Asbury Theological Seminary

Academic Catalog

The Doctor of Ministry: Beeson Pastor

The Beeson Pastor Track is a three year Doctor of Ministry program, with full scholarship, the first year of which is in residence at the Wilmore campus. This unique program is for pastors 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 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 three years

Participants in the Beeson Pastor Track must first be admitted into the D.Min. Program. The Beeson Pastor grant will be awarded competitively to persons who best meet the qualifications and are committed to pastoral ministry.

As a track of the Doctor of Ministry degree Program, Beeson pastors must complete 30 credit hours, including 27 hours of course work in the area of leadership, preaching, and spiritual formation and three hours credit for dissertation completion.

Additional experiences provided to Beeson Pastor Track participants 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
4. spiritual development through community life, worship, small group interaction, retreats, and prayer

The Beeson Pastor Grant covers:

1. All tuition for courses during the residential year
2. Fees (other than application)
3. Housing (three bedroom fully furnished townhouse with utilities paid)
4. A new laptop computer
5. Living stipend
6. Moving expenses
7. Graduation fees
8. National and international travel experiences

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

The Beeson Pastor Track residency runs from July 1 through May 31 for all participants. During this time the course requirements will be completed and the dissertation (first three chapters) must be presented and approved. It is understood that Beeson pastors will return to the pastorate at the completion of their year of residency. The dissertation project will be conducted and completed in the following two years within the framework of their pastoral ministry.

ADMISSION PROCEDURE

Selection to the program is a two-step process. Each person interested in the Beeson Pastor 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 Pastor 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. File completion deadlines: Application Deadline: September 15 and Files must be completed by November 1
2. The applicant should be willing to travel to campus for an interview if requested by the Admissions Committee.
   
3. Notification of acceptance or rejection into the D.Min. program will be mailed to each Beeson Pastor 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 Pastor Program.

Step Two-Selection process for the Beeson Pastor Program following admission into the Doctor of Ministry Degree Program. This process of evaluation is completed by the Beeson Pastor 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 Pastor 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 (with families if married) for the year.
• Commitment to pastoral ministry.
• Willingness to undergo further evaluation through the use of assessment instruments if requested.
2. After review of the videotaped sermon, references, essays and research paper, the Selection Committee will choose a group of semi-finalists from the entire pool of applicants. A personal interview is required with the applicant (and spouse if married) at a location determined by the Beeson Pastor Selection Committee.
3. The grant awards will be made from the group of semi-finalists when all interviews are completed. Every semi-finalist will be mailed written notification of the decisions made by the Selection Committee by mid-January following the November 1 file completion deadline.

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