Doctor of Ministry Programs

The Doctor of Ministry Program is an advanced, professional theological degree for ministers and as such exists to serve the Church. It is an integral program within Asbury Theological Seminary. It offers specialized tracks that will equip pastors with a significantly higher level of competence than that achieved during their Master of Divinity studies.

The D.Min. Program contributes in a general way to the mission of the Seminary "‘to prepare and send forth a well-trained, sanctified, Spirit-filled, evangelistic ministry' to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world." Specifically, it supports our intention "to assist students to grow intellectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually in their lifetime quest of becoming and doing all that God intends."

The curriculum of the D.Min. Program is undergirded by the primacy of Scripture, as interpreted by reason, experience and tradition, as well as a commitment that learning and growth take place in an atmosphere of love, faith and collegiality. An action-reflection educational model and principles of adult learning form the primary methodological orientation. We seek to serve clergy in such a way that they in turn may minister with excellence wherever they serve Jesus Christ in the Church.

AREAS OF STUDY

The Doctor of Ministry Program offers three program tracks:

In-Ministry Track (5 concentrations)

Spiritual Formation and Direction
Preaching and Worship
Christian Leadership
Evangelism, Mission, and Church Growth
Family and Counseling Ministries

Beeson Pastor Track

One year (July 1-May 31) of residential intensive study in the areas of biblical preaching and leadership designed for leaders or persons who show particular promise for their skills in preaching, leadership, and spiritual depth. See page for more information.

Beeson International Leaders Track

Targets international leaders who cannot leave their ministries for extended study but who still want to advance in leadership and preaching in order to multiply the Church in their home country.

Each entering cohort is comprised of persons whose interests relate to one of the five areas of major emphasis. The D.Min. course offerings vary from year to year, with at least one course from each area of study offered for each term. This structure affords participants a range of choices and enhances the possibility of their finding electives that relate to a particular interest. Participants develop their course of study by:

Completing required seminars, (1) Theology of Ministry, (2) Biblical Interpretation for Life and Ministry and (3) Dissertation Writing;
Completing six additional courses, a minimum of four of which must be from within their area of concentration; and,
Implementing a project that is the centerpiece of the dissertation in their area of concentration.

The program consists of a total of 30 semester credit hours. A minimum of nine units (3 semester hours each or a total of 27 semester hours) is required, representing one full year's work beyond the M.Div. degree, plus a dissertation-project for which 3 semester hours of credit are given. The program will normally be completed in three to five years, with a maximum of five years allowed.

All D.Min. seminars are offered as one-week intensives. When offered on campus (January and July), at least two units are offered back-to-back so that students might reduce the number of trips to campus. When offered at off-campus locations, units are usually offered singly. Required seminars are offered each July and January. Wherever possible, electives are also offered back-to-back so that a participant may take two units consecutively.

Asbury's D.Min. Program utilizes an action-reflection educational model and makes use of those components and methods that will provide maximum opportunity for the integration of theory and practice in one's own ministry.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF NEW D.MIN. PARTICIPANTS

New D.Min. participants will undergo extensive personal and professional assessment prior to a weekend orientation at the beginning of their course work. These events are held each January and July.

The mission of the Doctor of Ministry Program is to equip God-called, Christ-centered, Spirit-energized servant leaders to fulfill Christ's Great Commission. The vision is to renew Christ's Church globally through its leaders by providing catalytic learning and transforming experiences. These learnings and experiences during the program will increase the participants' ministry capacity, strengthen the sense of alignment with God's call, and fuel fresh spiritual passion. Through the multiple interactions with professors and peers, the participants build relationships and gain content that substantially adds value to their ministry.

One of the design facets of the Doctor of Ministry Program is the professional development component. Beyond academic stretching, the D.Min. Program begins with professional development assessment and coaching. What is God's unique claim on the participant's life, his or her opus gloria? How will the participant integrate the learning with every domain of experience-family, devotional life, social and emotional growth, and impact in the community? The participant will design a set of goals for his or her personal and professional development to which the participant will be held accountable by a mentor in the field as well as the dissertation committee.

UPGRADING COURSES FOR RESIDENT D.MIN. PARTICIPANTS

To accommodate the needs of participants (particularly international pastors) who come to campus for eighteen to twenty-four months to complete D.Min. coursework, master's level courses may be upgraded to provide opportunity for the completion of nine courses within the time frame of residency. D.Min. participants taking professor- and D.Min. Dean-approved master's level courses will be required to do additional reading and writing for the course being taken, and the number of upgrades will be limited according to the individual participant's situation. For more information on eligibility for this option, contact the D.Min. office.

CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

An important aspect of growth in the D.Min. program will be an experience in cross-cultural learning. By immersion into another culture, whether domestic or international, the participant will begin to:

Experience and explore different ways the church expresses its identity and mission,
Identify cultural artifacts in a ministry context,
Theologically and biblically identify the core of the gospel and how it is understood through cultural lenses.

Participants will use the experience to begin designing a ministry plan within their concentration that begins with the current realities of the participants' context and leads to a more inclusive biblical model. Example: if the ministry context is primarily a white constituency within a mixed ethnic community, what are the cultural issues involved and how would a leader seek to influence the organizational and ministry culture better to reflect Kingdom values?

The cross-cultural experience can take place in a number of settings. Important to a participants' decisions will be selecting a site that differs from their current ministry context, to expand their experience and creative capacity.

The experience can be taken for credit or not (limit to one cross-cultural experience per participant for course credit) and will have an accompanying professor of record. There will also be an online component for preparation before and processing after the experience. (Previous experience cannot be applied towards the requirement.)

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Completion of the application for admission to Asbury Theological Seminary, including answers to the personal history questions.
Completion of a Master of Divinity or its educational equivalent from an accredited seminary. The educational equivalent is 75 hours of masters-level work with 30 hours in Bible, Theology and Church History, including at least one completed masters degree.
Official transcripts from postsecondary school attended. A grade point average of 3.00/4.00* in previous graduate degree work is required.
Four references.
Three years of full-time ministry experience subsequent to the masters degree.
For applicants whose native language is other than English, a TOEFL score of 550 (213 computer) or an IELTS score of 7.
A Miller Analogy Test score of 419 or higher.* For more information about the Miller Analogies Test, please visit www.milleranalogies.com.
A letter of congregational or institutional approval.
Access to the Internet-registration, course schedules, syllabi, and much of the program's communication is online.
A research paper is to be submitted by international applicants, and applicants whose grade point average in previous graduate degree work is less than 3.00 and/or MAT score is less than 419. The D.Min. Research Paper Guidelines are available through the Admissions Office.

ADMISSION PROCEDURE

Application deadlines: typically 2 months before the orientation with which the applicant intends to begin. Under extenuating circumstances these deadlines can be extended if a written request from the applicant is received by the Admissions Office. Applications may be submitted online.
Miller Analogies Test (M.A.T.) - normally a minimum score of 419 is required. A. If the M.A.T. score is less than 419, submission of a research paper based upon one of a list of topics determined by the Admissions committee (contact Admissions office for paper guidelines). The applicant may also be advised to retake the M.A.T. B. International applicants may choose to submit a research paper in lieu of the M.A.T.
A personal interview may be requested by the Admissions committee.
Prospective applicants may request a campus visit.
For applicants who do not hold a Master of Divinity degree, educational equivalency may be accepted upon completion of a minimum of 75 hours of master's-level courses, including one master's degree and a minimum of 30 hours course work in Bible, theology, and church history.

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY

Admission to candidacy for the D.Min. comes after:

The student has completed the first five units with a 3.00/4.00 grade point average.
The participant submits a degree plan, including declaration of concentration. (Concentration = four seminars from within the concentration plus a project/dissertation proposal.)
The participant's dissertation proposal has been approved by his/her Dissertation Committee (faculty mentor, second reader, D.Min. representative).
The required journal work, spiritual direction/field mentor sessions and research reflection team reports are up-to-date.
The student submits an "Application for Candidacy" form, along with a $1314 mentoring fee.

THE DISSERTATION-PROJECT

The student must satisfactorily complete a dissertation-project based on a ministry project. The form of the dissertation follows the latest edition of Slade's Form and Style: Research Papers, Reports and Theses. It must reflect the student's ability to appropriate theoretical and theological resources in understanding the issues or problems and the ability to develop a method for the resolution of the issue or problem. Thus, the dissertation is an integrative experience with an interface of theory and practice in ministry.

The dissertation will also be submitted to the D.Min. office in electronic format so it can be prepared for posting on the D.Min. and/or library web site(s). The author will still own the copyright, and have the right to reproduce the work, modify it, distribute it, or put it on public performance or display.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

For general graduation requirements, see the section on Academic Information. In addition, the following requirements are necessary to receive the D.Min. degree:

Satisfactory completion of nine three-hour course units (27 semester hours).
Attainment of a grade point average of 3.00/4.00.
Satisfactory completion of the professional development component of the D.Min. Program.
Successful completion and oral defense of a dissertation.
Satisfactory completion of all degree requirements in not more than five calendar years from date of matriculation.
An elapse of at least three years from date of matriculation, unless otherwise approved by the Academic Committee.
Apply for graduation online.

A more detailed document on Asbury's D.Min. program is available upon request from the Office of Admissions or by contacting the Doctor of Ministry Program at www.doctorofministry.org or 1.877.PRO.DMIN (1.877.776.3646).

TUITION AND FEE PAYMENTS

Each course is considered a three-hour course (including the independent study options) and is paid for at the current tuition rate. Each July every student will be automatically registered for DM 800 and pay a $500 continuation fee in order to maintain active status in the program. The $500 functions as a deposit and may be applied toward any program-related expenses that occur within the following 12 months. Students who fail to pay the fee by August 1 will have a hold placed on their account and will be unable to continue in the program. Extended payment and late fees will also be added to the balance. Students out of the program for over a year must apply for readmission. Every D.Min. participant will be registered for and pay tuition for DM 804 (dissertation registration) at the time of the defense hearing.

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS

Post-doctoral fellowship experience can be custom designed for pastors and leaders desiring additional work. Please contact the D.Min. office for details.

UNCLASSIFIED DOCTORAL

Non-degree, post-M.Div. persons who are not interested in pursuing a D.Min. degree may take D.Min. courses if they satisfy admission requirements for the D.Min. program and apply for "Unclassified Doctoral Level Student" status. The normal procedure concerning tuition would apply to these persons, and they would be expected to do the required course work.

Courses are usually limited to D.Min. students, however, under very controlled situations, D.Miss. and Ph.D. students and qualified seniors in Asbury's master's level programs may be allowed to enroll in a D.Min. course by permission of the D.Min. dean. Contact the D.Min. office for further information.

A person who has taken D.Min. courses as an "Unclassified Doctoral Level Student" may petition to move into full D.Min. student status. Contact the D.Min. office for further information.

Asbury Theological Seminary

Academic Catalog