Program

A program that offers a creative conduit for personal spiritual renewal, the Doctor of Ministry, is designed to reinvigorate and encourage you, as you become a more effective spiritual leader and shepherd.  The D.Min. is a 32-hour, 4 year in-service degree comprised of course content, personal and professional development, research and writing.  Intensive one-week seminars are held twice annually on the seminary's Findlay, Ohio campus in January and June.  They are structured so that you will spend the morning sessions engaged in coursework and the afternoon sessions researching and writing your doctoral project. 

Doctor of Ministry Program Tracks

Pastoral Leadership Track - Biblical Exegesis (Four seminars, 2 credits each, total of 8 credits) -Students demonstrate in-depth exegesis of an Old or New Testament theme or book, with a practical application for their teaching/preaching ministry.  Students will present and critique one another's presentation to increase their self-awareness and effectiveness in communication.

Multi-Cultural Ministry Track - Cultural Exegesis - (Four seminars, 2 credits each, total of 8 credits) - Students demonstrate understanding of the missiological issues that are discussed and presented in class by the professor and other students with interaction with guest presenters from the onsite class context in diverse urban settings each year.  Students will complete onsite field research that is presented in class and in a written report.

Spiritual Formation Track - Spiritual Exegesis (Four seminars, 2 credits each, total of 8 credits) - Students demonstrate understanding of the theology, spirituality, historical context, and spiritual direction associated with the concepts, skills, and worldview that are presented in each seminar.  Spiritual direction insights, discernment, and sensibilities are developed throughout the curriculum through student interaction and group spiritual direction. 

The Five Components of the Doctor of Ministry Program:

• Intensive Week Seminars
• Community Peer Learning
• Individual Self-directed Learning
• Ministry Context Resource Group 
• Doctoral Project 

A unique feature of the D.Min. is that students begin to research and write the major doctoral project from the very beginning of the program, instead of waiting until the end as in other programs.  The goal of the D.Min. project is to challenge the student to think and act theologically and integratively by identifying a specific problem in ministry, organizing an effective research model, gathering appropriate resources, and evaluating the results.  The research should be conducted within the setting of the student's own context of ministry. D.Min. projects have emerged out of such areas as:

• Administration and Leadership
• Church Growth and Renewal
• Christian Education
• Counseling
• Discipleship
• Evangelism
• Missions
• Church Music
• Pastoral Care
• Preaching
• Spiritual Formation
• Stewardship
• Teaching
• Worship
• Youth Work

Project work should demonstrate doctoral level work and display how the student's competence in ministry has been strengthened or transformed.

For more information on the D.Min. curriculum, click here.