Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 
    
2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Ministry DMin


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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

  1. Critically reflect on, articulate, and apply biblically based principles and values for excellence in mission and ministry.
  2. Conduct research and implement an intervention in response to ministry challenges and trends in a glocal context, related to the primary field of service.
  3. 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

  1. Seek deeper Christ-like biblical spirituality.
  2. Experience enrichment of personal and family life.
  3. Intensify commitment to ministry.
  4. Develop an Adventist perspective of discipleship, evangelism, mission, and ministry.

Knowing

  1. Acquire exceptional theoretical knowledge that contributes to advanced ministry.
  2. Foster a holistic view of society and its needs.
  3. Articulate theological and theoretical understandings that advance global ministry.
  4. Understand the biblical model of servant leadership.

Doing

  1. Enhance the ability to evaluate ministerial practices through theological reflection.
  2. Use appropriate tools to analyze the needs of churches and communities.
  3. Refine skills that facilitate more effective ministry.
  4. 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:

Total Credits: 32


Additional Information:


Financial Plans

Financial plans are available to assist NAD employees, international students, cohort groups, and others. See the DMin website (http://www.andrews.edu/sem/dmin/about/costs/) or contact the DMin office for further information.

Modes of Delivery

In order to make the program accessible to ministry professionals, the professor contact portions of course modules are offered as intensives on-campus and at off-campus locations. For information on where courses are offered, see the Program Planner. Cohorts with less than 12 course credits delivered in residency are offered as an approved exception to the Association of Theological Schools’ larger residency expectation stated in Standard E, section E.3.1.1.

Project Requirements

  • Students take GSEM 790  in preparation for their project. A statement explaining the philosophy of a Doctor of Ministry project, including guidelines for its development and preparation, is provided when GSEM 790  is taken. A project proposal must be submitted and accepted.
  • The project, which should address a problem or issue directly relevant to the ministry context of the participant, is developed and implemented in an in-ministry situation. The approach of the project is normally developmental with formative evaluation. The project should be developed in consultation with the student’s adviser. Regulations governing the style and format of project documents are found in the Doctor of Ministry Writing Manual, https://www.andrews.edu/sem/dmin/project/writing_assistance/writing-manual.pdf 
  • During the third and fourth years of the curricular program, students must register for GSEM 796 . If the project is still in progress after this time, the student must register for GSEM 788  DMin Project Continuation (0 cr).
  • When students are unable to demonstrate adequate writing abilities they will be required to hire an editor at their expense.
  • Students must pass an oral project assessment designed to test the candidate’s ability to integrate learning and the practice of ministry. The project assessment must be successfully completed no later than four weeks prior to graduation.

Time Limits. DMin students must complete all courses and modules and pass an oral assessment of the project within six years from the time they begin course work. In special circumstances and upon written request, an extension may be granted for one year. There is a minimum threshold of project work that must be completed before a request for an extension will be considered. A higher tuition amount will be charged per semester in an extension year; see http://www.andrews.edu/sem/dmin/about/costs/#fees for the current rates. 

Transferred and Earned Credit Term Limits:  All course credits applied towards degree requirements should be earned within 10 years of the awarding of the degree.

Project Process. For a detailed outline of the DMin project process, students should see the Guidelines for the DMin Project published on the Doctor of Ministry website, http://www.andrews.edu/sem/dmin/project/

Academic Supervision. The director of the DMin program acts as curriculum supervisor. The project adviser and a second reader are chosen by the student in consultation with the project coach. Students should work closely with these persons and the DMin project coach to complete the project.

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