Doctor of Ministry
Purpose of the DMin Program
The DMin is a 3 to 4 year, 30-unit degree program, focused on bringing missional renewal and impact to the student’s ministry setting. It is a hybrid model, combining content delivery with ministry-based field work toward completion of each course and learning the competencies for coursework as required for the degree. It is designed to equip pastors, missionaries, church leaders, and para-church leaders with skills, strategies, and theology for solving complex and challenging problems in pluralistic and post-Christendom contexts.
Program Outcomes
There are five desired outcomes for students in the DMin Program.
- The Student will develop increased leadership capacity evidenced by the ability to thrive in current ministry contexts and increase the scale and scope of ministry effectiveness, responsibilities, and opportunities.
- The Student will practicei intentional theological integration evidenced by the ability to engage one’s cultural context with advanced theological acumen and critical thinking.
- The Student will engage in in-depth contextual analysis demonstrating the ability to identify and frame crucial ministry issues and outline potential solutions.
- The Student will utilize innovative strategic planning evidenced by the ability to create and develop key ministry initiatives and achieve desired ministry goals.
- The Student will experience greater intimacy with Christ evidenced by a growing love for God and others, deepening one’s personal spiritual maturity.
Program Competencies to be Learned in Courses
As courses are completed, credits are accumulated toward the 30-unit degree. The following competencies are learned in courses in the program for completion of the degree. How these are learned will vary, and will be described in the course offerings for courses each semester. Our goal is to integrate learning in content-delivery formats with in-ministry field work as much as possible.
Competencies Learned in Courses for the DMin Program
Graduates of the DMin program will be able to:
- Assess their leadership style, experience, and philosophy.
- Utilize research methods for cultural and ministry analysis.
- Understand missional renewal in light of current ministry thinking.
- Articulate a missional theology.
- Design communication strategies to convey missional thinking and practice.
- Identify resources for engaging people with the mission.
- Assess ministry cultures and generational realities in ministry.
- Define characteristics, methods, and metrics for making and multiplying disciples.
- Create strategies to witness for Christ in post-Christendom and pluralistic cultures.
- Become a change agent who can launch missional renewal initiatives.
- Utilize missionally-focused planning tools and resources appropriate to their ministry.
- Design ministry structures that effectively support missional engagement.
- Develop metrics that assess the effectiveness of missional practices and progress.
- Grow deeper intimacy with Christ using spiritual practices, individual and corporate.
Course Scheduling & Delivery
The DMin utilizes peer learning, self-directed learning, field-based learning, and coursework. Courses may consist of a variety of in-class learning components, field work, and/or the submission of artifacts or practices needed to demonstrate learned competencies.
Military Chaplaincy Course Format
Typically up to 12 units of credit is accepted for Chaplaincy Training completed in a student’s particular program. The remainder of the units needed for a DMin degree are earned according to the guidelines described herein, and with approval by the DMin Director. Contact the DMin Office for specific details for admission based upon the branch of service associated with the chaplaincy.
DMin Admission
Students interested in this program should apply via Trinity Western University, see TWU for more information.
DMin Candidacy Requirements
Admission to the DMin program does not guarantee acceptance into candidacy for the degree. Candidacy will be granted when the student has demonstrated the ability to complete all degree requirements as evidenced by the following:
- All prerequisite deficiencies (if any) have been removed.
- Twenty-four units of coursework, have been completed with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
- The student’s proposal for the DMin Major Project has been approved by the Human Rights in Research Committee, the Project Committee, and the Program Director.
- The student has demonstrated writing skills appropriate to doctoral work and to the successful completion of the Major Project.
- The student has demonstrated proficiency in the integration of coursework and ministry.
DMin Graduation Requirements
The following general graduation requirements apply to all Doctor of Ministry students:
- Evidence of a working knowledge of the content of the English Bible.
- Evidence of consistent Christian character, a concern for others, and a sincere commitment to Christ such as to qualify for Christian service.
The following 30 Units are required of those planning to receive the DMin degree:
- The completion of at least 24 units of credit in doctoral coursework and satisfying all coursework requirements, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). No more than six units may be derived by transfer. Only one Guided Research project is allowed while in the program.
- The completion of the DMin Major Project, including a successful oral presentation. Major Project research constitutes six units of credit. All requirements for the degree must be completed within four years from the time of matriculation. If requested, six years may be allowed for those serving in overseas assignments. If degree requirements are not completed within the allowed time limits in effect at matriculation, an extension may be requested through the Program Director. A continuation fee will be charged for each six-month period in which the degree requirements remain incomplete. Continuation fees may be waived at the recommendation of the Professional Doctoral Committee in extenuating circumstances. The entire program, including any approved extensions, must be completed within 10 years from the first course taken. Beyond 10 years, earned course units begin to drop off, and courses will need to be repeated.
A student who fails to pay the continuation fee must do the following
- Write for reinstatement to the Doctor of Ministry Office.
- Pay the fee for the time of absence from the program.
- Resubmit application for the Major Project topic if such had previously been approved.
- Apply to the Professional Doctoral Committee for an extension of time to complete the program, providing a new target date for graduation.
DMin Curriculum
Except for Required Courses and Major Project Courses, course descriptions vary depending on the faculty, assignments associated with the course, and course content. Course descriptions will be available in the syllabus and on the website. Credits earned per course may include a combination of in-class time, field work required, artifacts to be submitted, and other components.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 21 | |
| DMN 933 | Interdisciplinary Elective | 3 |
| DMN 941 | Missional Engagement Elective | 3 |
| DMN 962 | Minnistry Immersion and Integration 1 | 3 |
| DMN 971 | Research Methods for Ministry | 3 |
| DMN 973 | Adaptive and Missional Leadership | 3 |
| DMN 981 & DMN 982 & DMN 983 & DMN 984 & DMN 985 & DMN 986 | Doctor of Ministry Project I and Doctor of Ministry Project II and Doctor of Ministry Project III and Doctor of Ministry Project IV and Doctor of Ministry Project V and Doctor of Ministry Project VI | 6 |
| Track | 9 | |
| Select one of the two tracks below. | ||
- 1
Course includes a Residency.
DMin Basic Program Track
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| DMN 911 | Pastoral Ministry and Care Elective | 3 |
| DMN 931 | Biblical/Theological Elective | 3 |
| DMN 972 | Cultural Exegesis for Ministry | 3 |
| Total Units | 9 | |
DMin Thriving Immigrant Churches Track
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| DMN 923 | Healthy Congregational Cultures | 3 |
| DMN 924 | Missional Immigrant Congregations | 3 |
| DMN 925 | Issues Facing Immigrant Churches | 3 |
| Total Units | 9 | |