Doctor of Ministry Program
Scripture, Spirituality, and Leadership
PROGRAM OVERVIEW (Hegis Code 2301.00)
The Doctor of Ministry program (D.Min.) is an advanced, professional, theological degree which is designed to enhance the practice of ministry for pastors, ministry staff, and those carrying leadership responsibilities in other Christian organizations. Its purpose is to serve and advance the church by providing an environment in which experienced church and para-church leaders can have their thinking enriched, their skills strengthened, and their spiritual lives renewed for the challenges of ministry today.
Graduates of the Northeastern Seminary D.Min. program will be able to demonstrate:
- an advanced understanding of the nature and purposes of pastoral ministry
- enhanced competencies in pastoral and cultural analysis and ministerial leadership skills
- enriched ability to think biblically and theologically about all aspects of ministry
- an ability to integrate their understanding and competencies into a theologically reflective practice of ministry
- continued growth and increased maturity in personal and spiritual formation
In short, the Doctor of Ministry degree equips people to serve Christ’s church with the highest levels of excellence, wisdom, and skill.
The Doctor of Ministry degree is an advanced professional doctorate that builds upon an accredited master’s degree in a ministry-related area and upon significant ministry experience. Students without an accredited Master of Divinity degree may be admitted, provided the school has publicly stated admissions criteria that address the following six areas and provided the school documents how each applicant meets each of these criteria: (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.
The D.Min. program enhances the mission of the Seminary “to prepare Christ-centered men and women for faithful, effective ministry to the church and the world.” The unique strength of the Northeastern Seminary D.Min. program is its integrative focus on three areas of study that are indispensable for faithful service to the church and world in the 21st century: Scripture, spirituality, and leadership. Grounded in Northeastern Seminary’s commitment to the centrality and authority of Holy Scripture, doctoral students at Northeastern will find their proficiency in biblical interpretation and application strengthened, their grasp and experience of the rich resources of human and Christian spirituality deepened, and their competence as Christian leaders and practitioners enhanced. The learning experience is enhanced at Northeastern through coursework taken with a highly selective group of peers in ministry, and guided by Northeastern faculty and internationally known scholar/pastors.