New flexible program launched for ministry professionals at Providence

Providence College Press Release

December 20, 2002 - Vocational Christian ministers have a new option to consider as they continue to grow in their profession. Providence Theological Seminary will offer the Doctor of Ministry Orientation Module at Heritage Theological Seminary, of Cambridge, Ontario from February 25 to 27, 2003. This new module will allow interested students to advance more quickly in the program. It is hoped that in the near future, up to half of the Providence Doctor of Ministry program will be available in Cambridge.

The Doctor of Ministry degree is considered the terminal degree for a professional pastor. The schooling necessary to obtain this degree is intense, but also flexible. The program consists of six modules, each being an intensive week-long class with pre- and post-classroom work. There is also a seventh specialization course and a project/dissertation. This doctoral level program is fully approved by the Association of Theological Schools in the US and Canada, the major accrediting agency for Seminaries in North America.

Offering maximum flexibility is an important part of the D.Min. program, as it allows students to serve in ministry opportunities or continue in their professional capacity while they are studying. The program is fashioned for the individual who is active in some area of professional Christian ministry and who wishes to upgrade their qualifications without taking a leave of absence. The Orientation is a critical component of the overall program, as it sets the tone for the entire Doctor of Ministry training.

By offering the Doctor of Ministry Orientation Module in February at Heritage Seminary, Providence is attempting to offer students in the Toronto and central Ontario area a convenient location to study. Students in this program will also benefit from having Faculty advisors available in Cambridge for consultation as they prepare and complete their project/dissertation. Former Providence academic dean, Dr. David Smith, will be teaching the Module. Further components of the program will be taught at Providence in Manitoba. Dr. Daryl Climenhaga, Doctor of Ministry program director, comments, “The Doctor of Ministry from Providence Theological Seminary combines the benefits of a strong program taught by scholars with extensive pastoral experience, with a genuinely Canadian orientation. Linking with Heritage Theological Seminary brings together pastors and scholars from Central and Western Canada in what may be the first broad-based Canadian and evangelical D.Min. program.” Providence has a long-range goal of setting up satellite campuses in numerous locations, where students can conveniently take these courses.

Doctor of Ministry modules include: Orientation (module 1), Communications (module 2), Pastoral Care and Counselling (module 3), Leadership (module 4), Project Development (module 5) and Personal Development (module 6). A seventh specialization module allows the student to craft the program to fit his/her needs and situation, and is negotiated with the program director. The project/dissertation fills out this personalization more fully. Each module is offered only at certain times of the year. Students do not need to take each module in ascending numerical order, except that they must begin with module one and complete the program by taking module six. The average student takes three years to complete the program.

John Clarke, Doctor of Ministry graduate and pastor of First Congregational Church in Connecticut had this to say: “The Doctor of Ministry program at Providence Theological Seminary provided me with the educational instruments to sharpen the tools gained in my years in ministry and helped me focus those tools in practical ways that enhanced my ability to do ministry in the twenty-first century.”

If you are seeking to hone your ministry skills to a fine edge, to be the best that you can be in service to the Kingdom of God, consider the Doctor of Ministry program at Providence Theological Seminary. It is open to both men and women, but has a limited enrolment. For more information on taking part in the Doctor of Ministry Orientation, February 25 to 27, 2003, at Heritage Seminary in Cambridge, Ontario, please contact Providence at 800-668-7768 or visit their website for more information at www.seminary.ca.