FTSA Doctor of Ministry
Credential: Doctor of Ministry
Location: Online
Locations for Residencies: Londrina, Brazil
Program Director: Kevin Gushiken, PhD
Assistant Program Director: Debra Johnson-Cortesi, PhD
DMin Coordinator in Brazil: Rubens Muzio, PhD
Introduction: The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree at FTSA is a terminal professional doctorate that provides the opportunity for a post-Master of Divinity (MDiv) education to pastors, missionaries, para-church ministry leaders, teachers, and other Christian leaders to heighten professional development. The DMin at FTSA in partnership with Capital Seminary and Graduate School provides academic coursework in leadership studies with the integration of research and application. The delivery of the program allows students to pursue intensive advanced study through online learning while remaining employed full-time in their vocational settings throughout Brazil. The degree serves people who have earned the MDiv degree (or its equivalent), and currently serve as associate or senior pastors or executives of church-related or other Christian service organizations.
Program Purpose: The DMin promotes empirical research, creative reflection, and entrepreneurial application to the practice of ministry through interdisciplinary studies in Bible, theology, and ministry practice. The degree's purpose is to enhance the critical thinking, research, and leadership skills of persons engaged in the leadership of congregations or faith-based organizations.
Program Philosophy: The Doctor of Ministry is a cohort-based program. Students will enter with a group of 10-14 other students and follow a prescribed sequence of courses together. Cohort learning offers one of the most effective educational opportunities available to doctoral students. Genuine, rich, and deep relationships will be developed throughout 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 exhibit a posture of collaboration, not competition.
Program Core Competencies: Three core competencies are developed in the Doctor of Ministry program. These include specialized skills in contextualized leadership studies, theological/biblical reflection, and applied research.
Advanced Ministry Concentration - The student will gain the ability to think and execute skillfully in the field of Strategic Leadership.
Theological/Biblical Analysis– In each of the courses, students will have the opportunity to reflect on the relationship between the course's general content and its biblical/theological foundations. By doing so, students will be able to integrate their understanding of leadership concepts to the study of Scripture and practical theology.
Applied Research Skills - The student will learn to use several applied research approaches for the benefit of their own ministry and the church worldwide. Applied research is a cyclical, iterative approach that allows for lifelong exploration for solving problems and developing greater understanding. As part of their studies, DMin students will gain the essential skills needed to develop and implement a Ministry Research Project in a local context. Graduates of the program are equipped to be researcher/scholars who think deeply, engage problems fully, explore creative solutions, and share what they are learning.
FTSA DMin Curricular Structure/Degree Requirements
Overview of Program Competencies
The DMin program requires a minimum of two years of study. Students will complete 34 hours of academic study as follows:
Competencies and Credits for Each
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Program Orientation
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0 credits
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Advanced Ministry Concentration Seminars
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16 credits
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Contextual Ministry Praxis Seminar
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4 credits
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Applied Research Seminar
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4 credits
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Mentored Research Design
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4 credits
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Applied Research Dissertation
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6 credits
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Program total
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34 credits
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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.
Required Courses
FTSA Application, Admission, Retention, and Graduation
Admission to the DMin Program
Steps to Apply
1. Complete the Application Form (include $40 non-refundable application fee): DMin Application.
2. Submit Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended (2.75 GPA)
3. Applicants whose first language is not English must show proof of English proficiency (International)
4. Have a passport or Visa (International/Hybrid)
5. Provide a writing sample
6. Provide a Professional Reference
7. Complete Interview
All items requested on the Capital application form should be sent to:
Director: Doctor of Ministry
Capital Seminary and Graduate School
901 Eden Road
Lancaster, PA 17601-5036
Application Response
Application Deadlines and Admission Evaluation
For an applicant to be considered for participation in a DMin cohort, all application requirements should be completed 90 days prior to the cohort start date. Once an application file is complete and the interview has taken place, Capital Seminary faculty will evaluate the applicant’s profile in terms of demonstrated and potential ability to complete doctoral studies successfully. The committee makes a consensus admission decision on applicants (five decisions are possible) using the following scale:
• 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’s academic deficiencies identified.
• Accepted on Review Status: The applicant is admitted pending further review. This may be because a part of the applicant ‘s application was incomplete (e.g. a score was not received in time) or because the applicant did not meet one of the admission’s requirements.
• Delay: The applicant may receive an application delay. This may be due to the program being filled, a change in the student’s life situation, or an event preventing the applicant from attending the first program session. Delayed status applicant 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.
Because of our priority on creating excellent cohort communities, admissions decisions are made and communicated approximately 60 days prior to the cohort start date rather than in connection to the date the application process is complete.
Enrollment
- Prospective students who are offered admission have 30 days to accept or decline the offering of admission. Acceptance of admission requires a financial deposit to hold a position in the cohort. Prospective students who fail to respond within 30 days automatically forfeit the offer of admission.
- Doctor of Ministry students are automatically enrolled in upcoming seminars by the Capital Registrar, assuming they are in good academic and financial standing.
- At the completion of the first year, students are automatically enrolled for the 4-credit Mentored Research Design. After successful defense of their Prospectus, they are registered for the 6-credit Applied Research Dissertation.
Retention
Continuation Fees and Statute of Limitations
The Capital Seminary and Graduate School Doctor of Ministry program is designed to be completed in three years. Students who have not completed their Applied Research Dissertation within four years of their cohort’s start date will be charged an administrative continuation fee for each term (fall and spring) until the project is completed, or until the student withdraws from the program, or until the statute of limitations is reached. Completion of the Applied Research Dissertation refers to the student’s ARD having been successfully defended and accepted. The statute of limitations for the Doctor of Ministry program is 5 years. All requirements for graduation from the DMin program must be completed within 5 years of the student’s original cohort start date.
a) The continuation fee applies to full-time students continuously enrolled in courses for three years. If a student takes a semester off, that semester does not count towards the three years. For example, if a student takes one semester off, continuation fees will be applied after three and half years (three years + the semester the student took off).
b) Students who are defending their dissertations and thus completing the program that term will still be required to pay the fee. Students who successfully defend their dissertations before the first day of class for a term will not be charged the fee even if revisions are required from their hearing.
c) Students who feel they have been prolonged by reader changes or other issues caused by Capital Seminary oversight will be directed to speak to the program director for special consideration.
Special circumstances: if students step out of the program for a semester or longer due to significant life circumstances, e.g. health issues, family matters, vocational changes, financial hardships, etc., they are responsible for making an agreement in writing with the program director that the semester(s) they withdrew from the program will not be counted towards the time limits stated in point 1 above. A determination of the time limit will be assessed by the program director for all students who are part-time.
Waivers will only be granted if the above special circumstances apply.
Graduation
Graduation
In addition to completing all academic requirements for graduation, all financial obligations to the college must be paid in full before a doctoral student can graduate.
Final versions of Applied Research Dissertation must be submitted to the Church & Ministry Leadership Department two weeks before the next graduation ceremony. Incomplete submissions may delay graduation to the following semester.
Commencement
Doctor of Ministry graduates are expected to participate in commencement ceremonies.
FTSA DMin Program Design
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 three days, two times in the first two academic years only, in April, August, and November. 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 15 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 seven 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.
Program Director: Kevin Gushiken, PhD
Kevin currently serves as Chair of the Church and Ministry Leadership department and as the Director of the PhD in Leadership and DMin programs. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business/Economics and a Master of Arts in Missions and Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. He also received a Masters of Divinity and a PhD in Educational Studies with a minor in Intercultural Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.
Kevin’s primary passion is to develop Christian leaders who biblically and critically think with the purpose of influencing the world for Christ. He also has deep interest in how leadership is formed in multiethnic settings. He has written on these topics in numerous journals and presented at several conferences around the country. He recently published a book on the Theology of Play.
Prior to joining Lancaster Bible College, Kevin served in a variety of churches, most recently as Senior Pastor for 18 years at Harvard Avenue Evangelical Free Church, a multiethnic congregation in Chicago, IL. Kevin has been married to Penny since 1996. They have two children, Ashleigh and Ryan.
In his free time, Kevin enjoys hiking and sailing. He is a self-described “thrill seeker” who is open to trying anything once.
Assistant Program Director: Debra Johnson-Cortesi, PhD
Debra is very passionate about doctoral education and research. She longs to see each doctoral student fully equipped for good ministry. She believes that scholarship and research are, and should be, inextricably tied to practice. Also, good education should never be simply for the sake of knowing something. Knowledge that is not applied has very little value. Her hope is to see every graduate of both Ministry doctoral programs equipped to do research within the areas where they feel called by God. It is her desire that each doctoral student will be empowered to be the kind of researcher-scholar that elevates practice in powerful ways – making themselves and others into exceptional practitioners. This should first be accomplished through their coursework and dissertation and then as God leads them to continue to gain and apply more knowledge and wisdom for the benefit of the church universal.
To help ensure that all Ministry doctoral students are well equipped, Debra is focused on supporting excellent professors and dissertation readers, designing cutting-edge courses, creating helpful resources, and collaborating with the Director to elevate the quality of the DMin and PhD in Leadership programs.
In her free time, Debra has a lot of hobbies. She enjoys many types of crafts, cooking, reading, and making music.
Faculty
Debra Johnson-Cortesi, PhD
Kevin Gushiken, PhD
Rubens Muzio, PhD