A message from the Program Director
Thank you for your interest in the ecumenical Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Program, offered in cooperation with the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and McCormick Theological Seminary.
It’s exciting to think that, by reading this message, you might be one step closer to embarking on the next stage of your ministerial journey—a stage that begins with earning a Doctor of Ministry degree from CTU, or one of our partner institutions.
What you should know is that the ecumenical DMin Program is first and foremost an incredibly diverse community of advanced theological teachers and learners rooted in the Gospel values of radical inclusivity and radical kinship in the quest for justice and peace. Our students come from all over the world and self-identify with a variety of Christian and other faith traditions. What they all have in common is a strong background in theology, substantial experience in ministry, and a burning desire to answer the call to visionary pastoral leadership. They are ready to draw on their own ministerial experience and to develop their own voices as practical theologians at the forefront of reimagining and training others in the pathbreaking practices of ministry that our challenging times demand.
In addition to the outstanding faculties of the three partner institutions, the ecumenical DMin community is one of its own greatest resources. With a deep regard for the dignity and cultural subjectivity of each and every participant, the program is designed to prepare students to train others in ministry specifically by cultivating growth as self-directed, peer and field-based learners.
The program culminates with a written thesis project and oral presentation focusing on a specific practice of ministry. In the thesis project and presentation, the student employs the appropriate research methodologies and resources necessary to place into a dynamic, multilayered conversation: the history of the practice; the shape and content of the practice in the lived experience of contemporary faith communities; and the student’s own engagement with the practice—all with the aim of generating original and potentially transformative insights into the practice.
If you have questions about the program that I have not answered here or would like information about the application process, please consider scrolling down to learn more.
Blessings of peace,
Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program
Program Overview
Full time students may finish their course work and the preparation of the thesis-project proposal in one full academic year. The writing and approval of the thesis-project requires approximately another full academic year. Part time students may spread their course work over two to three years, including the preparation of their thesis-project proposal. All students may have up to five years from the time they officially entered the program to finish writing their thesis-project. The entire program can be completed in two full academic years, or can be spread over multiple years.
Please note that while certain courses may be taken online or through distance learning, the DMin is not designed to be fully completed through distance learning. Most courses follow the regular semester schedule. There are however several online courses that DMin students may take during their program. While students have commuted from Milwaukee, St. Louis, Detroit, and even Miami and Texas, students are expected to spend an entire semester in Chicago twice over a period of four years, or make arrangements to be present one day a week for semester-long courses. In agreement with the course instructor, students may participate in the class via a designated internet videoconferencing platform for a certain number of class sessions during the semester.
Program Structure (30 semester credits)
- Core I – Introduction to Practical Theology (3 semester credits)
- Four courses within concentration area (12 semester credits total)
- Two courses outside concentration area (6 semester credits total)
- Core II – Thesis Proposal Seminar (3 semester credits)
- Thesis-Project (6 semester credits)
Program Outcomes
The graduate of the Doctor of Ministry degree:
- Integrates an advanced understanding of practical theology as a theological discipline and as a fundamental lens for interpreting the dynamics of ministerial practice;
- Leads others in collaborative ministry that recognizes and honors the plurality of contexts, cultures, and perspectives;
- Cultivates a mature spiritual and ethical sensitivity as the basis of ministerial choices; and
- Competently researches, writes, and teaches on topics related to the theology and practice of ministry.
Pre-requisites
- Five years’ experience in ministry leadership with minimum of three years after finishing their MDiv.
- Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent (approximately 72 graduate credits).
- 3.0 GPA in religious or theological studies.
- English language proficiency for graduate level studies.
Concentrations
The DMin program offers five concentrations including Educating for Witness, Hispanic Theology and Ministry, Intercultural Studies and Ministries, Liturgy, and Spirituality.
- The concentration in Hispanic theology and ministry is intended to equip experienced ministers, both those of Hispanic descent and those of other racial/ethnic/cultural backgrounds, for ministry and leadership in our churches in light of changing demographics as well as in specifically Hispanic ministries. This concentration will bring together critical reflection on the lived praxis of Hispanic communities with the unique body of theological scholarship that has emerged from Latino@ theologians, especially over the past thirty years. The integral relationship between the lived daily experiences of Latino@ communities and the theological reflections that emerge from within these contexts is articulated as teología y pastoral en conjunto. This relationship recognizes the intrinsic connection between theology and ministry as one of mutual accountability lived in community.
- Required courses for the Hispanic Theology and Ministry Concentration
- DSC5200 – Sources and Methods in Latin@ Theology or another designated course.
- Three courses with explicitly Latin@ themes.
- A reading and speaking knowledge of Spanish is recommended and encouraged but not a pre-requisite or a requirement for the program.
- The EDMin thesis-project in either this or other concentrations may be written in either English or Spanish, provided that the student is able to assemble a thesis board according to the program manual that is capable of reading the work if in Spanish.
- This is a concentration for persons who already have experience in intercultural ministry. Consequently, the five-year minimum ministerial experience prerequisite for entry into the program should have been in a specific intercultural setting. The concentration focuses on areas of ministry where cultural differences raise special challenges to pastoral ministry and mission. Skills development in this concentration focus on tools for analysis of cultures, communication across cultural boundaries, and differing styles of leadership appropriate to living on cultural boundaries. Theory centers on the understanding of cultures, the intersection of culture and theology, cultures and colonization, and the formation of communities within and across cultural and faith boundaries. The concentration is interdisciplinary and ecumenical.
- Required courses for the Intercultural Studies and Ministry Concentration
- CD5001 – Inculturation: Theory and Methods or another designated course.
- One course with a specific cultural/religious theoretical focus.
- Two other courses sponsored Intercultural Studies and Ministry department.
- The concentration in liturgy prepares people to attend to the entire worship event in order to render it more authentic and effective. It combines historical and systematic studies with emerging pastoral methods to enable students to construct worship in the light of liturgical traditions and to assess the effectiveness of worship in particular communities. It is a concentration for persons who already have experience in liturgical ministries, not for those who wish to enter this ministry for the first time. Consequently, the five years of ministerial experience prerequisite for entry into the program should include a significant focus on liturgical ministry.
- Required courses for the Liturgy Concentration
- W5230 – Liturgical Methods
- Three other courses sponsored by the Word and Worship department
- The “Educating for Witness” concentration is designed for those who assume leadership in educating believers both in the knowledge and in the practice of their faith. It combines religious education, communications, proclamation, and catechesis with the study of key religious values and practices (e.g., peace-building, the promotion of justice, etc.). This concentration is open to those who have previous experience, broadly speaking, in educational ministries and faith formation ministries.
- Required courses for Educating for Witness Concentration
- Designated concentration methodology course.
- One course addressing the history, theology, and/or praxis of a particular form of “witness” (e.g., reconciliation, peace-making, etc.) or a particular praxis which requires the response of witness from a religious perspective (e.g., human rights abuse, depletion of natural resources, etc.)
- One course concerned with the communicative, educational or proclamatory nature of witness (e.g., media, catechesis, preaching).
- The rest of the courses are chosen by the student in consultation with their academic advisor to meet their area of research and interest.
- The concentration in spirituality is designed to enhance the intellectual and pastoral skills of those whose ministerial goal is to foster spiritual development through leadership within communities. Participants in this concentration will enter into dialogue with contemporary scholarship in the academic field of spirituality, as well as in other theological disciplines and the human sciences. They will be encouraged to integrate their pastoral expertise as spiritual leaders with intensified theological, historical, and cross-cultural awareness. This concentration is intended for people who already have experience in spiritual ministry, not for those who wish to enter this field for the first time. Consequently, the five years of ministerial experience prerequisite for entry into this program should include significant focus on spiritual ministry.
- Required courses for the Spirituality Concentration
- Foundations for the Study of Spirituality (a designated course).
- One course focusing on historical traditions of spirituality.
- One course focusing on a set of psychological, cultural, and/or pastoral issues relevant to spiritual leadership.
Application
- DMin application
- Three letters of recommendation
- Three (3) recommendations are required: one from an ecclesiastical superior or a religious supervisor who is in a position to evaluate your ministerial experience; one from a person who can evaluate your academic ability; and one from a peer (a colleague in ministry or a friend).
- Curriculum Vitae
- Outline your education (degree and non-degree programs), ministry, publications, presentations, travel, and any other aspects of your professional life that could be of interest to the admissions committee. Note your specific background in the area of concentration you intend to study.
- Reading List
- Provide a list of the readings in theology and ministry that have been influential to you over the past 2 years. What journals do you read and what other professional resources have you found helpful in your ministry?
- Personal Statement
- Write a 1,000-1,500 word statement of your personal goals in ministry. Include a self-assessment describing the experiences that led you to set these goals, as well as your future potential for meeting them.
- Application from faith traditions other than Christian
- If you belong to a faith tradition other than a Christian denomination, describe why you chose to study on this academic level in this interfaith context. Since many of your colleagues will be reflecting out of a Christian perspective, describe how prepared you are to enter and influence that context.
- Transcripts
- Transcripts of all post-secondary academic credits should be sent to the Director of the Doctor of Ministry at CTU by the respective institutions. Transcripts may be sent electronically to edmin@ctu.edu or via postal mail to the address listed on page four (4) of the DMin admission application.
Critical Dates and Deadlines
- February 1, 2023 – Priority Scholarship Deadline
- May 1, 2023 – Application deadline for Internationally-based students
- July 15, 2023 – Application deadline for US-based students
- August 24-26, 2023 – Program Immersion Seminar
Alumni Profiles
Gerald Galipeau, DMin ’99
Dr. Jerry Galipeau serves as Executive Director of Mission Integration for three Catholic hospitals in Connecticut, including Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, which was just named one of the 100 best hospitals in the United States by IBM Watson. He served as Vice President and Chief Publishing Officer at J.S. Paluch Company and its music and liturgy division, World Library Publications.
Victoria Yeung, DMin ’08
After Victoria completed the DMin at CTU she taught at Holy Spirit Seminary for several years in Hong Kong. For the last several years she has been the Director of Religious Education in the Diocese. Not only does Victoria serve the Hong Kong community.
