Purpose
This program aims at the student’s competence in theological reflection and practical ministry skills, and to help students develop spiritual and local church leadership. It prepares students the practical tools and skills to improve ministry and missions applying the course to acquire theological knowledge to his (her) ministry and missions. The Doctor of Ministry program is designed to provide the highest professional education in various areas of ministry for the students who are successfully engaged in ministry. It is also to delete the chasm between Idealism of theoretical theology and pro-experientialism in ministry.
Feature
The dissertation course in this program focuses on knowledge, perspective, and skill which can be applied in mission and ministry fields. Also, this program would be concerned about applying existing theological knowledge to actual ministry. This program emphasizes the methodology of ministry. So, students are instructed to practical methodologies for their future ministries and to concrete skills based on their precedent theological knowledge and experiences. This program would maximize the potentiality of ministers and presents adequate developments of ministry tactics admitting different ministries by different talents from God.
Objectives
Each graduates of the D.Min. program will be able to:
Objectively evaluate the ministry in which the student has been involved.
Analyze and understand problems that have hindered the ministry from spiritual maturation.
Share these struggles with fellow pastors, see how they cope with these difficulties, and learn from each other about how to deal with them.
Formulate diverse strategies to overcome these obstacles and discover which strategy may best work for the individual church.
Create a project which one can implement to achieve the devised strategy.
Report the outcome of its implementation so that fellow pastors may benefit from it.
Admission Requirements
WMCGW accepts those who have earned a M.Div. degree from accredited institutions or its equivalent. Candidates are required to have had three years of ministry experience after receiving a M.Div. degree or the first graduate theological degree which may include the minimum of 72 graduate semester hours of theology, biblical studies, and the arts of ministry. For those who fall outside these requirements of admission, the Admissions Committee of the Doctor of Ministry (ACDM) will review each case to determine admission.
Candidates are required to have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) for master’s level work. Students whose GPA is below this level may be provisionally accepted into the program. These candidates will be put on probation until they successfully complete nine credit hours. Additional class work to improve their grades may be required.
Application
Doctor of Ministry applications should be presented to WMCGW at least a month prior to the first seminar. Accepted students may start their studies at any of the D. Min. seminars offered regularly or modularly throughout the year.
The ACDM may grant admission on the basis of the required credentials alone, or request the applicant to submit additional materials and/or schedule an interview with the applicant. The Director of the D.Min. program will conduct the interview.
Admission policies and procedures are subject to change without notice. New students are required to submit a non-refundable tuition deposit to confirm acceptance of admission.
Unless candidates start the program within one calendar year of admission, they will automatically lose eligibility and must go through the admissions process again.
Required Documents for Admission
Application Form
Transcript for M.Div. or its educational equivalent from an accredited institution. The transcript should show a minimum of 72 graduate semester hour credits in theological and ministerial study with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale).
Official transcripts from all other postsecondary institutions attended
Proofs of three years of ministry experience after his or her first graduate theological studies
Resume and Statement of the Purpose of Study
Three Reference Letters: two from pastors and one from a professor
$200 non-refundable application fee
If deemed necessary, an interview with the Director of the D. Min program will be scheduled. English translations of transcripts must arrive in sealed envelopes from the prior schools or be hand-carried.
Program of Study
In order to complete the D. Min. program, candidates must satisfy two basic elements: Course work and Project or Thesis. Here the “Project” refers to particular casework carried out in tandem with the candidates’ ministry. The final product of the project will take the shape of a well-researched report. The “Thesis” indicates written work that proves a candidate’ theological assertion or view on certain aspects of ministry by means of practical examples. The degree shall be completed within minimum three years to maximum six years. Students whose programs continue into a fourth year will be charged a continuation fee for that year and any additional approved years. To earn the D. Min degree, students must successfully complete total 48 credit hours that consist of 42 credit hours of course work and 6 hours of project/thesis writing.
Course Work
The course work is to be completed within the first three years. The course work can be implemented on a semester basis or an intensive basis. A semester course work consists of guided studies with assignments and seminars during the given semester. An intensive seminar format consists of three parts.
First, three months prior to the intensive seminar, students will receive information on the forthcoming seminar with a list of required reading and written works for each course. These pre-seminar assignments are to be completed before the seminar begins. The written assignments will be graded as part of each intensive seminar.
Second, the intensive seminar-proper will last a week, from Monday morning until Friday afternoon. During that week there will be lectures by designated instructors for the assigned topics. It will be a time of interaction with the instructors and with other students.
Third, a project is to be completed after the seminar based upon the reading and class work. The purpose of the project is to enable the seminar students to integrate the course content with his or her ministry. This project will be graded as part of the intensive seminar class. A given semester course work or a given intensive course work may be adjusted to incorporate new situations of the semester or the intensive course work.
Major Project or Thesi
The major project or thesis is the highlight of the D. Min. program. It is designed to help students to think theologically about ministry by requiring them to apply new concepts and methods to their ministries.
The proposal (prospectus) for the project or thesis must be formally approved by candidate’s Project/Thesis Committee. One faculty reader will be designated as the first reader and other two faculty readers as second readers to the candidate during the project or thesis writing. The first reader will read the student’s thesis or project and guide the student to complete the work through giving feedback and recommendations for further reading and research. If the candidate is not able to submit his/her final project/thesis in an electronic file format by May 15, a preliminary graduation certificate will be awarded to him/her at the graduation ceremony. The student shall submit his/her final project/thesis within the time limit set during the oral defense. When the school receives the student’s final project/thesis, it will issue the original graduate certificate to him/her.
Oral Defense
Upon preliminary approval of the project/thesis by the first reader and reviewers, the student shall ask a meeting for his/her oral defense. The oral defense shall take place at least two weeks prior to the graduation date. During the oral defense the first reader and/or second readers may give further comments and the preliminary project/thesis shall be finally approved.
Curriculum
The D. Min. program has the following areas of studies: Church, Leadership, Practice, and Mission. Each student is required to complete forty eight (48) semester credits: forty two (42) credits of seminars, and six (6) credits of project/thesis. Each seminar consists of three (3) credit hours. If deemed necessary, new areas or seminars may be added.