Doctor of Ministry

Distinctives, Benefits, and Outcomes

Program Distinctives

• Builds on and develops the professional competence in ministry achieved in the M.Div. Program.
• Requires students to showcase specific skills in a specialized area of ministry related to the student’s personal experience and interest through research and writing at both the theoretical and practical levels.
• Allows for concentrated classroom experience involving significant interaction with a faculty instructor in a peer-learning, seminar format.

Program Benefits

Students in this program will:

• Learn the theory and practice of personal spiritual formation.
• Develop habits for continued spiritual growth.
• Gain knowledge of leadership development and styles, and learn how to apply it to ministry.
• Study historical and contemporary church movements and reflect on today’s concerns in the practice of ministry.
• Contribute to the greater Christian community through completion of a written doctoral project.

Program Outcomes

The Doctor of Ministry in spiritual formation and ministry leadership offers a comprehensive curriculum track that focuses on the real-world skills ministry leaders need today. The ultimate goal is to renew and transform ministry leaders, churches, and communities toward those of Jesus Christ.

In general, the goals of the Doctor of Ministry Program focus on growth in specific skills for spiritual formation and ministry leadership. In this context, doctoral scholarship and research are emphasized to bring theory and praxis into practical ministry application. The program seeks to accomplish these goals by focusing on the following outcomes:

• Personal Spiritual Formation: Students will learn the theory and practice of personal spiritual formation, develop habits for continued spiritual growth, develop a theology of spiritual formation, and apply this knowledge personally.
• Ministry Leadership: Students will gain knowledge of leadership development, personal leadership styles, the art of spiritual leadership, and learn how to apply this knowledge in ministry practice.
• Community Impact: Students will study historical and contemporary church movements and reflect on contemporary concerns in the practice of ministry. Students will learn how to apply their knowledge in local ministry practice and will make a contribution to the greater Christian community through completion of a written doctoral project.