DMin Courses and Descriptions

The following are DMIN Courses at Pentecostal Theological Seminary

DMIN Core (12 hours required)

All the following core courses are required:

DM 901 - Doctor of Ministry Orientation and Assessment (3 hours)

This course is an introduction and overview of the Doctor of Ministry (DMIN) curriculum, process, goals and project. Critical reflection on contemporary theories or models of leadership and assessment of one's personal leadership approach will assist students in the integration of their present theology and practice of leadership.

DM 908 - Reading Theology for Ministry (3 hours)

This course builds upon a basic knowledge of Christian theology (historical and doctrinal) and skill in theological reflection. It is intended to help a student gain advanced understanding of Wesleyan-Pentecostal theology in its historical context. It is also intended to help the student develop an advanced level of theological reflection for ministry praxis through engagement with contemporary theological scholarship and socio-cultural dynamics that influence the mission of the Church in diverse social-cultural settings. The insights gained are brought to bear on the student’s context in conversation with the course content.

DM914 - Reading Scripture for Ministry (3 hours)

This course builds upon a basic knowledge of Scripture and scriptural interpretation/hermeneutical training. It is intended to help a student gain advanced knowledge of Wesleyan-Pentecostal hermeneutics. It is also intended to help a student gain advanced skills for biblical interpretation for ministry praxis through reflection on contemporary biblical scholarship that influences the mission of the Church in diverse social-cultural settings.

DM915 - Reading Theological Contexts (3 hours)

This course builds upon a basic understanding of the integration of theological reflection with ministry practice. It is intended to help a student gain advanced understanding of the field of practical theology. It is also intended to help the student cultivate advanced skills for engaging and transforming operative theologies embedded in his/her ministry context.

DMIN Electives (9 hours required; offered periodically)

Students choose three electives (9 hours total) based on their area of interest, or focus area. These may include, but are not limited to:

DM 903 - Administration for Transformational Ministry (3 hours)

This course is designed to help students proactively prepare for, adjust to, and embrace change; learning, as leaders and administrators, to use change in order to strengthen the church. It is possible, especially as biblical and spiritually sensitive leaders, to develop proactive and responsive strategic plans that support organizational change and help assure success. This course will also examine the connections and interrelationships involved with transformational leadership, administration, and spirituality within a Pentecostal-missionary context. Wesleyan-Pentecostal leadership development practices will be highlighted as the means of grace in the cultivation of leaders and congregations as witnesses involved in moving from maintenance to missionary outpost strategies.

DM 904 - Leadership and Peacemaking: Conflict and Reconciliation (3 hours)

This course is designed to present a Wesleyan-Pentecostal understanding of counseling and care in ministry and community vocational practice within a theology and praxis model that addresses conflict, reconciliation and transformation. Transformative therapy and intervention at relational, systemic and personality levels within an individual, relationships with others, and the church and community will be reviewed. Insights and strategies for dealing with intrapersonal, interpersonal, group conflicts within the family, church and larger society will be proposed. The course will be concerned with the student's development of an adequate and appropriate theology and practice of transformative reconciliation, counsel and care.

DM 906 - Leading Worship and Discipleship: Forming a People, Communicating the Word (3 hours)

This course deals with how the ministries of worship and discipleship mutually inform and condition each other in the formation of the worshipers and authentic disciples. Corporate-individual and large group-small group dynamics of a Wesleyan-Pentecostal approach will be explored with a view to developing a local church strategy.

DM 909 - Holistic Mission: Evangelism, Justice and Mercy Ministries with Global Awareness (3 hours)

This course seeks to cultivate a global concern and a sense of urgency for Pentecostal mission and evangelism in the contemporary multicultural and Post-Modern world. It includes an overview of biblical, theological and contextual foundations, and a summary of historical perspectives which assist in understanding the missionary enterprise around the world. It seeks to integrate Pentecostal theology and mission praxis in the context of current key issues in the field of missiology; missiological definitions and concepts; current global challenges to the mission of the church; biblical mission theology; and historical development of the Christian mission and culture.

Other courses may include electives chosen by the student:

DM 991 - Focus Area Elective (3 hours)

DM 992 - Focus Area Elective (3 hours)

DM 993 - Focus Area Elective (3 hours)

Dissertation and Project Courses (9 credits total)

All the following courses are required and must be completed in the sequence that they are listed below.

DM 931 - Doctor of Ministry Project: Research (1 hour)

This course focuses on the process of research that will be conducted during the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) program. Its purpose is to orient the student to library and information services of the Church of God Theological Seminary and proper modes of theological and contextual research. The goal of this course is to facilitate the completion of the requirements of part I of the Doctor of Ministry project, namely, conducting the contextual assessment, doing a literature review and writing the prospectus.

DM 911 - Context-Based Covenant Groups: Assessment (1 hour)

This course is designed to orient students concerning group dynamics and process, especially as they pertain to the Doctor of Ministry. Students receive training through research and participation in group process to lead a group of three to five individuals related to their ministry context. The purpose of the group is to reflect with the student concerning his or her Doctor of Ministry courses and program. Particular attention is given in this course concerning the assessment of the student's ministry setting.

DM 932 - Doctor of Ministry Project: Prospectus (1 hour)

This course focuses on the prospectus and project of the Doctor of Ministry (DMIN) program. Its purpose is to review and approve the student’s DMIN project prospectus and prepare for the execution of the DMIN project in ministry. Modes of theological and contextual research will also be reviewed. The course will also review the integration of research and project execution into the DMIN dissertation.

DM 912 - Context-Based Covenant Groups: Project (1 hour)

This course is designed to orient students concerning group dynamics and process, especially as they pertain to the second year of the Doctor of Ministry program. Students receive training through research and group leadership. Students will lead a group of three to five individuals related to their ministry context. The purpose of the group is to reflect with the student concerning his or her Doctor of Ministry project. Particular attention is given to ways in which the group can assist the student in the implementation and/or reflection upon the student's project in ministry.

DM 933 - Doctor of Ministry Project: Implementation (1 hour)

This course focuses on the student’s project execution and analysis. Its purpose is to execute the student’s project, analyze data and report the results of the project in the student’s DMIN dissertation. Models of information review and analysis will be reviewed. The student will be guided in the project completion, analysis and application to the DMIN dissertation.

DM 913 - Context-Based Covenant Groups: Dissertation (1 hour)

This course is designed to orient students concerning group dynamics and process, especially as they pertain to the third year of the Doctor of Ministry program. Students receive training through research and participation in group leadership and reflection as it relates to the student's DMIN dissertation. Students will lead a group of three to five in reflection and integration concerning the student's DMIN program, course work and project as they relate to the writing of the student's DMIN dissertation. Particular attention is given to reflective activity that contributes to the completion of the student's DMIN dissertation.

DM 934 - Doctor of Ministry Dissertation (3 hours)

This course focuses on the completion and defense of the student’s DMIN dissertation. Attention will be given to the successful assessment of ministerial context, development of a ministry topic, adequate research, accurate representation of the student’s DMIN project design, proposal, execution, information gathering, analysis, summary and projections. The course includes the presentation and defense of the DMIN dissertation before a colloquium group of professors and a peer DMIN student.