Asbury Theological Seminary

 

Doctor of Ministry

Action-Reflection Design

Asbury's D.Min. program uses a modified action-reflection educational model. Several ingredients common to each concentration contribute to the integration of theory and practice in your ministry:

  1. A Field Mentor, whom you choose, functions as a resource person and a sounding board during the course-taking phase of your program as you reflect on your attempts to relate theory to the practice of ministry. You must submit the equivalent of one supervisor's report per class taken using the form provided by the D.Min. office.

    In the Spiritual Formation concentration, your Spiritual Director works as a facilitator and enabler as you seek to relate course materials and life and ministry experiences to your growing relationship to Christ. You must submit the equivalent of one spiritual director's report (in the form of a letter from the Spiritual Director) per class taken.
  2. A Research Reflection Team (RRT) meets with you approximately monthly for two years (minimum of nine sessions) for interaction, feedback and support throughout the duration of dissertation writing.
  3. Integrative projects such as case studies, case reports, and process notes from your ongoing ministry are used in many of the classes. These self-referent materials become educational instruments for examining theoretical and theological issues which relate to your practice of ministry. They also help you grow in your awareness of the interpersonal and intrapersonal dynamics of your ministry.
  4. A project within your ministry context gives a practical dimension to your dissertation.
  5. The dissertation relates theory and practice, theology and ministry. In it you develop your project study, elucidate the theoretical foundation for it, describe its design, and evaluate its effectiveness. The dissertation reflects theologically on both the foundations of the design and on the outcomes of the project.
  6. The dissertation committee consists of a mentor, internal reader, and dean of the Doctor of Ministry program. They help guide you through and give final approval to the dissertation-project process.