Women in Leadership

Informing spiritual passions by…
Forming mentored learning communities, thereby…
Transforming ministers and ministries for a lifetime.

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Informing

Scriptural examples of excellent women leaders invite us to a deeper examination of what it means to pursue our calling as women. Miriam helped lead the Exodus (Ex 15:20); Deborah judged Israel and coached Barak (Judges 4-5); and Huldah prophesied (2 Kings 22:14). Since Mary sat at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:39), Phoebe delivered Paul’s letter to the church in Rome (Romans 16:1-2), Priscilla risked her life as Paul’s co-worker in Christ (Romans 16:3-4), and Junia was acknowledged as “outstanding among the apostles” (Roman 16:7), women have been studying, evangelizing, discipling, and leading in their churches, schools, and communities.

The Doctor of Ministry track in “Women in Leadership” equips women serving in church, parachurch, and educational contexts to lead with spiritual depth, theological clarity, and practical skill. Rooted in Scripture and shaped by the global church, this track strengthens women who desire to serve with resilience, wisdom, and a deeper understanding of God’s calling on their lives. As many female leaders struggle with loneliness and isolation in their professional lives, the cohort model of this DMin track enables them to build a network of female peers that can offer support and encouragement throughout the program and beyond.

Led by faculty mentors and experienced female leaders, this track integrates spiritual practices, preaching and teaching skills, and organizational leadership development to support the formation of confident, Christ-centered female leaders.

Forming

As a Doctor of Ministry student, you attend three ten-day intensive residencies (seminars), one each year for three years. You also complete projects following each of the three residencies, including a major thesis project following the third residency. You read widely in books and periodicals, and your reading and research contribute to the residencies and to your current ministry.

Three primary learning objectives for this cohort are to:

• Develop a toolbox of spiritual practices for the sake of sustained ministry health
• Practice more skilled communication; develop pedagogy and understanding of adult learning; and learn from experienced practitioners
• Build confidence and increased self-understanding for effective leadership development

Transforming

Here is how your studies will transform you and your ministry by seeking to fulfill our core Doctor of Ministry goals in track specialized ways:

1. To resource students through a biblically-grounded educational program taught by faculty who are committed to God’s Word and the application of principles of Scripture to the issues of contemporary culture.
   • Students will be able to articulate a Biblical-theological understanding of Christian leadership, with particular attention to the experience of women in both Biblical and contemporary contexts.
2. To form in students a sound foundation of theological and biblical inquiry in their professional doctoral program’s specialized track that they are able to integrate into the life of Christian ministry.
   • Students will develop and explain their own theology of Christian leadership, including the unique skills, capacities and perspectives women bring to leadership roles, which will demonstrate thoughtful engagement with Biblical text, scholarly conversations, and their own lived experiences.
3. To provide students with the skill set and understandings in a specialized area of ministry to such an extent that they can impact their congregation or community more powerfully for God.
   • Students will be able to discern how to develop and adapt spiritual practices that nurture sustained spiritual formation and support long-term spiritual health in leadership.
   • Students will be able to explain and practice how to preach and teach with greater listener engagement and learning, making them more effective and compelling communicators.
   • Students will reflect upon the unique challenges and opportunities of being a woman in a leadership position and will develop a toolbox of new skills, capacities and strategies for leading in their own contexts.
4. To create through the cohort model of the program a dimension of Christian community and spiritual nurturing so that students form strong friendships with one another and enter long-term relationships with the scholars who guide the learning experience.
   • Students will be able to learn from experienced female mentors who have navigated the challenges and opportunities the students are facing in their own contexts.
   • Students will be able to extend and receive support from other women in leadership positions, enabling both personal friendships and professional networking that extends beyond the cohort.
5. To develop in students a deeper understanding of Christ’s lordship in all areas of life for the common good of the contemporary world.
   • Students will engage in reflection on their discipleship as leaders who are rooted in the example of Christ, helping them integrate their vocational calling and identity in a biblical, Christ-centered pattern.
6. To cultivate within students through critical reflection and careful research through the residencies and projects an enriched Christian witness in the places of society they are called to serve.
   • Students will be able to lead with greater authority and confidence as they develop a deeper understanding of Christian leadership as well as their own social intelligence, supporting their passions, gifts, and abilities.
7. To instill in students a refreshed view of their ministry as it relates to the proclamation of the Gospel among all people.
   • Students will be able to develop a discerning and holistic perspective on themselves and their ministry and deepen their skills of preaching and teaching.