Program Purpose

The Doctor of Ministry degree is a professional ministerial degree. The purpose of the D.Min. degree is to deepen the praxis and leadership of ministry for persons who hold the M.Div. degree, its educational equivalent or above, and have engaged in ministerial leadership.

Program Goals

• To develop students’ collegiality and leadership.
• To enhance students’ ability to reflect theologically and critically on ministry in relation to the context 
• To enhance students’ ability to do research in ministry and to introduce new insights and proposals for future ministry.

Admission Requirements

• The possession of the M.Div. degree or its educational equivalent. with a GPA of 3.00 or above from an accredited school; and
• At least five years of full-time experience in ministry subsequent to the first graduate theological degree; and
• A personal statement of 10-15 typewritten pages in English or Chinese describing the ministerial experience, self-assessment of personal and professional development and of strengths and areas of need, some projection of professional expectations for the future, and a statement of the objectives for D.Min. study; and
• Three letters of recommendation: one from the denominational supervisor, one from a clergy colleague and one from a lay person (ideally the chairperson) in the home congregation; and
• A church/organization statement; and
• A written work.

Language Requirement

• Students are expected to have sufficient English knowledge for studying at the graduate level.

Area of Emphasis

　Pastoral Ministry and Leadership
　Worship and Liturgy
　Christian Education
　Diakonia
　Spirituality
　Mission and Culture
　Pastoral Counseling*

*Students who choose Pastoral Counseling as the area of emphasis must take CP3004 Pastoral Counseling Practicum in four semesters (Each semester requires 15 hours of practicum and 2.5 hours of group supervision). The practicum will only be started with the permission of the adviser. Students are required to pay an extra practicum fee apart from the tuition.

(course credits in brackets)

Part I – Coursework

i) Core Courses

　IS4001 Doctor of Ministry Program Orientation (4)

　IS3000 Research Methodology in Practical Theology (4)

　BS3000 Biblical Interpretation and Ministerial Context (4)

　CT3002 Ethics in Christian Ministry (4)

　PT3041 Collegiality and Servant Leadership (4)

ii) Guided Electives on Area of Emphasis

3 courses (12)

iii) Free Electives

1 course (4)

Part II – Dissertation (12)

Students are required to write a dissertation on their research on a particular ministry of the church(es) or of Christian organization(s). The dissertation should include both theoretical and practical argumentations. Its conclusion could become a reference for other churches or Christian organizations.