Ministry (DMin)
The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree is a terminal professional doctorate that provides the opportunity for post-Master of Divinity (MDiv) education to pastors, missionaries, para-church ministry leaders, teachers, and other Christian leaders as a means to heightened professional development. The DMin at Capital Seminary & Graduate School provides academic coursework in several concentration areas and adds the elements of practical research and application. The delivery of the program does not require full-time residency for students. Through blended learning, ministry professionals are able to pursue intensive advanced study while remaining employed on a full-time basis in their vocational settings. Generally, the degree serves people who have earned the MDiv degree, are ordained, and are currently serving as associate or senior pastors, or as executives of church-related or other Christian institutions
Purpose
The Doctor of Ministry Program at Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School promotes pragmatic research, creative reflection, and application to the practice of ministry through interdisciplinary studies in the Scripture, theology and ministry praxis. The program’s purpose is to enhance the critical thinking, research, and leadership skills of persons engaged in leadership roles. The degree, Doctor of Ministry, is a practical one, with every course, including the Applied Research Dissertation, designed to enhance the transfer of the knowledge and skills to the students’ congregation or ministry related context.
Location Offered
Lancaster, PA
Curricular Structure
The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program requires a minimum of two years of study and will enable the participant to integrate that study into existing ministry responsibilities. Students who enroll in the degree program will complete 34 hours of academic study as follows:
| Program Orientation Workshop | 0 Credit |
| Advanced Ministry Concentration Seminars | 16 Credits |
| Applied Seminars | 8 Credits |
| Mentored Ministry Project | 10 Credits |
| Program Total | 34 Credits |
Each seminar involves 13 weeks of coursework. This includes 6 weeks of online, faculty-mediated learning, plus one week of face-to-face engagement in on-campus seminar work (24 face-to-face hours per seminar), followed by 6 more weeks of online student-mediated learning. Online sessions include instruction methods that engage the learner such as case study analysis, discussion, PowerPoint presentations, and interactions with precedent literature.
Program Orientation Workshop (0 Credit)
Students will complete the online workshop that will orient the student to their program and the technology skills required to successfully complete the degree. 0 Credit.
Advanced Ministry Concentration Seminars (16 Credits)
Students will complete four blended seminars (four credits each) following a prescribed sequence with peer cohort groups. Students may select one of five program options described below. Students may complete these four seminars to earn a post-graduate certificate. This program allows students who complete the Certificate to return and complete the full DMin at a later date if they choose.
Chaplaincy Studies Concentration
| MIN 810 | Nature of the Chaplaincy | 4 |
| MIN 811 | Marriage and Family Issues | 4 |
| MIN 812 | Addiction Counseling and Care | 4 |
| MIN 813 | Pastoral Care and Counseling in Grief, Loss and Crisis | 4 |
Strategic Leadership Concentration
| MIN 840 | The Leaders as Communicator and Vision-Caster | 4 |
| MIN 841 | Advanced Leadership Theory in Practice | 4 |
| MIN 842 | Innovation and Change | 4 |
| MIN 843 | Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships | 4 |
Formational Leadership Concentration
| MIN 844 | Formational Leadership in the Digital Age | 4 |
| MIN 845 | The Spiritually Formed Leader | 4 |
| MIN 846 | Ministry Leadership in an Interconnected World | 4 |
| MIN 847 | Leadership Experssions, Soul Care, and the 21st Century Leader | 4 |
Applied Seminars (8 Credits)
| MIN 850 | Contextual Ministry Praxis Seminar | 4 |
| MIN 851 | Applied Research Seminar | 4 |
Mentored Ministry Project (10 Credits)
| MIN 890 | Mentored Research Design | 4 |
| MIN 891 | Applied Research Dissertation | 6 |
Research Credits
| MIN 890 | Mentored Research Design | 4 |
| MIN 891 | Applied Research Dissertation | 6 |
Interim Program Director
Dr. Richard Rhoads
Interim Director, Doctor of Ministry
DMin Faculty
These individuals have full-time or part-time appointments on the faculty and will serve this program. Other full-time, adjunct and part-time faculty will be engaged as the program progresses in its development.
| Resident Faculty: |
Adjunct Faculty: |
| Michael Badriaki, DMin |
Wayne Cordeiro, DMin |
| E. Penny Clawson, EdD |
Krish Kandiah, PhD |
| Guy Higashi, PhD |
Thomas Kiedis, PhD, DMin |
| Richard Rhoads, DMin |
John Wheatley, EdD |
Core Values
Though not necessarily curricular in nature, these core values frame how the program is delivered:
- Life-on-Life Learning – The best learning is done in community, so we are intentional about creating environments and experiences that promote collaboration.
- Life-Engaged Learning – Focused on contextualization and application, we design programming for life and ministry-engaged learners.
- Life-Long Learning – Our program is a learning journey designed to equip leaders with skills to implement and evaluate real change within their context for the rest of their lives.
- Life-Change Learning – Though an academic pursuit, our degree is part of a discipleship process, leading participants to the development of a self-awareness and recognition of capacities.
Core Competencies
As a result of this program the student will do the following:
- Develop specialized skills within a specific concentration.
- Demonstrate contextualized leadership skills.
- Utilize action-applied research skills within their current ministry context.
Strategic Leadership Concentration Competencies
As a result of this concentration, the student will do the following:
- Describe strategic leadership as portrayed in the Bible.
- Develop personal leadership knowledge and skills for the current ministry context.
- Generate a set of strategies for leading the current ministry context.
- Formulate an action plan for change within the current ministry context.
- Select a set of initiatives to increase the effectiveness of the leader within a current ministry context.
- Support conclusions identifying truth and discerning deception using critical thinking.
- Compose documents that express logical conclusions with support from scholarly literature gathered through research.
Chaplaincy Students Concentration Competencies
As a result of this concentration, the student will do the following:
- Describe the role and responsibilities of a chaplain within the current ministry context.
- Model effective chaplaincy skills within the current ministry context.
- Compose a plan for the growth of the chaplaincy within the current ministry context from a biblical perspective.
- Formulate an action plan for change within the current ministry context.
- Select a set of initiatives to increase the effectiveness of the leader within a current ministry context.
- Support conclusions identifying truth and discerning deception using critical thinking.
- Compose documents that express logical conclusions with support from scholarly literature gathered through research.
Formational Leadership Concentration Competencies
As a result of this concentration, the student will do the following:
- Examine both the internal life of a spiritual leader and the outward expressions of leadership.
- Develop biblical practices for healthy soul care and character development.
- Design a plan for personal formational leadership within the current ministry context.
- Select a set of initiatives to increase the effectiveness of the leader within a current ministry context.
- Support conclusions identifying truth and discerning deception using critical thinking.
- Compose documents that express logical conclusions with support from scholarly literature gathered through research.
Program Design - DMin
Designed for "Life-Engaged" Learners
"Life-engaged" learners are students who are actively engaged in family, church, and professional life while participating in the doctoral program. While the program is intensive in nature, the time required on campus will not necessitate relocation or require students to leave their current leadership context. This is accomplished through an internet enhanced delivery model. Students are physically on campus for six days, three times in the first academic year only, in October, March, and July. Between these sessions, students are involved in an internet enhanced learning environment where interactions and assignments occur online.
Cohort Learning Community
The DMin is a cohort-based program. Students will enter the program with a group of 10 to 14 other students. This cohort follows a prescribed sequence of courses together. Because cohort learning involves a group of students who start and finish their degree together, students experience a number of educational advantages. Cohort learning, combined in a blended manner with both face-to-face and internet-enhanced learning, offers one of the most effective learning opportunities available to the doctoral student. Genuine, rich, and deep relationships will be developed through the course of the program as students support and serve each other in the quest for knowledge. As part of a cohort group, doctoral level students will be expected to ground their research in significant and pertinent literature and to share resources with their colleagues in preparation for on-site seminars.
Internet Enhanced Learning
This program combines faculty-mediated online interaction with face-to-face seminar participation. This model enables students to benefit from a range of educational delivery systems while maintaining the highest standards of academic quality. Students participate in online discussions and other learning activities led by both the professor and fellow students. On campus interactions involve open dialogue in face-to-face seminar sessions led by nationally renowned and published faculty members.
Using a mediated learning model described above, each course has three learning components.
Pre-Seminar Component: During the six weeks prior to each seminar, students complete readings and other pre-seminar assignments. During this component of the course, students are required to participate at least three hours each week in online discussions led by the professor.
Face-to-Face Component: Seminars will be conducted at the Lancaster site or at an approved site using an accelerated format. Each seminar will consist of 24 hours of face-to-face seminar instruction. Research seminars will engage students in critical reflection with the seminar content.
Post-Seminar Component: During the six weeks following the face-to-face component of the seminar, students complete post-seminar readings and research. Students will also participate three hours each week in online discussions led by students in the cohort.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate with the DMin degree, the student must have fulfilled all of the following:
- Complete all work with B- grade or above in all seminars.
- Successfully write and defend the applied research dissertation.
- Submit an edited dissertation for publication and binding.
- Fulfill all financial obligations to Capital Seminary and Graduate School.
- Complete the program within the statute of limitations period.
- Adherence to biblical standards and ethics in living one's lifestyle.
- Participate in the graduation and hooding ceremony.
Application & Admissions
Admission Criteria
Applicants must have:
- A personal testimony of faith in Jesus Christ
- An earned and accredited Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree or its equivalent
- A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) in previous master's work
- A minimum test score of 600 on the paper-based TOEFL General Test (250 on the computer-based exam or 100 for the Internet-based test) or an equivalent demonstration of the ability to read, write, and do academic research in standard English (If English is not his/her first language)
- MAT or GRE scores from within the past 5 years
- Employer permission to complete the program
- References
Application Process
Application files are not considered complete and students are not considered for admission until the following tasks are completed:
- Complete the Doctor of Ministry Program Application
- Pay $40 non-refundable application fee. (Checks made payable and mailed to "Lancaster Bible College"; or call the Solution Center to make credit card payment)
- Submit additional documents:
- Official transcripts from all degree granting post-secondary schools attended
- Three Recommendation for Admissions forms (one academic, one character, one pastoral)
- Employer Approval Form
- Personal Testimony
- A 15-page graded research paper written at the master's level
- Submit a Personal Vita which includes, in the following order:
- A brief description of previous academic studies
- A brief description of rationale and goals for pursuing doctoral studies
- A brief description of the areas of ministry research the applicant might be interested in exploring during doctoral studies
- A list of writings the applicant has had published, if any
- A detailed description of current occupational responsibilities. The applicant should identify and explain any leadership tasks in which he/she is currently engaged
- A detailed listing of previous ministry and/or experiences indicating the significant tasks and leadership responsibilities, if any
- Complete Standardized Testing:
- Applicants must take and submit official test scores for the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) or the MAT (Miller Analogies Test). Test scores may not be more than five years old.
- Applicants whose first language is not English must also submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).
- Complete an Interview
- Students are required to come to campus for an admissions interview.
Application Response
Applicants who have submitted all application materials will be notified of the admissions decision approximately two months prior to the cohort's start date. Five decisions are possible.
Full Acceptance - The applicant is fully accepted with no deficiencies or leveling requirements.
Accepted with Deficiencies - The applicant is accepted into the program with admission deficiencies identified. The program director will oversee the implementation of a remedial plan towards full acceptance.
Accepted on Review Status - The applicant is admitted pending further review. This may be because a part of the application was incomplete (e.g. a score for a test was not received in time) or because the applicant did not meet one of the admissions requirements.
Delay - The applicant may receive an application delay. This may be due to the program being filled, a change in the applicant's life situation, or an event preventing the applicant from attending the first program session. Delayed status applicants will not have to reapply to the program but must pay the program down payment fee.
Declined - The applicant who is declined will be notified by mail or email. Specific reasons for the decline are not provided.