Kleber Gonçalves, Director
Purpose
Prompted by the promise of Christ’s soon return, the Doctor of Ministry program at Andrews University is designed to develop spiritually mature and responsible professionals in ministry for worldwide church leadership.
Program Description
The Doctor of Ministry program offers a professional doctoral degree for people who seek advanced competencies in ministry. The program enables people to grow in these areas within the framework of a biblical model of leadership. The program is normally offered to professionals who are in active ministry.
Course modules include intensives at various North American and international sites. Concentrations are offered in Chaplaincy, Discipleship (English/Spanish), Family Ministry, Global Mission Leadership, Intergenerational Church, Leadership (English/Spanish), Leading Growth and Church Multiplication, Millennial Church, Missional Church, Multiethnic/Multicultural Mission and Ministry, Organizational Leadership, Preaching, and Urban Ministry.
Doctor of Ministry modules, including the intensive sessions, are taught by faculty teams of seminary professors with appropriate academic expertise and professionals from the field with experience in evangelism, ministry, and mission. Teaching methodology combines appropriate methods and technology with collegial dialogue to encourage a creative learning environment. Faculty aim to facilitate balanced spiritual, professional, and theological formation that affects the individual, the family, and the ministry group. Participants develop a deeper personal experience, which leads to a strengthening of their family life as well as a greater commitment to ministry. They learn to evaluate ministerial practices through theological reflection, which helps them establish a biblical model of servant leadership. Graduates from the program will be able to use appropriate tools to analyze the needs of their churches and communities and develop and implement appropriate and effective ministries.
Program Learning Outcomes and Educational Objectives
The Doctor of Ministry program seeks to develop the person, knowledge, and practice of its students. While the program is structured around certain areas of concentration, there are learning outcomes and educational objectives we expect for all students.
DMin Program Learning Outcomes
- Critically reflect on, articulate, and apply biblically based principles and values for excellence in mission and ministry.
- Conduct research and implement an intervention in response to ministry challenges and trends in a glocal context, related to the primary field of service.
- Integrate knowledge and skills acquired into an effective ministry practice and evaluate the resultant impact on one’s personal experience and ministry.
Primary Educational Objectives
Being
- Seek deeper Christ-like biblical spirituality.
- Experience enrichment of personal and family life.
- Intensify commitment to ministry.
- Develop an Adventist perspective of discipleship, evangelism, mission, and ministry.
Knowing
- Acquire exceptional theoretical knowledge that contributes to advanced ministry.
- Foster a holistic view of society and its needs.
- Articulate theological and theoretical understandings that advance global ministry.
- Understand the biblical model of servant leadership.
Doing
- Enhance the ability to evaluate ministerial practices through theological reflection.
- Use appropriate tools to analyze the needs of churches and communities.
- Refine skills that facilitate more effective ministry.
- Reinforce habits of study that contribute to lifelong learning.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Ministry program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Hold the Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent.
- Have a GPA of at least 3.25.
- Demonstrate high professional and personal potential for the gospel ministry.
- Have an equivalent of at least three years of experience in ministry subsequent to the first graduate theological degree.
- Supply satisfactory recommendations.
- Submit a 1500–2500 word double-spaced paper that discusses their personal spiritual journey and sets forth their purpose for seeking the Doctor of Ministry degree. The paper should manifest theological reflection and a familiarity with current literature in pastoral ministry.
- Applicants from other faiths may be accepted into the program, provided they meet admission requirements and represent high moral integrity with a character, lifestyle, and spiritual commitment reflective of the ideals of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Admission Procedure. Applicants must submit those items specified in the Graduate Academic Policies and in the Admission and Evaluation Policies for Seminary admission requirements.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the requirements listed in Academic Policies Applying to all Programs , students must fulfill the following requirements for the DMin degree: