Curriculum

The D.Min. curriculum focuses on ministry in the missional church in the context of our culture. It integrates theological reflection on the relationship of gospel, church, and culture with the practice of ministry. Specific concentration will be given in the areas of preaching, evangelism, spiritual formation, worship, and ministerial leadership.

Degree Requirements

The D.Min. program is a 30 hour degree, with 24 class hours (8 courses) and 6 hours of credit for the project/thesis.

• Three of the courses are core courses for all students: IBM 702: Biblical and Theological Foundations for Ministry (3 hours)
  BIBM 706: Christian Leadership Development (3 hours)
  BIBM 725: Project/Thesis Seminar (3 hours)
• The remaining five courses (15 hours) are to be selected from the general menu of courses and may include a guided study.
• The project/thesis component (6 hours) of the program is designed to be the culminating demonstration of the level at which the program has prepared the candidate to do the work of a Christian minister. Its nature and intent is integrative and practical, responsive to the particular needs of the ministry setting in which the minister serves.

Course Numbering

ACU uses a numbering system which identifies the subject and level of course work. All Doctor of Ministry courses carry the subject designation of "BIBM" and are 700-level courses.

Grading 

• The student is expected to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.25 during the program.
• A grade of "C" in a course automatically puts the student on academic probation. The student's status will be reviewed at that time by the Admissions and Pro-cedures Committee.
• IP (in progress) grades are assigned to all students at the conclusion of each course in the D.Min. curriculum. After assignment deadlines are met and work is graded, the IP is changed to a letter grade.

Course Enrollment

Eligibility All requirements must be completed for the course in which a student is enrolled in order to be eligible to enroll in an additional course.

Transfer 

Work Transfer of credits from other accredited D.Min. programs must be approved by the D.Min. director and the Admission and Procedures committee. No more than two courses may be transferred. (The acceptance of any transfer credit will not reduce the total program cost of $4,500.)

Oral Defense

At the completion of the project/thesis, the student will have a two-hour oral defense.

Degree Conferred

The D.Min. degree is conferred upon satisfactory completion of course work, the project/thesis, and the oral examination.

Time Limit for Degree

A minimum of two years and a maximum of six years are allowed for completion of the degree.

Courses Of Instruction (BIBM) 

700. Guided Study
The study may consist of an additional classroom course, an independent study, or any other learning experience that the advisor and Director approve. (A special fee of $250 will be assessed for each guided study.)

701. Orientation* (June).
The introductory course in the D.Min., covering an overview of the program, analysis of ministry, research techniques, project design, and ministry resources.

702. Biblical and Theological Foundations of Ministry* (June)
Investigates the development of a Biblical theology of ministry, relating ministry to major themes of the Bible that affect contemporary ministry.

703. Preaching to Contemporary Needs
In a church environment that exalts practical measurement for investments in church, contemporary needs are often set forth as a quantifying dimension of successful preaching. Responses have ranged from full integration of sociological and psychological tools to enhance pulpit effectiveness as one extreme to the dismissal of human need as even as a consideration at the opposite end. This course will call for a theology of preaching to contemporary needs that honors the postliberal homiletic set forth by Charles Campbell while retaining the text driven eye for the practical as articulated by Fred Craddock. In short, contemporary needs will be discerned through a close reading of the biblical text where we uncover realities that we otherwise would be unable to discern or afraid to address.

706. Christian Leadership Development. (June)
An integrated analysis of theology, organizational behavior, group process, personality theory, pastoral care, and problem-solving skills designed to enhance the leadership effectiveness of participants.

711. Preaching and Theology
Several theological perspectives, methods, and issues are explored in order to provide a more Biblical and effective basis for preaching.

717. Spiritual Formation
This course examines the biblical theology, the history, and the pastoral applications of Christian spirituality. The course gives special attention to four historic expressions of spirituality (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Restorationist).

718. The Theological Practice of Evangelism
This course will explore the practice of evangelism as a theological endeavor in the context of a congregation. It involves listening to the stories of our churches, attending to biblical understandings of evangelism, exploring evangelism within various systematic theologies, and allowing culture to help us ask questions of meaning and relevance. The overall outcome of the course should be an articulated plan for evangelism within the class participant's ministry context. The course will utilize lecture, discussion, case study, and student presentation to achieve the desired outcome.

725. Project/Thesis Seminar* (June).
A concluding seminar designed to integrate the competencies developed in the D.Min. curriculum and to create a project appropriate for the student's unique ministry setting.

740. Theological Reflections on Worship
(Proposed course, pending approval) This course explores the historical, biblical, and theological foundations of Christian worship as a forum for discussing contemporary trends in corporate worship. The contemporary tension over worship is set against the historic traditions of Christian worship from the early church through the history of the restoration movement and into contemporary context. The biblical materials, both OT and NT, are surveyed, and a theology of Christian worship is developed. Within the framework of these foundations, practical issues are addressed in the light of contemporary tensions.

740. Theology of Culture (Proposed course, pending approval) What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be created in the image of God? Are we the crown of creation or do we have a different place in an expansive and mysterious universe? Are we free human moral agents or do natural processes determine our behavior? What exactly does it mean for Christians to engage culture theologically? This class pursues the relationship between culture and theological anthropology, probing the implications of such questions for ministerial contexts. The course also includes discussion of film and theology. Stretch you mind with this one!

740. Missional Ecclesiology
(Proposed course, pending approval) Defines the purpose of the church in relation to the mission of God. Examines biblical, historical, and theological understanding. Looks beyond traditional views of missions. Students will examine the present culture, and their own contexts for missional outreach.

740. Paul and Culture 
(Proposed course, pending approval) Although the emphasis is on Paul, this course explores how the NT equips ministers with theological foundations for reflection on ethics and culture. The seminar treats congregational, personal, and social issues from divorce and remarriage to forgiveness to stem cell research examining how one moves from an ancient text to application in today’s culture, even when Scripture is “silent” about an issue.

799. D.Min. Project/Thesis* (six hours).

* Denotes core courses.

Questions and comments to Dr. Charles Siburt siburt@bible.acu.edu