Doctor of Ministry
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, DR. GREG DUEKER
The Doctor of Ministry is a four-year program (32 credits) offering a professional degree to experienced ministry leaders. Providing ministry leaders with further education and training is a key aspect of the program. Students focus their studies on one of these ministry areas: Collaborative Leadership in a Changing Culture, or Global Evangelism. The program culminates with a final project that emphasizes ministry practice rooted in a biblical and theological foundation.
This program has an ethos of collaborative leadership at every level - from the professors and guest speakers to the cohort-based learning environment. As a unique option, students in the Collaborative Leadership track are encouraged to bring one to two others, as auditors, from their respective leadership teams with them to share in the D.Min. intensives. By having collaborators join them, students enhance the learning environment, reinforce what was taught, and gain support with the implementation of ideas and concepts developed in the classroom.
Vocational Options
Because this program is designed for experienced ministry leaders, its students are already engaged in vocational ministry. The D.Min. degree is suitable for:
- senior and solo pastors
- associate pastors and program staff
- church planters
- campus and parachurch ministry leaders
- community outreach/missions pastors & missionaries
- chaplains (Military, Prison, Hospital, Hospice, etc.)
- evangelists (both local and global)
- neighborhood/community development leaders
- itinerant preachers and ministry leaders
Program Outcomes
At the completion of the D.Min. program, students will be able to:
- Articulate a theology of ministry that is biblically informed and critically engages alternative perspectives appropriate to the focus of their cohort.
- Integrate theological understanding with updated ministry skills indicative of their specific track and context.
- Exhibit an advanced understanding of cross-cultural and intercultural issues and dynamics within their ministry setting, in the North American context, and globally.
- Demonstrate proficiency to integrate insights from a variety of sources (including the social sciences and other disciplines) into a comprehensive strategy for personal, and congregational or organizational ministry.
- Pursue spiritual growth in ways that result in personal maturity, stronger Christian character, and spiritual leadership.
Admission
- Meet general admission requirements as listed in the “Admission and Financial Information” catalog section.
- Possess a master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (4.0 scale), which includes a minimum of 72 semester credits that represent broad-based work in theology, biblical studies, and the arts of ministry.
- Submission of several short essays on topics spelled out in the application.
- Submission of three references, two of which are from a “ministry context,” one completed by a peer or colleague in ministry and one by a board member or elder from the applicant’s organization. The third reference may be a “personal” reference.
- Submission of letter of support from the applicant’s spouse is encouraged, if the applicant is married.
- Through the submission of a professional resume, demonstrate at least three years of ministry leadership experience subsequent to completion of the first graduate theological degree.
- Must believe and affirm the essential doctrines of the Christian faith.
Applicants not meeting the grade criteria may be admitted on a provisional basis which would be lifted after they demonstrate ability to do doctoral level work.
Applicants lacking the ministry experience may be eligible for admission under a permitted exemption.
Applicants lacking a M.Div. or its equivalent might want to consider the MAAT program or could pursue equivalency concurrently with the D.Min. program. Students must complete their equivalency work before they can be considered for candidacy to complete their doctoral degree.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete all general graduation requirements as listed in this section.
- Complete required program credits with at least 16 credits earned at Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
- Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale).
- Satisfactorily complete all required courses with a grade of C or higher.
- Affirms the essential doctrines of the Christian faith.
- Normally, complete the program within four years from the date of matriculation.