Proactive ministry in an always-changing culture with Len Sweet.
The Semiotics, Church & Culture Doctor of Ministry (DMin) with Lead Mentor, Dr. Leonard (Len) Sweet, prepares ministry-oriented semioticians.
Jesus had a favorite saying (paraphrased):
“Red sky in the morning, sailors taking warning; red sky at night, sailor’s delight. You know how to read the signs ( semeia) of the sky, I want you to know how to read the signs of the times (Matt. 16.2-3)."
What hermeneutics was to a Gutenberg world, semiotics is to a Google world.
This program takes symbols, signs, images, and stories seriously. It is devoted to applied semiotics - the unpacking of cultural signs and symbols - so that we can tell the story of Jesus in a way that is compelling, convincing and transformative. The ultimate sign to read is Jesus himself. Graduates learn how to recognize the signs of Jesus' work in the world and proactively guide the churches into the future. The program prepares ministry leaders for the world that is actually out there from the real world of the Bible.
Like the Tribe of Issachar in ancient Israel, semiotics DMin students learn to “read the signs of the times and know what to do” (1 Chron. 12:32).
We invite you to join the tribe.
Napkin Scribbles
Listen to Dr. Sweet as he explains 'Jesus Semiotics' in more detail in this 6-minute Napkin Scribbles podcast:
- Exegete metaphor and narratives, images and stories to build a strong and lasting identity as a follower of Jesus
- Anticipate important ministry trends to confidently lead in a fast-changing culture
- Reorient churches toward becoming more missional, relational, image-rich, and participatory
- Communicate as Jesus did, speak in the mother tongue of the church, and preach in the vernacular of the culture
- Prepare students for their NEXT ministry and mission.
Graduates serve as denominational leaders, local church pastors, nonprofit leaders, professors, etc.
See the George Fox University catalog to learn more about the program learning outcomes.
Program cost details
Program Delivery Model
Lead-Mentor directed
The Lead Mentor, Dr. Leonard Sweet, sets the overall inspiration, ethos, and direction of the program. Students take six courses related to program themes with the Lead Mentor over 2 years. The Lead Mentor teaches sessions at the advances, video conferences with the cohort each week, and participates in the portfolio examination.
Online and flexible
Cohorts meet once a week for a Zoom video-conference conversation with the Lead Mentor. Students also engage in online forum discussions with the cohort on their own schedule throughout the week.
Cohort-based
Groups of 12-16 students journey together through the entire program. By means of in-person and online engagement, cohorts critically discuss and probe course-related issues and topics with an eye toward their own ministry contexts.
Advances
Students participate in three face-to-face intensives (Advances) in Portland, OR, Cambridge, UK, and Orcas Island, WA. Advance schedules will include sessions with Leonard Sweet, connecting with other cohort members, and engage with their Project Faculty around their research. Learn more...
Project Faculty
Students are also paired with an individual Project Faculty (PF) person who helps them develop their areas of research specialization. The PFs join students at the Advances and meet regularly online to help to ensure that students continue to make progress through the portfolio milestones.
Project Portfolio Research Sequence
Project Faculty (PF) guide students through a series of key research milestones to generate the final portfolio that addresses a Need, Problem, or Opportunity (NPO) in their context.
