministry,” particularly in the African American church.

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Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry

The mission of the Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry is to produce spiritual and ethical leaders and bi-vocational professionals for justice who can integrate faith and activism to affirm the humanity of others in every sector of a diverse society. These sectors include public service, business, nonprofit, human service, healthcare, education, performing arts, justice, emergency relief, mental health, and social service sectors.

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Graduate Student Profile
While the MDiv meets the need for pastoral ministry preparation in various fields, the MATM offers a single interdisciplinary approach with a specialization to an academic and professional degree for service in various sectors. The MATM offers degree customization, integrated spirituality, and bi-vocational theological and ministerial training for a broad range of Christian practitioners. It enhances flexibility, practicality, and the customization of learning experiences for working adult learners. Specifically, graduates of the MATM degree receive foundational theological training to engage in ministry in and outside of the congregation in fields such as community service, healthcare, gender and culture, performing arts, justice, business administration, youth development, relief services, mental health, education, and social work. Moreover, the MATM will produce highly skilled bi-vocational leaders who can address spiritual and ethical issues while engaging in sectarian and secular communities.

Online Certificate and Outreach Theological Education Programs

The Divinity School offers credit and non-credit certificates and non-degree programs within a growing network of organizations, denominations, churches, and nonprofits within the Shaw University Divinity School network called the Consortium for the Advancement of Congregational Excellence.

  • First, Shaw University has a tradition of hosting an Annual Ministers’ Conference, which brings ministry practitioners and church leaders together for spiritual enrichment and learning and provides outreach theological education to the larger religious community.
  • Second, the century-old tradition of the Black Church Leadership Academy (BCLA) and its seminars are offered yearly as project-based events for African American community church leaders.
  • Third, embedded workshops are offered during the Annual Ministers’ Conference for alumni, other constituents, and project participants.
  • Fourth, our project initiatives create opportunities for the Divinity School to engage and partner with churches to address social issues and spur activism through self-assessments, training, and planning. These include:
    • The Black Church Revitalization Collaborative
    • The Nurturing Children and Youth Program
    • The Center for Racial and Social Justice
    • The Center for Spiritual and Ethical Leadership

Statement of Accreditation Status

Shaw University is a regionally accredited institution. The Divinity School is accredited as a theological school to offer degrees and certificates by the Association of Theological Schools, Commission on Accrediting. Anyone who wishes to make comments about or provide information relevant to the Divinity School’s accreditation may send an email to SUDSATS@shawu.edu or may contact ATS directly at:

The Association of Theological Schools, Commission on Accrediting in the United States and Canada
10 Summit Park Drive | Pittsburgh, PA 15275
Telephone: 412-788-6505 | Fax: 412-788-6510
Website: www.ats.edu

  • Shaw University Divinity School affirms a longstanding institutional commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful theological learning community. Rooted in the university’s founding mission and the Christian principle expressed in our motto, *Pro Christo et Humanitate* (“For Christ and Humanity”), we honor the dignity and worth of every individual.

    As outlined in the Shaw University Employee Handbook, our practices and policies uphold equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, creed, age, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. This commitment is embedded in all aspects of employment, education, and community engagement.

    In theological education, we embrace diversity as a theological imperative—reflecting God’s inclusive love and justice—and as a pedagogical necessity that enriches scholarship, ministry formation, and communal life. Faculty, staff, and students are called to cultivate a learning environment that reflects the global church and empowers all people to discern and fulfill their vocational call.

    This diversity statement is a synopsis of the institutional policies described in the Shaw University Employee Handbook and guides our shared commitment to a vibrant, equitable, and inclusive divinity school community.

  • Shaw University Divinity School (SUDS) measures institutional effectiveness through retention, graduation, persistence, and vocational placement data reported to the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), and reviewed in light of comparative peer performance. The Divinity School’s mission—to equip leaders for faith-based, community-centered service—is supported by evidence of student progress and outcomes across academic programs.

    Enrollment and Retention
    In the 2023–2024 academic year, Shaw reported 118 enrolled students across all programs, with the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program comprising the majority (72 students), followed by MA programs (46 students).

    While retention data is not isolated, persistence rates suggest a moderate retention trend. For example:

    • MDiv students who entered six years ago had a persistence rate of 71.4% and a graduation rate of 64.3%.
    • MA (professional) students who entered four years ago had a persistence rate of 20.0% and a graduation rate of 0.0%.

    Graduation and Persistence
    The overall graduation rate at SUDS is 52.6%, while the overall persistence rate is 57.9%, reflecting a majority of students eventually completing or continuing within theological education. This performance aligns with national averages for small to mid-size theological institutions but trails leading peer institutions like Duke Divinity School, where most programs report 95 %+ learning achievement and graduation alignment.

    Completion and Placement
    In the most recent academic year, Shaw University Divinity School reported 39 total completions:

    • 33.3% (13 graduates) secured vocational placements.
    • 17.9% (7 graduates) entered further study.
    • 5.1% (2 graduates) were still seeking placement.
    • 38.5% (15 graduates) had unknown placement status.

    Key Degree Program Breakdown (Completions):

    • MDiv: 21 graduates — 5 in vocational ministry, 2 in further study.
    • MA (professional): 18 graduates — 8 in vocational ministry, 5 in further study.

    While the placement rate (vocational + further study) of 51.3% indicates positive post-graduation outcomes for about half the students, the high unknown rate (38.5%) indicates the need for improved graduate tracking and follow-up, in alignment with ATS best practices.

    Comparative Institutional Benchmarks

    • Duke Divinity School reports 95–100% of students achieving “excellent or strong” competency in core theological formation areas and maintains significantly higher placement and formation benchmarks.
    • Virginia Union University reports performance via accreditation documentation but does not make clear placement percentages public. However, its degree completion and persistence indicators align closely with peer HBCU theological schools.

    Strategic Focus for Improvement

    1. Retention: Increase MA (prof) student support through advising and spiritual formation initiatives.
    2. Graduation: Strengthen academic mentoring and time-to-completion strategies, particularly for part-time students.
    3. Placement: Develop a more robust graduate tracking and alumni networking system to reduce “unknown” placement cases.
    4. Benchmarking: Aim for placement and graduation rates above 65% in all programs, using Duke’s integrative assessment model as a vocational and theological effectiveness goalpost.

    Shaw University Divinity School remains committed to its diverse student body’s theological, spiritual, and vocational development, with continuous efforts to improve educational outcomes and ministerial readiness in a changing religious and social landscape.

Highlights & Events

The Shaw University Divinity School carries out its mission by offering continuing education opportunities through various faith-based conferences, seminars, and events.

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Faculty and Directors

Harden, Mark (2024) – Dean of the Divinity School
Ph.D., Michigan State University
M.A., Northern Seminary
M.Div., Ecumenical Theological Seminary
M.A., Pastoral Studies, Marygrove College
B.A., Oakland University

McClenney, Madeline (2025) – Assistant Professor of Theology and Hebrew Bible
PhD – Duke University, School of Religion
MDiv – Howard University School of Divinity
BA – Howard University

Klayman, Seth (2020) – Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies and Student Services Coordinator
Ph.D., Duke University
M.A., Duke University
Dip.J.S., University of Oxford
B.A., The Ohio State University

McCoy, Telika (2022) – Director, Nurturing Children and Youth for the Future (NCYF) Program and Assistant Professor of Practical Ministry
Ph.D., Capella University
M.Div., Shaw University Divinity School
B.A., Shaw University

Phillips-Stephens, Miriam (2024) – Director, Black Church Revitalization Consortium (BCRC) and Assistant Professor of Spiritual Formation
D.Min., Campbell University
M.Div., Campbell University
M.A.C.E., Union Presbyterian School of Christian Education
B.A., Jameson Christian College

Tinsley, Annie (2012) – Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor of New Testament Studies
Ph.D., University of Birmingham (UK)
Th.M., Brite Divinity School
M.A., Regent University
B.S., Hampton University

Williams, Sheritta (2024) – Director, Center for Racial and Social Justice (CRSJ) and Instructor of Practical Ministry
M.T.S., Duke University Divinity School
M.A., Northeastern Seminary at Robert Wesleyan College
B.A., St. Augustine’s University

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