RATIONALE
The Doctor of Ministry degree program is an advanced professional degree for preparation for the Christian ministry. This degree requires a three to four year program of study. It is designed to correlate classical research with the development of practical skills in the ministry. Based upon a core curriculum of graduate theological education with a functional major, it is combined with Supervised Ministry. A professional project in ministry is performed, involving research and practice, which is reported in acceptable thesis form.
The D.Min. Program provides opportunity for advance training for pastors and other Christian workers of demonstrated creative ability to develop their theological knowledge and practical skills for ministry in Asia.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have earned the B.A. degree or its equivalent in scope and the M.Div. Degree or its equivalent in scope and content. They must have maintained a minimal grade average of 3.0 (or “B”) on a scale of 4.0 in their M.Div. course studies. The applicants must have been engaged in vocational Christian service for at least two years (other than Seminary Field Education), preferably beyond their M.Div. studies, and should have the definite intention to engage in vocational Christian work after the completion of their graduate studies. Applicants must have passed the doctoral entrance examination in Theology.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The Doctor of Ministry course includes the following basic requirements:
General Seminars & Contextualizing Pract Theology
Colloquium in Christian Ministry
Research & Design Seminar
Supervised Ministry
Prospectus & Project Thesis
TotalCredits
16
2
2
4
10
34
Students will study seminars that are related to their ministry form a variety of fields. Courses will be chosen in consultation with the Faculty Supervisor.
PROFESSIONAL PROJECT IN MINISTRY
The professional project is a creative Christian ministry designed to utilize the student’s insights from his or her academic study in the field of practical experience. While academic study may be done at the Area Learning Center, the project must be done in the home country so that it will contribute toward making the Christian faith contextual.
The purpose of the project for students is to facilitate their growth in capacity for ministry by demonstrating ability in various area of accomplishment:
To articulate understanding of the nature and meaning of ministry.
- To analyze concrete situations in ministry.
- To formulate a possible solution to meet the needs which exist in concrete situations.
- To apply acquired knowledge, attitude, and skills in the practice of ministry.
- To evaluate the student’s ministry in the pursuit of goals in commitment to Christian service.
The prospectus of the project should be approved at least one (1) year before graduation. Four copies of the project prospectus should be submitted: one copy to the Supervisory Professor, one copy for the Area Learning Center, one copy for the Field Supervisor, and one copy of the student. If the prospectus is written in language other than English, the ALC shall forward an English synopsis to the Dean.
The project thesis should be submitted at least 120 days prior to graduation. The student will submit four copies of the thesis as follows: one for the Area Learning Center, one for the student’s own seminary, one for the Administrative Office, and one for the student. It should be at least 100 and not more than 200 pages in length not including bibliography and appendixes. It may be written in either English or in the student’s working language. The thesis shall be in standard thesis form and of acceptable academic quality. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Term papers, Theses, and Dissertation (latest edition) will be the guide for English form and style. Students are encouraged to publish their works with appropriate acknowledgement to be given to ABGTS. A detailed description of the steps involved in the Professional Project and guidance about content and form will be provided for the student by the Area Learning Center.
The project topic and prospectus are to be prepared in consultation with the student’s Supervisory Professor and submitted to the Associate Dean of the Area Learning Center. The project thesis is to be prepared under the supervision of the student’s Field Supervisor and approved by the Supervisory Professor prior to its submission to the Associate Dean of the ALC. The prospectus and thesis shall be approved by the faculty of the Area Learning Center and the Associate Dean. A copy of the D.Min. project prospectus will be submitted to the Dean.
SUPERVISED MINISTRY
All students are required to participate in an intensive program of Supervised Ministry ordinarily in the country where they minister. This must be related to a professional position in the ministry. Careful supervision is given by the Field Supervisor. Four semester hours of credits are granted after successful completion of this requirement.
FIELD SUPERVISOR
A Field Supervisor will be appointed by the Associate Dean for each student in consultation with the student. The Field Supervisor will supervise the Professional Project in Ministry and the Supervised Ministry requirements.
DEFENSE
After completing the required course work, the student will prepare and defend a prospectus which describes the proposed research topic. This prospectus will be at least 20 pages in length (excluding bibliography). The student, accompanied by his/her supervisor, will defend the prospectus before the faculty. In the event that the supervisor may not be present, the student has the option to request a circulated prospectus defense. In this case, the Associate Dean will request the faculty members to evaluate the prospectus privately. If there are problems, the Associate Dean will meet the faculty and supervisor to determine a course of action. Upon approval of the prospectus by the faculty, Associate Dean, and the Dean, the student may proceed with research and writing for the project thesis.
