Faithful, Reformational, Global

With an unwavering dedication to the Christian faith and a reformational perspective, ILT gathers students and professors from across the world, fostering a truly global academic community.

Welcome to Christ School of Theology

Welcome to ILT’s Christ School of Theology, a distinguished seminary and graduate school that stands as a beacon of quality in the realm of higher learning. Our institution is dedicated to nurturing academic excellence and fostering a vibrant community of scholars and thought leaders. At the heart of our school is a faculty of esteemed professors, many of whom are prolific authors and influential figures in their respective fields. Their dedication to shaping intellectual discourse and pushing the boundaries of knowledge sets the tone for a dynamic and enriching educational environment.

Within our classes, ideas are not just taught but actively explored, dissected, and challenged. We believe that true growth stems from a relentless pursuit of understanding, and our students, guided by the expertise of our faculty, embark on a journey of deep intellectual exploration that extends far beyond the confines of our classrooms.

ILT’s Christ School of Theology is more than an institution; it’s a vibrant intellectual hub where profound ideas take root and flourish. As we continue to make a lasting impact on the realm of higher education, we remain committed to our mission of shaping the leaders, thinkers, and change-makers of tomorrow. Anchored in the classical Christian tradition from a Lutheran perspective, ILT as an institution of higher education shall preserve, promote, and propagate these values, ensuring that they remain central to our academic pursuits and collective endeavors.

Meet Your Professors

Professor of Theological Ethics
Robert Benne, Ph.D.

Professor of Philosophical Theology
Rev. Dennis Bielfeldt, Ph.D.

Professor of Philosophical Theology
Daniel Hackmann, Ph.D.

Professor of Biblical Theology
Rev. Mark Hillmer, Ph.D.

Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology
Jack Kilcrease, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology
Rev. Eddie Kwok, Ph.D.

Professor of Biblical Theology
Rev. Dan Lioy, Ph.D.

Dean of Library and Research
Rev. David Patterson

Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology
Rev. Timothy Rynearson

Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology
Rev. Jonathan Sorum, Th.D.

Professor of Theological Ethics

Robert Benne, Ph.D.

B.A. Midland University (1959)
M.A. University of Chicago Divinity School (1963)
Ph.D. University of Chicago Divinity School (1970)

Professor of Philosophical Theology

Rev. Dennis Bielfeldt, Ph.D.

B.S. South Dakota State University (1977)
M.A. University of Iowa (1984)
Ph.D. University of Iowa (1987)

Professor of Philosophical Theology

Daniel Hackmann, Ph.D.

B.S. University of Iowa (1977)
M.A. University of Iowa (1979)
Ph.D. University of Iowa (1989)

Professor of Biblical Theology

Rev. Mark Hillmer, Ph.D.

B.A. Northwestern College (1957)
M.Div. Concordia Theological Seminary (1962)
M.A. University of Wisconsin (1963)
Ph.D. Hebrew Union College (1966)

Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology

Jack Kilcrease, Ph.D.

B.A. Luther College (2001)
M.A. Luther Seminary (2003)
Ph.D. Marquette University (2009)

Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology

Rev. Eddie Kwok, Ph.D.

B.Sc. University of Singapore (1980)
Ph.D. London School of Theology (2004)
M.Div. Regent College, Vancouver (1986)

Professor of Biblical Theology

Rev. Dan Lioy, Ph.D.

B.S. University of Southern California (1981)
M.Th. Dallas Theological Seminary (1988)
Ph.D. North-West University – Potchefstroom (2002)

Dean of Library and Research

Rev. David Patterson

B.A. Lutheran Bible Institute of Seattle (1999)
C.P.S. Trinity Lutheran College (2000)
MLIS University of Washington (2002)
M.R. Institute of Lutheran Theology (2015)

Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology

Rev. Timothy Rynearson

B.A. Concordia College – Ann Arbor (1981)
M.Div. Concordia Seminary (1985)
S.T.M. Concordia Seminary (1995)

Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology

Rev. Jonathan Sorum, Th.D.

B.A. University of North Dakota (1976)
M.Div. Luther Seminary (1980)
M.Th. Luther Seminary (1985)
Th.D. Luther Seminary (1994)

Discover Our Programs

Intro

Ph.D.

D.Min.

S.T.M.

M.Div.

M.C.M.

M.M.

M.A.

Earn your degree online at your own pace with the option to continue working your full-time job and fulfilling your daily obligations. All of our classes are held in an online format. We meet in virtual classrooms via Microsoft Teams. Christ School of Theology students and faculty are able to interact with one another, hold open discussions, ask questions and engage the learning process just as if they were in a normal classroom. Click through the tabs to learn more about the programs we offer at Christ School of Theology.

Doctor of Philosophy

The purpose of the online Ph.D. program is to produce teacher-scholars for the church and the academy who can educate persons for Christian ministry and lives of Christian service, and who themselves will teach and write within the academy generally and the wider public. The teacher-scholars for the church and academy will be equipped to do the theological work necessary to support the church’s witness to Christ and to be responsible and credible participants in vital conversations beyond the boundaries of the church, including college or university settings and various interdisciplinary forums (e.g. learned societies, agencies of church bodies, etc.)

Doctor of Ministry

The online Doctor of Ministry program focuses on reaching the unreached in a secular age from a Lutheran perspective. Students are pastors with at least three years continuous experience who want to deepen their perspectives and hone their strategies for the church’s apologetic, evangelistic and catechetical tasks. The program requires 30 credit hours of work, including two independent projects and a final project or thesis.

Master of Sacred Theology

The Master of Sacred Theology is a research degree for students holding the M.Div. or an M.A. in Theology or equivalent degree who want to delve deeper into a particular area of theological study. The program requires 30 hours of coursework, including a thesis. The program is very flexible, allowing students to design a course of study aligned with their own research interests.

Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity program prepares persons for the office of public ministry of Word and Sacrament in the church of Jesus Christ. It requires 90 course credits, equivalent to three years of full-time coursework. In addition, students in the M.Div. must complete the equivalent of a one-year full-time internship.

Master of Chaplain Ministry

The Master of Chaplain Ministry program is specifically designed to equip students to become faithful and effective ministers of the Gospel as chaplains. Students in this program can focus on the type of chaplaincy in which they wish to serve. Students have the option of completing a further 18 credits of study and earning the Master of Divinity degree.

Master of Ministry

The Master of Ministry program prepares students for diaconal or other non-ordained ministries within the church and can also be an alternative track to ordained ministry. This 44-credit program provides a condensed classical theological education, with opportunities for specialization in particular areas of ministry. The program includes an internship tailored to the student’s goals, which can be done while also taking classes. Graduates of the program have the option of completing a further 46 credits to earn a Master of Divinity degree.

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts program provides a broad-based, foundational course of study for college graduates who want to pursue graduate level studies in theology but are not preparing for ordained ministry. The M.A. program prepares students for more advanced study in a theological discipline, as well as providing a broad-based exposure to theological studies for persons in other fields. It requires a total of 33 credits and can be completed in about one and a half years of full-time study or else extended over a longer period.

Request More Information

Please message us if you have any questions or are interested in applying to Christ School of Theology.

Learn More

Contact Information

Send Us A Message

Accreditation

The Institute of Lutheran Theology has fully-credentialed faculty members and a complete staff to serve students and faculty. The Institute provides a quality theological education equal or superior to that of any graduate seminary. The Institute of Lutheran Theology has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education to grant degrees at the Master’s and Doctoral levels.

Address: 5850 T.G. Lee Blvd., Ste. 130, Orlando, FL 32822
Telephone: (407) 207-0808

The Christ School of Theology at the Institute of Lutheran Theology is an Associate Member of The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS), but not an Accredited Member with the ATS Commission on Accrediting.

Address: 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1110
Telephone: (412) 788-6505

The Christ School of Theology is hosting a comprehensive evaluation visit for initial accreditation by the ATS Commission on Accrediting on March 11, 2024. The purpose of this visit is to verify that the school meets all applicable Commission Standards of Accreditation. Comments regarding how well the school meets those standards and/or generally demonstrates educational quality may be sent to accrediting@ats.edu at least two weeks before the visit. Comments may also or instead be sent in writing via email to Dan Hackmann at dhackmann@ilt.edu. All comments will be shared with the onsite evaluation committee.