This degree has been designed for
the local church Pastor who is a  BiVocational Pastor, Second Career Pastor,

or Lay Pastor who does not have a

Master of Divinity degree.

Traditional seminary degrees are often out of reach due to work, family, geography or finances.

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Our degree is offered entirely online featuring video-based micro-lectures, ZOOM video-conferencing, and tutorial formats.

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The Diploma reads:

Doctor in Pastoral Ministry

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Educational Standards:

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Northwind Theological School used the educational standards of the Association of Theological School to design this degree program. The Association of Theological School Commission on Accrediting includes 260 graduate theological schools in the United States and Canada. The Commission is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

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The goals for the Doctor of Ministry should include an advanced understanding of the nature and purposes of ministry, enhanced competencies in pastoral analysis and ministerial skills, the integration of these dimensions into the theologically reflective practice of ministry, new knowledge about the practice of ministry, continued growth in spiritual maturity, and development and appropriation of a personal and professional ethic with focused study on ethical standards and mature conduct in the profession.

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Northwind Theological Seminary has designed its Doctor in Pastoral Ministry to advance the general practice of pastoral ministry. 

The course of study is based on the traditional Doctor of Ministry experience and includes:

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Three 3-credit hour courses:
 

Christian Traditions
with Dr. Michael Christensen
 

neXt church 
with Dr. Carl Savage
 

Christian Futuring
with Dr. Robert Duncan

These courses were originally taught at Drew Theological School by our three professors who taught together in the Doctor of Ministry Program. Based on that experience, they published "Equipping the Saints - Mobilizing Laity for Ministry" which is used in all three courses in this degree.

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One 3-credit Tutorial Course

Pastoral Ministry Elective - Tutorial with a Faculty Mentor in your area of ministry

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Portfolio Experience - 24 Credits

Four 6-credit hour courses

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Portfolio Research Methods  

Pastoral Ministry
 

Portfolio Research I

Pastoral Ministry

Portfolio Project

Pastoral Ministry

Portfolio Doctoral Paper

faculty-mentor
directed

The Faculty Mentor facilitates scheduled video conversations and participates in the portfolio preparation and examination.

Capstone
experience

Students journey through a series of research milestones to generate the final Capstone Project that addresses a Need or Opportunity in their ministry context.

online
flexible

Students set their own schedule and proceed at their own pace. Each course can be completed within 30 to 90 days.