Asbury Theological Seminary

Academic Catalog

Doctor of Ministry: Beeson International Leaders

The Beeson International Leaders program is a four year Doctor of Ministry track designed for emerging leaders outside of the United States. This unique track is for leaders who show particular ability and promise in preaching, leadership, and spiritual depth. It is designed to enhance the skills and insight in the area of advanced church leadership and preaching. Those selected for the program will participate in an annual, six week residency for study on the Wilmore Campus.

Those selected for the program must demonstrate:

1. Potential for excellence in Biblical preaching
2. Evidence of particular leadership skill and acuity
3. Particular wholeness in person and calling
4. Notable promise for significant impact to the Church
5. Desire to be formed in ministerial competence and spiritual formation in such a way as to meet the challenge and calling of the Church for the future
6. Unwavering commitment to complete the program in its entirety within four years

Participants in the Beeson International Leaders Track must first be admitted into the Doctor of Ministry Program. As a track of the Doctor of Ministry degree Program, Beeson International Leaders must complete 30 credit hours of course work. Those 30 hours include 27 hours of course work in the area of leadership, preaching, and spiritual formation and three hours credit for dissertation completion. The Beeson International Leaders grant will be awarded competitively to persons who best meet the qualifications, are committed to pastoral ministry, and are committed to completion of the program within the allotted four years.

Additional experiences provided by the Beeson program include:

1. site visits to significant churches in North American and internationally
2. exposure to and interaction with significant church leaders
3. experiences to enhance ministerial competence and vision

The Beeson Pastor Grant covers:

1. All tuition
2. Fees (other than application fee)
3. Housing during the six-week residencies
4. A new laptop computer
5. Meal stipend
6. Round trip travel to/from Wilmore Campus once a year for the six-week in-residence study
7. Graduation fees
8. National and international travel experiences
9. International travel medical insurance during the times of in-residence study

Note: the scholarship covers tuition for four years. If all course and dissertation requirements are not completed in the allotted four years, all fees and tuition after that time are the responsibility of the student.

During the annual six-week in-residence experiences, intensive courses will be scheduled with assignments to be completed between sessions. In addition, there is significant reading assigned prior to each residency which must be completed. Much of the communication with Beeson International Leaders takes place via the internet, therefore consistent availability of internet services is essential. By the end of the third year, students must complete the dissertation proposal. The dissertation and all course work must be completed by the end of the fourth year.

ADMISSION PROCEDURE

Selection to the program is a two-step process. Each person interested in the Beeson International Leaders Program must fulfill the criteria for admission into the Doctor of Ministry degree program. Following admission into the Doctor of Ministry Program, persons interested in the Beeson International Leaders Program will be considered by the Selection Committee.

Step One-Criteria for admission into the Doctor of Ministry Program. (See Doctor of Ministry Program.)

1. Application deadlines: Application for the D.Min. program must be completed by November 1 (differs from in-ministry tracks) for eventual consideration for the Beeson International Leaders class for September of the following year.
2. Notification of acceptance or rejection into the D.Min. program will be mailed to each Beeson International Leaders applicant once the file is completed and acted upon by the Admissions Committee. NOTE: Admission to the Doctor of Ministry Program does not imply acceptance into the Beeson International Leaders Program.

Step Two-Selection process for the Beeson International Leaders Program following admission into the Doctor of Ministry Degree Program. This process of evaluation is completed by the Beeson International Leader Selection Committee.

1. Essays and references submitted for admission to the D.Min. program are examined for evidence of outstanding leadership and pastoral potential. This might include the creation of new programs for church or ministry, evidence of church growth or some other accomplishment in ministry or previous academic and work experience.
• Evidence of excellent preaching potential is analyzed. Persons being considered for the Beeson International Leaders grant must submit a videotaped sermon with their application. NOTE: The Beeson Center cannot return videotapes, due to the large number received.
• Availability to come to Asbury (without family) for the four six-week sessions per year.
• Commitment to continuing ministry within the home country.
• Willingness to undergo further evaluation through the use of assessment instruments as requested.
2. After review of the videotaped sermon, references, essays and research paper, the grant awards will be made. Every applicant considered for the Beeson International Leaders Program will be mailed written notification of the decisions made by the Selection Committee by mid-March following the November 1 application deadline.
3. Those awarded the grant, must communicate confirmation of acceptance of the grant within 2 weeks, and obtain the J-1 Student/Exchange Visa for the September session by July 1.

 

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