2. Introduction to the Doctor of Ministry Degree

3. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin2 DMIN Degree Program: Purpose As part of its overall mission to educate persons for service in the Christian Church, Erskine Seminary offers the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree. The purpose of the D.Min. degree is for qualified persons to increase their effectiveness as servant-leaders in the ministry of the Church, to the glory of God. The D.Min. degree focuses upon professional leadership in the Church and is intended for persons preparing for advanced pastoral leadership in local congregations or specialized ministries within the Church.

4. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin3 DMIN Degree Program: Goals Graduates will: 1. Engage in contemporary theological discussion and show its relevance to the practice of pastoral ministry. (Knowing) 2. Explore the contexts which affect Christian ministry today, notably the issues of culture, congregational and community demographics, ethical issues, and major events of the day. (Knowing)

5. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin4 DMIN Degree Program: Goals Graduates will: 4. Demonstrate competence in the various functions of ministry, such as preaching the Gospel, leading worship, teaching, pastoral care and counseling, evangelizing, discipling, and carrying out the mission of the Church. (Being/Doing)

6. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin5 DMIN Degree Program: Goals Graduates will: 5. Identify, design, prepare, conduct, and evaluate a ministry project/ concept dissertation that integrates Biblical and theological norms, ministerial functions, and contextual dimensions of ministry. (Knowing/Doing)

7. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin6 DMIN: Professional Degree In contrast to a professional or terminal degree such as the Ph.D., the D.Min. is a practical degree that builds upon the basic foundation of at least three years of post- M.Div. degree experience and that is intended as a means of increasing one’s effectiveness in ministry. An M.Div. degree or its equivalent from an accredited seminary or graduate school is a prerequisite for admission.

8. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin7 DMIN: Curriculum The D.Min. curriculum seeks to develop further the leadership competencies required for Christian ministry in contemporary society. A three-dimensional perspective guides the overall design of the program.

9. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin8 DMIN: Curriculum The norms dimension (DN courses) addresses the Biblical and theological foundations of gospel, Church, and ministry.

10. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin9 NORMS What does the Bible teach/require? The Church? –Creeds –Confessions –Tradition The Endorsing Agent? The Army?

11. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin10 THREE DIMENSIONS NORMS

12. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin11 DMIN: Curriculum The functions dimension (DF courses) emphasizes the professional skills used in the practice of ministry, such as preaching, pastoral care, teaching, administration, etc.

13. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin12 FUNCTIONS What is my role as minister/chaplain? What ministerial function would be helpful in this place and at this time? How is God at work already? How do I relate to the contexts and the norms?

14. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin13 THREE PERSPECTIVES NORMS FUNCTIONS

15. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin14 DMIN: Curriculum The contexts dimension (DC courses) encompasses the environment and realities of the modern world in which ministry must take place. The program seeks to integrate the dimensions of norms, functions, and contexts into a working whole for each minister.

16. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin15 CONTEXTS What is the ministry need for the target audience? How do they relate to the larger contexts of chapel, installation, division, corps? Demographics? Generations? Gender? Ethnicity? Religious Preferences? What goals do I have for them as congregation and for myself as chaplain?

17. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin16 THREE PERSPECTIVES NORMS CONTEXTSFUNCTIONS

18. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin17 DMIN: Curriculum All D.Min. courses embody these three dimensions in varying combinations. Your own work setting serves as a primary learning resource for the Erskine program. Much of the course work involves in-service projects of direct benefit to your ministry.

19. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin18 THREE PERSPECTIVES NORMS CONTEXTSFUNCTIONS Ministry

20. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin19 DMIN: Curriculum Regular classroom time provides occasions for disciplined study, critical reflection, and evaluation concerning ministry issues. The program emphasizes learning from group interaction among peers, thus promoting openness, caring, and cross-fertilization of ideas.

21. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin20 DMIN: Curriculum Required Courses –DR901 Theological Foundations for Ministry –DR902 The Practice of Ministry Electives –DN983 The Problem of Pain –DN975 The Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer –DF989 Writing the Prospectus –CPE Transfer Credit Project/Concept and Dissertation

22. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin21 Prospectus, Project, Dissertation This component is the apex of the program, consolidating the results of the D.Min. course work. For the prospectus/project/dissertation, you will identify a particular activity or project to be conducted with people in your own ministry setting. See DMin Manual, 4ff for definitions –DMin Manual linkDMin Manual link

23. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin22 Prospectus, Project, Dissertation Project examples include: celebrating a special occasion together, starting a major chapel program, handling a pastoral conflict or need, leading a chapel to a fresh vision of mission or ministry, guiding a social action venture, or exploring some interesting avenue of life together.

24. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin23 Prospectus, Project, Dissertation Whenever your work involves working with people, you must secure the approval of Erskine’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) or your MEDCEN’s IRB approval for your project. The IRB is a committee established to review and approve any and all research involving human subjects.

25. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin24 Prospectus, Project, Dissertation The primary purpose of the IRB is to protect the rights and welfare of human participants in research, primarily through preventing difficulties and reconciling errors or breaches of trust. The IRB is empowered to review and approve all research within the institution for ethical standards, scholarship, and appropriateness.

26. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin25 Prospectus, Project, Dissertation The chair of the IRB is Dr. Robert J.F. Elsner, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology Contact by email at elsner@erskine.edu Or by phone at 864-379-6570.

27. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin26 Prospectus, Project, Dissertation You may elect to do a dissertation that is more concept-based rather than project-based. The essential require- ments for the prospectus are the same, as is the approval process. If you choose this option, you may explore some theological, historical, or ministry issue in detail rather than conducting an actual ministry project.

28. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin27 Prospectus, Project, Dissertation An essential component of the concept-based dissertation is a clear demonstration of the relevance of the issue studied for the practice of ministry in the church. The concept- based dissertation is discussed in the DMin Manual.

29. 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin28 Prospectus, Project, Dissertation You should begin the prospectus/ project/dissertation process early in the program. For example, in the Practice of Ministry course, you learn to identify an appropriate ministry project and can begin to develop a prospectus that encompasses this project or sets forth a concept to be explored.

30. PROSPECTUS... & DISSERTATION PROSPECTUS SECTION Introduction, 5-8 –What is Ministry Need –Discussion of Contexts –Brief Project Description Literature Review, 10-15 Biblical-Theological Foundations, 10-15 The Project Explained, 8-10 Projected Timeline, 3 –Goals for Congregation –Goals for Minister DISSERTATION CHAPTER Introduction, 10-15 –What is Ministry Need –Discussion of Contexts –Brief Project Description Literature Review, 25-30 Biblical-Theological Foundations, 25-35 The Project Explained, 25 Evaluation & Conclusion, 8-15 Total: 100-120 Appendices (NTE 200) 7/15/2015Intro to the DMin29 FUTURE TENSEPAST TENSE

31. Introduction to the Doctor of Ministry Degree Questions???