GCU
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Doctor of Ministry degree is to enhance the multi-cultural ministry practice of persons who hold an MDiv (or its educational equivalent) and who have engaged in substantial ministerial leadership. The program combines theory and pastoral practice and integrates theological and social science while promoting excellence in ministry. The DMin program enhances pastoral theology, pastoral analysis, and ministerial skills; integrates these competencies into a theologically reflective practice of ministry; accesses and explores new areas in the practice of ministry; promotes continued growth toward spiritual maturity. And establishes a personal and professional ethic with focused study on ethical standards and mature conduct in the profession. Finally, the Doctor of Ministry degree advances the general practice of ministry and expertise in specialized areas of ministerial practice, such as pastoral care, preaching, missions, leadership, organizational administration, and multicultural ministries.
OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of the DMIN program, participants will
- Integrate theological reflection with ministerial knowledge to analyze and assess the suitability of solutions to ministry issues and problems, using theological resources and appropriate social science research to develop these solutions,
- advance in their capability of theological reflection, systematic thinking, and reflective practice skills to implement the philosophy and goals of their present ministries,
- demonstrate higher effectiveness as a goal in developing the ministerial growth of church and congregations concerning worship, preaching, fellowship, discipleship, compassion and care, education, and services, and
- demonstrate deeper awareness of the impact of multiple cultures on society and the responsibility of the church for public witness, social justice engagement, and evangelism; and demonstrate flexibility in advanced ministerial leadership, as well as the ability to conduct a spiritually- and organizationally apt practice of the theology of the laity.
CONCENTRATIONS
The degree program has been organized into three concentrations to pursue its educational goals and objectives effectively and systematically.
Concentration 1: Theology of Ministry Studies
This concentration focuses on the theology of ministry and on sharpening specific ministry skills in critical areas. With a concentration in Theology of Ministry, pastors and ministry leaders are given the opportunity to clarify the philosophy, nature, and values of ministry.Concentration 2: Church & Congregation Ministerial Development
This is a practical concentration focusing on students’ personal ministry development in such areas as worship, preaching, fellowship, discipleship, compassion and care, education, small groups, children, Christian education, counseling, stewardship, music and worship, teaching, youth, ministry to women and service.Concentration 3: Multicultural Studies for Evangelism
This concentration provides advanced training in the practice of multicultural ministry by analyzing and contextualizing culture and society and empowering believers to effectively communicate the gospel to a pluralistic society through public engagement.PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the Doctor of Ministry program, students will be able to:
- Students learn to integrate theological reflection with knowledge of the practice of ministry to assess the suitability of various solutions to a ministry problem.
- Students will gain knowledge of ministry development, personal leadership styles, and the art of spiritual leadership and learn how to apply this knowledge in ministry practice.
- Students are familiar with implementing a reasonable solution to a ministry problem by analyzing multicultural aspects of evangelism.
EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT
GCU provides assessments for prospective Doctor of Ministry students. These assessments are intended to give the DMin program a clearer sense of the ability of the student to perform doctoral-level work and to develop prospective students’ understanding of their own personal and professional strengths and areas of vulnerability, as well as their learning and leadership styles. This assessment also assists prospective students in thinking through their vision for ministry and how it will be enriched through the Doctor of Ministry program.
DMin assessment focuses on three areas:
- Integrate theological reflection with knowledge of the practice of ministry.
- gain knowledge of ministry development
- implementing a reasonable solution to a ministry problem
Students will be given an electronic survey when the assignments are due in their class, evaluating the learning experience of that class.
After students successfully defend your project, they will be asked to complete an electronic exit survey (ATS GSQ).
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants to the program must have a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Graduate level degree from an accredited college or university. No exceptions can be made to this requirement. Applicants must have completed a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent at an accredited institution. Other two-year master's programs may be considered, but the applicant must complete the required Master of Divinity courses to enter the DMin program. Applicants must have maintained an average of 3.3 (on a standard 4-point scale) in their Master of Divinity work. Applicants must demonstrate to the Doctor of Ministry Program Committee that they have sustained a sound moral and religious character in campus life.
Field experience: Applicants for the DMin program must have a minimum of three years of full-time ministry experience at a church or similar organization after receiving an MDiv degree and must have demonstrated excellent professional performance. The DMin Program Committee must approve any exceptions.
Applicants must submit two recommendation letters, one from a pastor and one from a professor. Applicants must submit a two-to-three-page Statement of Academic Purpose describing their goals and reasons for desiring a DMin degree.
*Costs are subject to change; contact the Office of Admissions for the most up-to-date information.
CURRICULUM MAP & GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
The Doctor of Ministry degree is designed to be completed within three to four academic years, although a maximum of six years may be granted in special cases. It commonly requires three semesters of coursework. For graduation, students must earn 36 credits (9 courses/27 credits and Final Doctoral Project/9credits); the 9 courses are comprised of 3 core courses, 1 research methodology course, 3 concentration courses, and elective courses.
Required Courses (6 Courses: 18 Credits)
Core Courses (3 Courses; 9 Credits)
M601 Research and Methodology (3 Credits)
M602 Exploring the Contours of Ministry (3 credits)
M611 Understanding and Leading Church Organizations (3 credits)
Concentrations (3 Courses: 9 Credits)
A. Theology of Ministry Studies
M612 Christian Theological and Ethical Practice in a Postmodern Era (3 credits)
M627 Historical and Theological Legacies for Korean Church (3 credits)
M630 Biblical Theology of Church Ministry in Context (3 credits)
B. Multicultural Studies for Evangelism
M615 Understanding of Evangelicalism for the Modern Ministry (3 credits)
M621 Church as Evangelist (3 credits)
M624 Intercultural Training Process (3 credits)
C. Church & Congregation Ministerial Development
M604 Growing Churches in a Post-Church World (3 credits)
M609 Revitalizing Church and Community (3 credits)
M617 Pneumatology for Church Ministry (3 credits)
Electives (3 Courses: 9 Credits)
Doctoral Project (3 courses: 9 credits)
Institutional Requirement (no credit)
GCU requires all students enrolled in the Semester Program to attend WS501 Institutional Requirement (chapel) every semester through graduation. Students will receive a Pass/Fail grade for this noncredit course.
DMIN ROADMAP TO GRADUATION
- First Section : Core courses (3)
- Second Section : Concentration courses (3)
- Third Section : Electives (3 courses)
- Fourth Section : Project (3 Courses)
SEMESTER AND INTENSIVE PROGRAMS
The DMin degree is offered in two ways: a semester program and an intensive program.
Semester Program
A residency program offers a sixteen-week course of study, one day per week, during the regular semester. International students who want to maintain student visa status must take this program.Intensive (or Cohort-based) Program
A two-week-long session in March, June, and October each year, chiefly at the Atlanta campus but also in various locations across the country and selected locations outside the United States. Each session of the Intensive Program will cover 2 or 3 courses from the DMin program and provide full credit for those courses to attending students.Final Doctoral Project
In addition to completing twenty-seven credit hours of coursework, students must complete a Final Doctoral Project. This is a supervised project, which may be done in a local ministry setting, mission field, or research project. Students must present a doctoral project proposal to the Dean of the School of Divinity. Students advance to candidacy status after completing all course/seminar work and approving their proposal. Then, under the advice of their major professor, students should write the project and present it to the Dean of the School of Divinity.