Dr. Douglas Finkbeiner, Director

Purpose of the Doctor of Ministry

The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) is the highest professional degree for pastoral or related ministries. It is to be distinguished from doctoral degrees such as the Th.D. and Ph.D. in that its primary emphasis is on the practice of ministry.

The Doctor of Ministry degree at Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary seeks to equip those involved in vocational ministry with a theological grid for evaluating ministry and with a variety of practical skills for doing pastoral ministry. The Doctor of Ministry degree builds upon a Master of Divinity degree and at least two years of ministerial experience.

The program allows the student to both sharpen ministry skills and think critically about theological issues confronting pastoral ministry. Thus, students are offered courses in two areas of concentration: 1) pastoral ministry and 2) theological studies. Courses in the area of pastoral ministry emphasize the development of ministry skills in the areas of preaching, counseling, education, and leadership. Courses in the area of theological studies focus upon the application of biblical studies to pastoral ministry and the analysis of contemporary theological issues.

The successful D.Min. student will manifest progress in seven areas:

1. A student will be expected to manifest growth in his capacity to understand and interpret ministry in relation to biblical, historical, theological, and pastoral disciplines.
2. He will be expected to manifest growth in the capacity to articulate and refine a theory of ministry while engaging in ministry and to bring practice under judgment by that theory.
3. He should increasingly manifest growth in the capacity to function in an appropriate manner in the skill areas of ministry and to manifest the personal qualities normally considered essential at an advanced level of ministerial competence.
4. He should manifest spiritual growth in his devoted relationship of dependence upon God.
5. He should show an awareness of current developments in the principle areas of theological education and should manifest a commendable approach to contemporary problems employing biblical theological insight combined with professional skill.
6. He should demonstrate commendable patterns of professional study.
7. He should be able effectively to contribute understanding of the ministry to others who are in the ministry.

Calvary 's Doctor of Ministry program utilizes the expertise of both resident and adjunct instructors. A Doctor of Ministry Committee oversees the program and welcomes interaction from students. Detailed information is provided in the Doctor of Ministry Handbook, which may be obtained by contacting the seminary.

Admission requirements for the Doctor of Ministry

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the seminary (see the General Admissions section), applicants to the Doctor of Ministry program must meet the following admissions criteria:

1. All applicants must possess a Master of Divinity degree or its academic equivalent. A minimum of a B average (3.0 GPA) must have been sustained for overall M.Div. work. Degree equivalency is based on similarity to a North American degree similar in kind, quality, and stringency of academic work. Typically, such a degree is considered to be three years of post-baccalaureate study (96 credit hours) in the major disciplines of ministerial study (biblical, systematic, historical, and pastoral theology). The Doctor of Ministry Committee will evaluate an individual applying under M.Div. equivalency and counsel the applicant as to any deficiencies which must be fulfilled before considering the application may be considered further. Students needing to make up M.Div. deficiencies will be enrolled in the Special Student category (see “Non-degree Program and Other Categories,” below) until the successful completion of their M.Div. deficiencies, at which time their D.Min. application will be re-evaluated and acceptance into the program granted or denied.
2. The applicant must have completed two years of commendable full-time ministerial service. The following may qualify as Gospel ministry, depending on relationship to the local church: pastor, youth pastor, minister of visitation, minister of music, minister of education, missionary, and other pastoral roles. It is recommended that the student focus his specialized studies in accordance with his ministry experience. He must continue to be engaged in full-time ministry for the duration of the program, except with special permission. A student who does not continue in full-time ministerial work will be required to withdraw from the D.Min. program with the possibility of initiating the program anew at a later date.

Degree requirements for the Doctor of Ministry

The program at CBTS requires the completion of 30 credits within eight years and a minimum GPA of 3.0 . This includes the completion of three required seminars (two credits each), ten courses (two credits each), and an applied research project. The student must complete the program within eight years. Extensions beyond eight years require the approval of the Doctor of Ministry Committee.

Course requirements for the Doctor of Ministry

A student must take three prescribed seminars and ten elective courses to fulfill his course requirements. Upon completion of the course requirements, a student may be admitted to candidacy by action of the Doctor of Ministry Committee.

There are three segments to each required and elective course: the pre-resident period, the resident period, and the post-resident period. During the pre-resident period, students prepare at home for the resident period by doing preparatory research designed by the professor in the course description sheet. The resident period is the week during which students meet on campus with their professors in a classroom setting. The post-resident period usually runs for 8-10 weeks after the residency period is completed.

The three required seminars are offered in January on a rotating basis. These seminars form a foundation for the D.Min. program and are as follows: (1) PT900DM Philosophy of Ministry and Leadership; (2) PT901DM Preaching and Teaching in Pastoral Ministry; and (3) TH900DM Contemporary Theological and Ministry Issues.

The ten required elective courses are offered both in the summer and in January. The D.Min. program utilizes the expertise of both resident and adjunct instructors. Other options for completion of the ten elective credits are as follows: (1) a limited number of advanced M.Div. electives with additional coursework may be counted for credit in the D.Min. program; (2) a student may transfer a maximum of six pre-approved work credits of work from up to three other institutions; (3) a student may choose to take two electives as independent studies under direction of a faculty supervisor appointed by the Doctor of Ministry Committee; such independent studies are usually selected in light of the project and thesis requirement.

Doctor of Ministry program overview:

1. Seminars 6 credits
2. Electives 20 credits
3. Applied research project 4 credits

Total: 30 credits

Applied research project requirements for the Doctor of Ministry

Doctor of Ministry studies culminate in the Applied Research Project. The Applied Research Project requirements include both a research methodology workshop and the applied research project (four credit hours). The project demonstrates the student's ability to relate fundamental theological and biblical principles to the practice of ministry. The thesis demonstrates the student's ability to do careful research, not only in the theological and biblical field, but also in secular sources that pertain to the practice of ministry and to write a scholarly paper that will meet high academic standards and contribute to the knowledge of the work of the ministry. The combination of theory and practice in the field of the candidate's ministry is what distinguishes the D.Min. program from other doctoral programs that focus on academic and experimental research.

Research Methodology Workshop. The student is required to take PT950DM Research Methodology. This workshop will assist the student in determining and designing an applied research project. It is recommended that the student take this workshop after completing the majority of his course requirements.

Applied Research Project. The term “applied research project” includes both the project and the written thesis which reports on the student's project. The student should expect this aspect of his program to last between eighteen months and two years. The applied research project is a three-phase process consisting of: (1) a project topic; (2) a project proposal; and (3) a project thesis. Each phase of this process is discussed in greater detail in the Research Methodology Workshop.

The purpose of the project topic is for the candidate to determine the topic of research for the project. When the project topic has been approved by the Doctor of Ministry Committee, the candidate will translate it into a more detailed and comprehensive proposal. Candidates work closely with an advisor in this stage. The D.Min. project itself is not to be started until the proposal has been approved. Once the project proposal is approved, the candidate is ready to implement what he had proposed. The project thesis presents in formal written form the comprehensive conclusions of the professional project as well as a thorough review of the project itself. It must give evidence of the research done in the project and demonstrate the same degree of quality as would be expected in any doctoral dissertation. A thesis, by definition, contains a proposition to be discussed, proven, and maintained in a defense. The thesis will be graded by the committee. If the oral exam should be failed the first year, the candidate may have one additional opportunity, no less than nine months following the first oral. Failure of the second oral exam results in being dropped from the program.

The project should employ one of the four following models for an applied research project: descriptive survey of a ministry situation, program development and evaluation, program evaluation and response, or a case study of ongoing ministry situations. Inasmuch as the thesis will relate how the project was set up, how it was conducted, as well as an evaluation of its results, the student should carefully take notes, keep records, and anticipate the thesis. When the project is complete, the candidate should assemble all the material and evaluate the project in light of the principles in the proposal.