Doctor of Ministry in Christian Ministries

21st century church leadership, rooted in the history of the faith.

The Doctor of Ministry in Christian Ministries degree at Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity is an advanced professional degree that immerses you in scholarship, focused faith formation, and the development of educational strategies needed to sustain a commitment to ministry as life-long learning.

Curriculum

What You’ll Learn

The first doctorate offered by Gardner-Webb University, the Doctor of Ministry in Christian Ministries is an advanced professional degree for ministers. The thirty (30) hour degree program addresses ministry issues developing naturally from the global community, and it seeks to enhance the capacity of the minister to engage in theological reflection in the real world in the service of the church. With seminars offered on Thursdays and Fridays, the degree may be completed in three years.

Program Objectives:

• The student will understand ministry as a commitment to life-long learning.
• The student will develop an appropriate biblical hermeneutic which incorporates both Old and New Testament studies and fosters meaningful biblical and theological reflection.
• The student will develop an understanding of the church, and her/his role in it, within the global context, and the capacity to reflect theologically on the implications of that global context for the nature and ministry of the church.
• The student will demonstrate the ability to reflect upon the nature of one’s ministry by conceptualizing and executing an original project in ministry, reflecting theologically on that project, and defending the project to a committee of faculty and other ministry professionals.

The School of Divinity is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools, 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275. Phone: (412) 788-6505.

Degree Requirements

Seminars (1@ 2 Credit Hours, 4 @ 4 Credit Hours each)	18 Credit Hours
Supervision (2 semesters @ 3 Credit Hours each)	6 Credit Hours
Ministry Project minimum	6 Credit Hours
Total Hours for DMin Degree	30

*Students who do not complete the Ministry Project in two semesters (minimum six hours) must register for DSDM 593, Ministry Project Extension, each semester until completion.

Available Programs

Doctor of Ministry in Christian Ministries

The Doctor of Ministry in Christian Ministries is a degree program comprised of three components: seminars, supervision, and a ministry project. 

Five seminars are required, for which eighteen (18) credit hours will be awarded. Of the five seminars, two are mandatory – the Ministry of Life-Long Learning, and the Ministry of Biblical Interpretation.

The remaining three seminars may be chosen at the discretion of the student and her/his faculty advisor.

For a more in-depth look at program requirements, visit our Academic Catalog.

Outcomes

What You’ll Do

A student completing the Doctor of Ministry will:

• Demonstrate life-long learning skills;
• Demonstrate appropriate biblical and exegetical skills;
• Develop an appreciation for the global context of ministry; and
• Design, implement, write, and assess an original ministry project.