Doctor of Ministry

Aims of the Program

THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DEGREE PROGRAM IS AN ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DOCTORATE THAT BUILDS UPON AN ACCREDITED MASTER’S DEGREE IN A MINISTRY RELATED AREA AND UPON SIGNIFICANT MINSTRY EXPERIENCE. THE DMIN PRESUPPOSES BROAD FOUNDATIONAL COMPETENCIES IN THEOLOGIAL INTEGRATION, CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS, MINISTERIAL AND LEADERSHIP IDENTITY, AND PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION. WHILE AN ATS-ACCREDITED MDIV DEGREE ORDINARILY MAY BE ACCEPTED BY A SCHOOL AS SUFFICIENT DEMONSTRATION OF THESE COMPETENCIES, DMIN APPLICANTS WHO HOLD A MASTER’S DEGREE OF A THEOLOGICAL NATURE MAY QUALIFY BY DEMONSTRATING A BROAD FOUNDATION IN BIBLICAL STUDIES, THEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL STUDIES, MINISTERIAL AND CONTEXTUAL STUDIES, AND MINISTERIAL EXPERIENCE AS DETERMINED BY CTS FACULTY AS COMMENSURATE WITH ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCY FOR DMIN STUDY.

Concentrations

Beginning with the entering class of 2022-2023, students pursue the DMin degree in one of two concentrations:

JUSTICE STUDIES

Students pursuing a DMin in this area will gain conceptual and practical tools for the work of justice in their ministry contexts. In their program, students may explore justice in the arenas of ecology, race, sexuality and gender, disability, or other forms of social justice.

Persons from other countries may be eligible to apply.

The program provides a course of graduate study for ministers of the people of God in the Church of Jesus Christ. It requires disciplined reflection upon, and further specialization within, ministry. The program focuses on the critical engagement between the biblical, historical, theological, and pastoral disciplines of ministry. By helping students integrate ministerial theory and practice with basic faith commitments, the program strengthens ministers to exercise a critical kind of teaching role in the church and to increase their competency and faithfulness in practice.

Because the program seeks to help students strengthen a holistic ministry in community, the program is largely generalist in character, involving questions of personal ministerial identity and of the nature of the Church and its mission in a postmodern world. A doctoral project requires students to focus this integrated concentration in a particular context.

LEADERSHIP STUDIES

Students pursuing a DMin in this area will gain fresh conceptual and practical tools for leadership in their ministry contexts. In their program, students may focus on leadership in ministries such as congregations, non-profit agencies, and social entrepreneurial enterprises.

Student Learning Outcomes for DMin curriculum

OVERALL DMIN PROGRAM GOALS:

• Design and implement a final project that demonstrates theologically informed interdisciplinary integration with evidence of critical awareness of cultural context(s) and employs a social scientific methodology. • Develop an informed plan of identifying,

framing, and responding to a crucial ministry issue in the student’s context that identifies sources and resources. • Embody personal and spiritual maturity to reinvigorate and deepen their vocational calling by relating their ministry to clearly identified communities of support and accountability.

LEADERSHIP CONCENTRATION GOAL

Demonstrate capacity to articulate biblically informed theologies and theories of inclusive leadership to ground strategies and practices relevant to specific ministry contexts.

JUSTICE CONCENTRATION GOAL

Demonstrate capacity to articulate biblically informed theologies and theories of justice that articulate multidimensional aims, outline strategies, and identify practices for responsible action in specific ministry contexts. Introduction to Research Methodologies 3 3 Electives 9 Practicum 3 Project Proposal Workshop Project Literature Review Final Project Total Credits 3 3 6 36

Course Formats

Classes are taught in one of two formats:

Hybrid courses where students will take classes on campus for one week and complete the remainder of the course online; or fully online courses.

Classes are offered over a three to four year period of the degree; but students will complete most of their studies, their practicum, and their project in their own ministry setting in consultation with the faculty.

DMin Curricular Model

Required Courses 9 Credits

3 Core Courses in Concentration—may be taken in any order

Biblical Perspectives of Justice: (specific title varies)

Theological Perspectives of Justice: (specific title varies)

Theories of Practice of Justice: (specific title varies)

OR

Biblical Perspectives of Leadership: (specific title varies)

Theological Perspectives of Leadership: (specific title varies)

Theories of Practice of Leadership: (specific title varies

DMin Program Administration

The DMin program operates under the supervision of Columbia’s Advanced Degrees Committee and is administered by a faculty member serving as associate dean for advanced professional studies. The program cooperates with the other member schools of the Atlanta Theological Association (ATA). Students may take courses in the DMin programs of other ATA member schools through cross-registration.

Advising Each student is guided by an advisor who is assigned at the outset of the program. The student is responsible for consulting with the advisor to develop a plan of study. When the student is ready to submit a proposal for the student’s project, first and second readers are chosen. The advisor may serve as either the first or second reader for the project; however, the first reader will become the new advisor of record. The first and second readers assist the student in developing a project proposal and evaluate the student’s written DMin research project.

The thirty-six-hour program comprises the following:

Core Concentration Courses (9 credit hours).

Students take three core concentration courses in their selected concentration: one in the biblical area, one in the historical doctrinal area, and one in the practical theology area. All three courses contribute to the same set of embedded course learning outcomes for the core concentration related to the DMin program outcomes for the Leadership Studies

Concentration or Justice Studies Concentrations.

In this way, the three core concentration courses offer different perspectives, angles, and approaches which involve integration of three dimensions: the biblical and theological norms of

Christian faith; critical attention to the history of

Christian faith and the contemporary human situation; and the practices of ministry and mission.

Elective Courses ( 9 credit hours).

A variety of courses are offered each year which are related to the various concentrations. In consultation with their advisor, the student selects three electives to achieve the aims of both the student and the doctoral program. These electives may be selected to enhance students’ present praxis of ministry, to expand and deepen students’ theological understanding, and/or to enhance student preparation for their final DMin project.

Introduction to Research Methodologies (3 credit hours).

This seminar is designed to introduce to the students the basic rudiments of qualitative research methods to utilize for ministry, for their

DMin practicum as well as for extensive research in their final projects. In this seminar, students construct the elements of their DMin practicum, develop an initial draft of their DMin project proposal, select and evaluate sources for an initial working bibliography for the DMin project, and complete a practice exercise of qualitative research.

Doctor of Ministry Practicum (3 credit hours).

A 200 hour minimum practicum provides supervised field based learning to expand the range and depth of skills of the student in a ministry practice which contributes to the well-being of the ministry context. The practicum is a student designed supervised ministry experience that normally takes place in the student’s ministry context that will enable the student to achieve specified learning goals, achievable in this context which can also be applied in future ministry situations. Students are also encouraged to use the practicum to focus on methodological work, testing strategies, or new practices of ministry related to the final project. A practicum supervisor outside of the student’s ministry context and a peer group that will be part of the practicum project will be chosen by the student. A unit of Clinical

Pastoral Education may be used to meet this requirement, provided that this credit was not used for another degree program.

Project Proposal Workshop (3 credit hours).

Toward the end of the program coursework, each student participates in a project proposal seminar to clearly articulate the topic and design of the student’s final DMin project. This seminar, together with the Introduction to Research

Methodologies seminar offered near the beginning of the students’ program, is offered to prepare the students to meet the following aims: to articulate well-designed project proposals, to design data collection instruments, and to enhance their preparation for the research and writing related to executing their final projects.

In addition to writing their final project papers, students must also plan and conduct an oral presentation of their project for critical discussion and feedback.

DMin Project Literature Review (3 credit hours).

After students successfully complete their project proposals, they will critically review relevant literature for their projects with the careful guidance of their first readers. The culmination of the literature review may be the completion of the chapter outlining the

theoretical and theological framework of the student’s project. The student must receive satisfactory evaluation from the first and second readers in order to pass the course.

Doctor of Ministry Project (6 credit hours).

Elements of the degree converge in the Doctor of Ministry Project. The student must complete a DMin project, comprised of a written project that explores an area of ministry related to the student’s vocational calling, utilizes appropriate research methodologies and resources, and generates new knowledge regarding the practice of ministry. In order that the project can be an integrating focus for the entire course of study, students are required to start thinking about the proposal for the project early in the program. An initial draft of the project proposal is done in the

Introduction to Research Methodologies course.

Ordinarily, the student’s ministry setting is the context of the DMin research project.

Students enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry degree program are required to request an extension if they have not completed the degree requirements within six years from the date of matriculation. Working with the director of the DMin program, the student crafts an extension proposal that is submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs for approval. Payment of the non-refundable extension fee is required at the time of submission.

Though there is no time limit for completed the DMin degree, all credits applied toward the degree must be earned within 10 years of earning the degree.

Admission to the Doctor of Ministry Program

Admission to the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program requires a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or master’s in a ministry-related field. Admission will be open to applicants with an accredited master’s degree in a ministry related area with significant ministry experience. Students without an accredited Master of Divinity degree may be admitted, provided that applicant meets each of these criteria:

• The ability to thoughtfully interpret scripture and the theological tradition of one’s ministry context • The capacity to understand and adapt one’s ministry to the cultural context • Basic self-understanding of one’s ministerial identity and vocational calling • A readiness to engage in ongoing personal and spiritual formation for one’s ministry • An accredited master’s degree (or its educational equivalent) in an area related to one’s ministry setting or vocational calling • Significant ministerial experience that enables the applicant to engage as a ministry peer with

Requirements for the Doctor of Ministry Degree

To be eligible for graduation with the DMin degree, students are expected to: • Have on file with the seminary a complete and official transcript of credits showing graduation with the MDiv degree (or its equivalent) from an

ATS-accredited institution; • Satisfactorily complete all the requirements of

the degree with a total of 36 credit hours, 30 of which must be completed at Columbia; • Complete the three core concentration courses, three elective courses, Introduction to Research

Methodologies course, Practicum, the Project

Proposal Workshop, and DMin Literature • Review; • Complete the DMin project requirements; • Maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.00; • Demonstrate to the faculty that they have sustained a sound moral and religious character in seminary life and give promise of useful service in the ministry or other church vocations; and • Pay all bills to the seminary and give assurance that all open CTS accounts have been satisfied.

Students with education loans must agree to make prompt and regular payments.

As a basis of evaluating these entry level competencies, the applicant must demonstrate through their transcripts of graduate theological study a minimum demonstration of credit hours earned in the following areas: • New Testament—at least 3 semester hours, which includes New Testament interpretation in

Greek or in English; • Old Testament—at least 3 semester hours, which includes Old Testament interpretation in Hebrew or in English; • Church History—at least 3 semester hours; • Theology and Ethics—at least 9 semester hours; • Practical Theology—at least 12 semester hours; and • Contextual Education/Supervised Ministry—at least 6 semester hours.

In addition, applicants must have documented substantive ordained or lay ministry experience of a minimum of 3 years.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale to be considered for admission. Prospective students who have completed an MDiv with high academic standing, who have also served in a congregation or para-church ministry setting for at least three years, are strongly encouraged to apply. All prospective students, regardless of their GPA, are encouraged to apply; all applications will be thoroughly reviewed and considered for admission.

The application deadlines for the DMin programs are determined by an applicant’s desired term of entry – i.e., January Term or Summer Term. Deadlines and admissions decisions are as follows: October 15 January Term

November 15

May 15 Summer Term

June 15

Students who are unable to matriculate during the term for which they were admitted may defer their admissions decision for up to two terms or one academic year. Deferral requests must be submitted in writing to admissions@ctsnet.edu. Incomplete applications and/or admitted students that do not matriculate and do not submit a deferral request will be administratively withdrawn from the admissions process with Columbia retaining application materials for at least one academic year. After one academic year, applicants may be required to submit new application materials to be considered for admission.

Application Requirements

The application process in entirely online. Applicants can apply by visiting https://ctsnet.edu/apply.

To be considered for admission to the DMin program, an applicant must submit to the admissions office the following materials: • Online application for admission • $50 nonrefundable application fee • Resume / CV • Statement of Purpose: three – four pages, typed, double-spaced ministerial and intellectual biography that clearly outlines the applicant’s academic interests, how they have developed, and goals they hope to achieve within the degree program. The statement should also include key information pertaining to the applicant’s ministry context, research focus, key problems, questions, and theories that arise from the applicant’s ministerial context and/or professional experience. • Plan of Study: one – two pages, typed, double-spaced that identifies their area of concentration and clearly outlines the applicant’s plan

for completing their research and/or vocational goals within the DMin program. The Plan of

Study should also include an applicant’s area of research, courses they plan to take, and faculty with whom they hope to work. • Writing Sample: this should be a recent sample of the applicant’s writing that clearly demonstrates ability to write and critically engage an argument through the lens of contextual ministry and theological research.

Recent is defined as having been written in the last 3-5 years. If a recent sample is not available, the applicant may choose to submit an alternative writing assignment for which a prompt can be found online. Students seeking guidance concerning the academic writing sample or alternate writing assignment should email admissions@ctsnet.edu. • Official Transcript(s): applicants must submit transcripts from all colleges, universities, seminaries, and graduate schools attended by the applicant for at least one course whether or not a degree was granted. Official transcripts should be sent directly from the institution to Columbia

Theological Seminary. If an applicant is currently enrolled in a degree program, the applicant should send an official transcript that includes all work to-date. Such applicants will be admitted provisionally contingent upon receipt of the final transcript post-graduation. • Three Letters of Recommendation: recommendations may be academic, pastoral, or professional. DMin applicants are required to submit at least one academic and one pastoral recommendation.

Additional Requirements

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | I-20S AND FINANCIAL CERTIFICATION

International students applying to Columbia’s doctoral degree programs are not eligible to apply for F Visa sponsorship due to the format in which doctoral courses are offered. However, all international doctoral applicants are still are required to complete Columbia’s financial certification process upon admission. The process will ensure the student has adequate financial resources to cover tuition, fees, travel, and living expenses for the duration of their academic study. Financial certification must be completed no less than ninety (90) days prior to the program start date.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT

International students admitted to the Seminary’s doctoral programs are not eligible to participate in the Seminary’s international student health insurance plan and should maintain appropriate health insurance in their country of origin.

TRANSFER STUDENTS | LETTER OF GOOD STANDING

Students transferring from another seminary or graduate school are required to submit a letter of good standing that certifies the student will leave their current school in good standing with the institution – academic, financial, and otherwise.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | TOEFL REQUIREMENT

English Language Learners (ELL) and persons whose first language is not English are required to submit recent test scores, ordinarily taken within the last two years, from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In most cases, students accepted to Columbia’s first-level master’s degree programs submit a TOEFL score of 84 or higher on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT, iBT Home Edition, or Paper-delivered) with a minimum score of 21 in each of the skill sections. TOEFL scores should be submitted by TOEFL directly to Columbia (Institutional Code: 5118). All test fees are the responsibility of the applicant.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK

After admission and prior to enrollment, all admitted students must complete a background check that will be conducted via a Columbiaapproved third-party. All admissions decisions are contingent upon the successful completion of the criminal background check.

TITLE IX TRAINING BY EVERFI

All admitted students are required to complete an online Title IX training provided by Columbia prior to matriculation. The training will familiarize students with matters related to Title IX, sexual misconduct, and reporting.

ADMISSIONS DEPOSIT

A nonrefundable admissions deposit of $250 is required of all students enrolling at Columbia Theological Seminary. The deposit is due within thirty (30) days of a student’s admission decision and no later than July 30, in order to confirm the student’s place in the program.

GRE TEST SCORES

The Columbia Admissions Office welcomes the submission of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) test scores. However, this is not required to be considered for admission.

Transfer Credit

With prior approval from the Office of Academic Affairs, a student may receive up to 6 hours of transfer credit from another ATS accredited institution. Each course must be at the advanced degree level and the grade must be at least a B (3.0 on a scale of 4.0). Independent studies and enhanced master's degree courses will not be considered for transfer credit. A course submitted for advanced standing must have been taken no more than five years before entrance into the program. Students may not receive credit for academic work applied toward another degree.

Doctor of Ministry

The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program provides students who have already completed a Master of Divinity or its equivalent with an opportunity to engage in further graduate study. The program is uniquely contextual and invites students to ask questions about their ministry, hone additional pastoral/administrative skills and engage in rigorous academic inquiry.

COMPONENTS AND TIMELINE

Areas of Concentration

· Leadership Studies · Justice Studies

Year 11 9 CREDITS

· Faculty adviser assigned and

New Student Orientation · Concentration Core Course I (2–3 credits)2 · Concentration Core Course II (3 credits) · One elective course (3 credits)3

Year 2

9 CREDITS

· Concentration Core Course III (3 credits) · I 730 Introduction to Research

Methodologies (3 credits) · One elective course (3 credits each) · Begin DMin Practicum: 1. Practicum Proposal form approved 2. Supervisor and peer group identified 3. Practicum site approved

Year 3

9 CREDITS

· One elective course (3 credits) · Practicum completed (3 credits) · I 731 Project Proposal Workshop (3 credits)

To register for the Project Proposal

Workshop, you must have in place: 1. Early germinal idea of final project discussed with advisor and then 1st reader 2. Project Proposal form completed with preliminary approval by 1st reader

Year 4

9 CREDITS

· I 732 DMin Literature Review (3 credits) · I 735 DMin Doctoral Project (Final project research and writing) (6 credits) · Public presentation · Final report · Graduation

TOTAL: 36 CREDITS

As an accredited theological school of the Presbyterian Church (USA), we engage students with some of the best faculty anywhere! We host a large table for people from all denominations and backgrounds. For full descriptions of our graduate degree programs and academics, please visit our website, CTSnet.edu.

1 The timeline begins with the term in which DMin students are accepted to begin their program (Summer Term or January Term) 2 Students take 3 required Core Concentration Courses to integrate biblical perspectives, theological perspectives, and theory of practice perspectives— taken in any order. 3 See DMin Manual for elective possibilities, including independent study and travel seminar options. 38