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2012-2013 Academic Catalog and Handbook

Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation

Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation

(DMin degree)

Purpose

The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Leadership and Spiritual Formation program is designed to engage ministry professionals in the integration of their experience with new knowledge, research, and reflection. It is designed for educated, experienced practitioners who desire to stimulate renewal in themselves and in their ministries through advanced training, reflection, and study. The doctor of ministry is the highest professional degree for those in parish or related ministries.

The DMin is distinctive from academic doctorates such as the PhD, ThD, and STD in that its primary focus is on the practice of ministry. The DMin is also distinctive from other professional degrees such as the EdD and the PsyD in that it builds on the three-year master of divinity (MDiv) and at least three years of post-MDiv ministry experience. The Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation (DMin LSF) is offered in a mutually engaging educational environment of peers and scholars whose motivation is service to God, whose primary attachment is their relationship to Jesus Christ, and whose strength and direction come from the Holy Spirit.

Program Objectives

Educational Objectives

To enable students to:

  • Better understand their spirituality and how to implement a program for ongoing spiritual growth and personal and professional renewal
  • Better understand the fundamental principles and dynamics of leadership and what leadership style best suits their gifts and personality
  • Increase competence in utilizing the tools from biblical studies, theology, and philosophy to develop and implement effective ministry strategies
  • Increase competence in the application of current thinking and resources to congregational leadership, preaching and worship, spiritual direction, and pastoral care
Professional Objectives

To enable students to:

  • Increase competence in church-management skills, strategic planning, and leadership development
  • Increase competence in identifying problem areas in a given ministry and devising and implementing a specific course of action by which to effectively address those areas

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the Doctor of Ministry program must hold an ATS-accredited MDiv degree or meet the seminary's MDiv-equivalency requirements†, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition, applicants must complete the following to be considered for admission to the program:

  • George Fox Evangelical Seminary application form and payment of application fee
  • Submit one official transcript from each college/university attended
  • Documentation of full-time participation in ministry for at least three years after the completion of the MDiv degree, including a written endorsement of the applicant's admission to the DMin program from his or her church or parachurch organization
  • A written statement of the applicant's ministerial goals, personal history, leadership experience, and recent reading
  • Curriculum vitae or resumé
  • Personal mission statement and statement of faith
  • Three letters of reference (as specified in admissions materials)
  • A group interview (by invitation only)
  • Non-native English speakers must submit a TOEFL score of 550 or higher

†Equivalency Procedures
An applicant who holds a master's degree but does not hold the MDiv degree from an ATS-accredited seminary may qualify for admission to the DMin program by meeting the requirements for MDiv equivalency.

The 84-semester-hour MDiv program at the seminary, as outlined below, serves as a guide for assessing equivalency:

Biblical Studies 21
Christian History and Thought 18
Spiritual Formation and Discipleship 6
Pastoral Studies 27
Concentration requirements or electives 12

Upon submission of official transcripts from all prior graduate work, the DMin program director will assess the coursework correspondence to the MDiv at the seminary and make recommendations to the DMin Committee concerning the applicant's equivalency status. Applicants needing extra graduate-level course work to attain equivalency status may be admitted to the program with the stipulation that the appropriate course work be completed before enrollment in the third module of the program. This course work must be taken from an ATS-accredited seminary. Course grade points must average a minimum of 3.0.

Transfer Credit

No transfer credit is allowed toward the Doctor of Ministry program. Transferability of credits earned at this institution and transferred to another is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Consult the registrar's office for information on eligibility of transfer credit.

Residence Requirements

All 36 hours required for the Doctor of Ministry program must be completed through George Fox University. All work leading to the DMin must be completed within six years from the time of matriculation. Extension of this limit requires approval of the DMin Committee. However, only one such extension may be considered due to special circumstances, such as ill health. Program extension requests must be received prior to the conclusion of the sixth year, citing extenuating circumstances and specifying an expected date of completion. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the degree.

Course Requirements

The Doctor of Ministry program is generally three years in length with 36 semester hours of course work required as a minimum for graduation. A maximum of 16 semester hours of course work may be completed during one calendar year, requiring a minimum of two years for the completion of the course work. The dissertation may be completed in the third year. Of the total hours required for the degree, 28 are in prescribed Leadership and Spiritual Formation courses, 4 in research, and 4 dissertation hours. The program also requires participation in four guided retreats.

Leave of Absence
Because of the cohort model used for this DMin program, students must maintain full attendance throughout each module experience. However, a student in good standing who must interrupt his or her studies for compelling reasons may petition the DMin Committee for a leave of absence of not more than one year. Students who discontinue enrollment without an official leave of absence will be withdrawn and required to apply for readmission.

Candidacy
Students are eligible for admission to candidacy upon completion of all coursework (32 semester hours). To qualify as a doctoral candidate, each student must:

  1. Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 with no course grade lower than a B-
  2. Submit a topic for the final dissertation and gain approval from the Dissertation Advisor
  3. Complete all MDiv equivalency courses (if applicable)

When these steps have been completed, the DMin program director will present a report and recommendation to the resident DMin faculty for consideration of the student's qualifications for candidacy. Students advanced to candidacy continue in the program. Students not advanced to candidacy are given specific guidelines for reevaluation. The doctor of ministry office will notify students of their status following the second year of the program.

Dissertation
To complete the DMin program, a dissertation is required. Between the first and second year of the program, students are paired with a Dissertation Advisor who will guide them in the process of research, development, and completion of the dissertation. The dissertation involves research and writing at both the theoretical and practical levels and serves to evaluate the student's competency in a specialized area of ministry related to his or her personal experience and interest. By engaging in the research courses and through the support of a Dissertation Advisor, each student receives guidance in choosing a research topic and preparing a proposal for the dissertation. As a prerequisite to candidacy, the student's proposal is submitted to the DMin Committee for approval. When the dissertation is complete, the candidate submits the dissertation to two advisors: the Dissertation Advisor and a Secondary Advisor selected by the DMin Committee. As part of the evaluation, the candidate must give an oral defense of the dissertation before the advisors.

Track 2 Dissertation (Optional)
As an optional alternative to the traditional written dissertation, students in the program may produce a Track 2 Dissertation, which is composed of two parts: a Track 2 Artifact and a Written Statement. The Written Statement explicates the theoretical underpinnings of the Dissertation. The Track 2 Artifact incarnates a practical, real-world solution to the stated ministry problem utilizing one or more of the following media forms: audio, video, web, print. When completed, the candidates submits the Track 02 Dissertation, which includes both the Written Statement and Track 2 Artifact, to the Dissertation, Secondary, and when necessary, Expert Advisors. As part of the evaluation, the candidate must give an oral defense of the dissertation before the advisors.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate with the doctor of ministry degree students must:

  • Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 36 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
  • Achieve no grade lower than a B- in all core courses. If a grade of a C+ or lower is received in a designated course, that course must be retaken (for more specific information, please refer to the student handbook).
  • Complete all guided retreats or advances.
  • Complete any additional MDiv equivalency courses, as may be required.
  • Successfully defend the dissertation.
  • Be admitted to candidacy for the degree.
  • Be recommended by the seminary faculty for graduation from George Fox University.

Curriculum Plan

Leadership and Spiritual Formation Core (28 hours)
DMIN 511 Spirituality and the Personality 3
DMIN 512 Spiritual Formation in the Leader 2
DMIN 514 History and Theology of Christian Spirituality 2
DMIN 521 Leadership in Biblical and Theological Perspective
 3
DMIN 522 The Person and Work of the Leader 2
DMIN 524 Dynamics of Leadership and Ministry Organizations
 2
DMIN 531 Leadership and Contemporary Culture 3
DMIN 532 Developing a Thriving Community
 2
DMIN 534 Semiotic Leadership in Ministry Organizations
 2
DMIN 541 Historical Models for Spiritual Formation
 2
DMIN 542 Spiritual Formation and Discipleship
 3
DMIN 544 The Practice of Spiritual Leadership 2
Research Courses (4 hours)
DMIN 513 Introduction to Research and Resources 1
DMIN 523 Research Topic/Literature Review 1
DMIN 533 Designing a Research Model 1
DMIN 543 Writing the Dissertation 1
Dissertation (4 hours)
DMIN 550 Dissertation 4
DMIN 555 Dissertation Continuation (continuation as needed‡) 1

‡Students must maintain continuous enrollment in the dissertation continuation until completion. DMIN 555 is required for students who do not finish their dissertation research within the minimum 4 hours. DMIN 555 is repeatable each fall and spring until the dissertation is finished.

Seminary Course Descriptions
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