DMin

DMin Links

• GCTS Home
• DMin Home

• D.Min. Home
• The Program
• Tracks
• FAQ
• Financing your D.Min.
• Info Request
• Admissions

• Doctor of Ministry
• More answers to your questions
• Financing your D.Min. degree
• D.Min. specializations
• D.Min. residency schedule
• Info Request

To best view our site, we recommend the newest versions of Firefox for the PC and Camino for the Mac.

A Little History
The Doctor of Ministry degree was established in 1970 by the Association of Theological Schools as the highest professional degree for clergy, built on the normative M.Div. degree. The creation of this degree grew out of decades-long discussions about appropriate continuing education for ministers and out of the strong movement in the 1960s to reconceive theological education as professional rather than academic. This meant that training for ministry was no longer confined only to classroom instruction but ought to include in-service experiences and evaluation. The D.Min. program emerged as the best way to help people already engaged in ministry to marry theory and practice.
The Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary faculty and administration first considered a Doctor of Ministry program in 1971, but it was not until 1979 that the program was developed and approved by the faculty, administrators and Board of Trustees. The state of Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved the program in 1980. In April 1981 the program was formally announced, and the school began processing application a few months later. The first class of nine students began on January 11, 1982.

Rationale for the Program
We believe that representatives of Christ and leaders in the Church around the world should be the very best - for their own sake, for the sake of those to whom they minister, and for the sake of the kingdom of God.
We also believe that continuing education beyond the Master of Divinity degree is usually necessary if persons are to do their best work. The Doctor of Ministry program is designed to move people from M.Div.-level "readiness for ministry" to D.Min.-level "excellence in ministry." Rarely can individuals achieve their full potential through independent study and activities such as listening to tapes, attending seminars, taking classes and talking with others engaged in ministry.
We believe that Christian leaders need involvement in programs that relate directly to their place and form of ministry. There should be an immediate carry-over from the program of study to the life of the congregation or constituents. This program is designed to aid you in doing things in ministry you would be unlikely to do otherwise.
The Gordon-Conwell D.Min. program is an "in ministry" track that takes place after experience in Christian service has prepared participants with a background against which to test ideas. The program is for those who know what the realities and complexities of ministry are, and what questions they really want to ask.
In summary, many persons in ministry reach a plateau and need assistance to reach a higher level of effectiveness in ministry. The D.Min. program is designed to provide that help through sustained involvement with professionals and specialists who can share their own expertise and experience. Christian workers need feedback and evaluation relating to their styles and methods of ministry. These processes of feedback and evaluation are built into all the major components of the D.Min. program.

Purpose of the Program
The D.Min. program is not intended as a research or academic degree for those seeking a career in academic teaching, but is designed to help participants develop their skills and understanding to the fullest extent in parish, parachurch or missionary service. The program integrates active ministry, academic work and disciplined reflection under the guidance of the D.Min. faculty.

Specific Process Goals

• You will grow in basic skills required for Christian ministry: biblical exegesis and hermeneutics, historical inquiry and contemporary application, theological reflection and ethical understanding, and pastoral ministry analysis and application. We will evaluate your growth through your residency course work, your projects, and your thesis project.
• You will demonstrate familiarity with a representative body of knowledge and praxis relating to the major specialization. We will evaluate your competency in this area through your residency course work, your qualifying examination, your projects, and your thesis project and defense.
• You will be able to articulate in writing and practice a coherent biblical theology of ministry. We will evaluate your ability through your residency course work, personal learning covenant and your qualifying examination, projects, the thesis project and defense.
• You will evidence maturing personal qualities appropriate in advanced levels of ministerial excellence. We will evaluate these through the advisement process, your residency course work, your personal learning covenant and your qualifying examination, thesis project and defense.
• You will show self-awareness in your capacity to plan appropriate continuing education. This will show in your personal learning covenant and the qualifying examination, projects, the thesis project and defense.
• You will evidence collegiality as you work with faculty mentors, colleagues, and other professionals with differing orientations. We will evaluate this in the advisement process, your personal learning covenant and your qualifying examination, residency participation, projects, the thesis project and defense.

Relationships
A major benefit of your D.Min. studies lies in the relationships you establish with faculty mentors and other participants in the program. You and your colleagues will study, talk and work together for an adult learning experience.