Introduction to the

Doctor of Ministry Degree

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DMIN Degree Program: Purpose• As part of its overall mission to educate

persons for service in the Christian Church, Erskine Seminary offers the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree. The purpose of the D.Min. degree is for qualified persons to increase their effectiveness as servant-leaders in the ministry of the Church, to the glory of God. The D.Min. degree focuses upon professional leadership in the Church and is intended for persons preparing for advanced pastoral leadership in local congregations or specialized ministries within the Church.

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DMIN Degree Program: Goals• Graduates will:1. Engage in contemporary theological

discussion and show its relevance to the practice of pastoral ministry. (Knowing)

2. Explore the contexts which affect Christian ministry today, notably the issues of culture, congregational and community demographics, ethical issues, and major events of the day. (Knowing)

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DMIN Degree Program: Goals• Graduates will:4. Demonstrate competence in the

various functions of ministry, such as preaching the Gospel, leading worship, teaching, pastoral care and counseling, evangelizing, discipling, and carrying out the mission of the Church. (Being/Doing)

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DMIN Degree Program: Goals• Graduates will:5. Identify, design, prepare,

conduct, and evaluate a ministry project/ concept dissertation that integrates Biblical and theological norms, ministerial functions, and contextual dimensions of ministry. (Knowing/Doing)

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DMIN: Professional Degree• In contrast to a professional or terminal

degree such as the Ph.D., the D.Min. is a practical degree that builds upon the basic foundation of at least three years of post-M.Div. degree experience and that is intended as a means of increasing one’s effectiveness in ministry. An M.Div. degree or its equivalent from an accredited seminary or graduate school is a prerequisite for admission.

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DMIN: Curriculum

• The D.Min. curriculum seeks to develop further the leadership competencies required for Christian ministry in contemporary society. A three-dimensional perspective guides the overall design of the program.

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DMIN: Curriculum

•The norms dimension (DN courses) addresses the Biblical and theological foundations of gospel, Church, and ministry.

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NORMS

• What does the Bible teach/require?• The Church?

– Creeds– Confessions– Tradition

• The Endorsing Agent?• The Army?

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THREE DIMENSIONS

NORMS

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DMIN: Curriculum

•The functions dimension (DF courses) emphasizes the professional skills used in the practice of ministry, such as preaching, pastoral care, teaching, administration, etc.

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FUNCTIONS

What is my role as minister/chaplain?What ministerial function would be helpful in this place and at this time?How is God at work already?

How do I relateto the contexts

and the norms?

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THREE PERSPECTIVES

NORMS

FUNCTIONS

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DMIN: Curriculum

• The contexts dimension (DC courses) encompasses the environment and realities of the modern world in which ministry must take place. The program seeks to integrate the dimensions of norms, functions, and contexts into a working whole for each minister.

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CONTEXTS

What is the ministry need for the target audience?How do they relate to the

larger contexts of chapel, installation, division, corps?Demographics? Generations? Gender?

Ethnicity? Religious Preferences?

What goals do I have forthem as congregation andfor myself as chaplain?

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THREE PERSPECTIVES

NORMS

CONTEXTS FUNCTIONS

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DMIN: Curriculum

• All D.Min. courses embody these three dimensions in varying combinations. Your own work setting serves as a primary learning resource for the Erskine program. Much of the course work involves in-service projects of direct benefit to your ministry.

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THREE PERSPECTIVES

NORMS

CONTEXTS FUNCTIONS

Ministry

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DMIN: Curriculum

• Regular classroom time provides occasions for disciplined study, critical reflection, and evaluation concerning ministry issues.

• The program emphasizes learning from group interaction among peers, thus promoting openness, caring, and cross-fertilization of ideas.

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DMIN: Curriculum

• Required Courses– DR901 Theological Foundations for Ministry– DR902 The Practice of Ministry

• Electives– DN983 The Problem of Pain– DN975 The Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer– DF989 Writing the Prospectus– CPE Transfer Credit

• Project/Concept and Dissertation

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Prospectus, Project, Dissertation• This component is the apex of the program, consolidating the results of the D.Min. course work. For the prospectus/project/dissertation, you will identify a particular activity or project to be conducted with people in your own ministry setting.

• See DMin Manual, 4ff for definitions– DMin Manual link

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Prospectus, Project, Dissertation• Project examples include:

celebrating a special occasion together, starting a major chapel program, handling a pastoral conflict or need, leading a chapel to a fresh vision of mission or ministry, guiding a social action venture, or exploring some interesting avenue of life together.

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Prospectus, Project, Dissertation• Whenever your work involves

working with people, you must secure the approval of Erskine’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) or your MEDCEN’s IRB approval for your project.

• The IRB is a committee established to review and approve any and all research involving human subjects.

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Prospectus, Project, Dissertation• The primary purpose of the IRB is to protect the rights and welfare of human participants in research, primarily through preventing difficulties and reconciling errors or breaches of trust. The IRB is empowered to review and approve all research within the institution for ethical standards, scholarship, and appropriateness.

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Prospectus, Project, Dissertation

• The chair of the IRB is Dr. Robert J.F. Elsner, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology

• Contact by email at elsner@erskine.edu

• Or by phone at 864-379-6570.

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Prospectus, Project, Dissertation• You may elect to do a dissertation that is more concept-based rather than project-based. The essential require-ments for the prospectus are the same, as is the approval process. If you choose this option, you may explore some theological, historical, or ministry issue in detail rather than conducting an actual ministry project.

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Prospectus, Project, Dissertation• An essential component of the

concept-based dissertation is a clear demonstration of the relevance of the issue studied for the practice of ministry in the church. The concept-based dissertation is discussed in the DMin Manual.

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Prospectus, Project, Dissertation• You should begin the prospectus/

project/dissertation process early in the program. For example, in the Practice of Ministry course, you learn to identify an appropriate ministry project and can begin to develop a prospectus that encompasses this project or sets forth a concept to be explored.

PROSPECTUS . . . & DISSERTATION

PROSPECTUS SECTION

• Introduction, 5-8 – What is Ministry Need – Discussion of Contexts– Brief Project Description

• Literature Review, 10-15

• Biblical-Theological Foundations, 10-15

• The Project Explained, 8-10

• Projected Timeline, 3– Goals for Congregation– Goals for Minister

DISSERTATION CHAPTER• Introduction, 10-15

– What is Ministry Need – Discussion of Contexts– Brief Project Description

• Literature Review, 25-30• Biblical-Theological

Foundations, 25-35• The Project Explained, 25• Evaluation & Conclusion,

8-15 Total: 100-120• Appendices (NTE 200)

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FUTURE TENSE PAST TENSE

Introduction to the

Doctor of Ministry Degree

Questions???