Doctor of Ministry

Director, Rochelle Scheuermann

The Doctor of Ministry is a 32-credit hour doctoral degree.

Learning Objectives of the D.Min. degree include:

• Advanced Theological Integration: Graduating D.Min students will be able to engage cultural contexts with advanced theological acumen and critical thinking by developing theological frameworks that inform, underpin, and reshape practical ministry questions and strategies.
• In-Depth Contextual Competency: Graduating D.Min students will be able to identify, frame, and respond to crucial ministry issues in a diverse world through research and writing that integrates multiple disciplines.
• Strategic Planning and Implementation: Graduating D.Min students will become more effective and impactful leaders in ministry by developing and assessing ministry practices that response to needs identified within a specific ministry context.
• Personal and Spiritual Maturity: Graduating D.Min students will grow in their spiritual, personal, moral, and ministerial formation with a view to reinvigorating and deepening their vocational call and extending their tenure in ministry by adopting and strengthening formation practices related to self, community, and ministry.

As part of this D. Min. program, all students are required to complete a doctoral project, which serves as the capstone of the D.Min. program. It is an opportunity for students to connect knowledge gained from their coursework with the concrete realities of their ministries:

1. Identifying a challenge they face in ministry and situating that challenge in their context
2. Reflecting theologically on that challenge
3. Designing a new ministry initiative to address that challenge which must then be implemented and assessed

Flexible Learning Format:
Most students will continue to serve in their current ministry roles while completing the program part time. While most of the courses will be delivered as one-week intensives, some courses may be offered in an online format at the discretion of the Program Director. This is to provide students the opportunity to come to campus just two weeks in a year and be able to immediately apply their learning in their current context while earning this doctoral degree.

Admission is intended for those serving in ministry leadership roles and have an M.Div. or a theological or ministry master’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. They should have served a total of five years in a full-time ministry role or three years after earning their master’s degree. Students are expected to have demonstrated leadership experience and possess proficiency in written and spoken English.

Admissions Requirements:

• Applicants must possess an either an M.Div. from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0. or a theological or ministry master’s degree, or a master’s degree with significant theological study and ministerial experience in an area related to one’s ministry setting or vocational calling that enables the applicant to engage as a ministry peer with other students in this advanced professional doctorate. The master’s degree needs to be from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0. 
  • A theological or ministry master’s degree is defined as one in biblical studies, theology, or a ministry-related field of study. The application will be evaluated by the D.Min. Program Director in consultation with the Bible and Theology department when necessary to determine whether prior undergraduate or graduate courses in biblical and theological studies and ministry experience meet the admissions requirements of the D.Min. degree at Wheaton College Graduate School, as noted in the next point below. 
  • Applicants without a theological or ministry master’s degree will be evaluated by the D.Min. committee to determine whether the degree and ministry experience merits equivalent status. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis with students being evaluated on the following: (a) the ability to thoughtfully interpret scripture and the theological tradition of one’s ministry context, (b) the capacity to understand and adapt one’s ministry to the cultural context, (c) a basic self-understanding of one’s ministerial identity and vocational calling, (d) a readiness to engage in ongoing personal and spiritual formation for one’s ministry, (e) an accredited master’s degree (or its educational equivalent) in an area related to one’s ministry setting or vocational calling, and (f) significant ministerial experience that enables the applicant to engage as a ministry peer with other students in this advanced professional doctorate. 
• Minimum of three years of experience in a ministry leadership role after earning the M.Div. or equivalent degree or a total of five years in ministry leadership.
• Currently involved in an active ministry leadership role.

Application Requirements

1. Application
2. Three references – Pastoral, Academic, and Ministry Peer or Ministry Supervisor
3. Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts
4. Four essays which will evaluate students based on the ATS entry-level competencies for D.Min. students
   1. Religious Autobiography (Competency Evaluated: Personal and Spiritual Formation)
   2. Statement of Experience (Competency Evaluated: Ministerial and Leadership Identity)
   3. Statement of Vocational Calling (Competency Evaluated: Ministerial and Leadership Identity)
   4. 8-10 page writing sample of showing biblical interpretation, theological integration, and contextual analysis (Competencies Evaluated: Theological Integration and Contextual Analysis)

Doctor of Ministry

This is a 32-credit hour program. Students applying should have completed an M.Div., a theological or ministry master’s degree, or an equivalent master’s degree.

Ministry Leadership Concentration

The Concentration in Ministry Leadership is a 12-credit concentration that can be taken as part of the Doctor of Ministry.

Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders Concentration

The Concentration in Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders is a 12-credit concentration that can be taken as part of the Doctor of Ministry.

Women in Ministry Leadership Concentration

The Concentration in Women in Ministry Leadership is a 12-credit concentration that can be taken as part of the Doctor of Ministry.

Specialized Studies Concentration

The Concentration in Specialized Studies is a 12-credit concentration that can be taken as part of the Doctor of Ministry.