Beeson Residential
Our primary focus is:
- stronger Biblical Preaching.
- greater Effectiveness as a Leader.
- new Insights of Personal Spiritual Formation.
The Beeson Pastor experience is an unparalleled opportunity for a select group of pastors who have demonstrated leadership and preaching ability and who are eager to gain greater skills and vision toward building a great congregation.
This residential program is a full-scholarship program, working towards the realization of the D.Min. degree. All expenses connected with the program are covered as follows:
- Tuition and book allowance
- Dissertation Fee
- Laptop Computer (yours to keep)
- Family housing and utilities for 11 month residency
- A living stipend of $1500/month
- Moving expenses up to $1,000
- Site trip costs including registration fees, travel expenses to/from the selected teaching churches or retreat centers, and food and lodging while there.
Who Can Apply
The Beeson Pastor Program is for seminary graduates (M.Div) who have at least three years of experience in some form of parish ministry and have an obvious potential for leadership in the church and community. Potential students must have demonstrated pulpit ability, a profound love for Christ, and the church. Each student will write a personalized Doctor of Ministry dissertation that will benefit continuing generations of church leaders.
To apply for the Beeson Pastor Fellowship program, you must be accepted to the seminary's general D.Min. program before you can be considered for the Beeson Pastor Fellowship.
Beeson Requirements
The scholarship is awarded competitively to pastors of ability and potential, based on promise of greater ministry potential, desire to build a great church and recommendations of ministry supervisors. Candidates must meet these qualifications prior to acceptance:
- Acceptance to Asbury Theological Seminary's Doctor of Ministry degree program.
- A Master of Divinity degree or equivalent from an approved school, with a minimum of 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).
- At least three years of pastoral experience beyond the Master of Divinity degree.
- TOEFEL score of 550 (219 computer) or IELTS score of 7.5 for applicants whose first language is other than English.
- A research paper is to be submitted following the D.Min. research paper guidelines located on the DMIN section of our website. However, the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) may be taken in lieu of writing the research paper. (A raw score of 419 on the MAT or better is required for acceptance.)
- Satisfactory completion of the application accompanied by undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
- Submission of video-taped English language sermon.
- Selection by committee.
Once accepted into the Beeson Pastor Program, participants fulfill the coursework requirements for the Doctor of Ministry degree during their in-residency year. During the following two years of ministry students will complete and defend their required dissertation.
Courserwork
The Beeson Pastor Residential Program is a residential experience where students and their families move into special on-campus housing provided for the modified 11 month academic year from July to May.
Work during this year will cover 27 hours of academic credit, designed to fulfill all coursework required for the Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. After leaving campus, students will need to complete and defend their dissertation, earning an additional three hour dissertation credit to receive their doctorate.
The year also includes non-credit seminars and experiences such as:
- Site visits to significant churches
- Consultations with outstanding pastors and scholars
- Off-site spiritual formation retreat
- International travel/ experiences
- Guest speakers
Deadlines
- On or before August 1, begin the application process. Gather transcripts, fill out forms, prepare videotaped sermon, etc. Submit all materials several weeks before October 1 as your entire admissions file must be complete before October 1 to be considered. Include a videotaped sermon with your application. You must be accepted into Asbury Theological Seminary's general Doctor of Ministry program before you can be considered for the Beeson Pastor track.
- During December and January, selected candidates are interviewed. For married applicants, spouses are asked to be part of that interview process. You may be asked to come to the Wilmore, Ky., campus for the interview.
- By Jan. 15, invitations and acceptance letters are issued. A confirmation reply is required within three weeks.
- Early July begin your year by moving to campus in Wilmore, Ky.
- After May 31, the on-campus portion of your degree work is complete (10 months later). Over the next two years you will complete the dissertation and return to campus for formal defense and review of your research.