Curriculum Overview - D.Min. in Congregational Mission and Leadership

This curriculum enhances your capacity for effective church ministry either within congregations or in staff or leadership roles in regional judicatories, national agencies, campus ministries or non-profit religious organizations. This degree demonstrates that you are professionally prepared to successfully lead in the missional church.

The curriculum helps you to:

1. More effectively lead congregations, working from an advanced understanding of the nature and purposes of ministry.
2. Enhance your pastoral analysis and ministerial skills.
3. Integrate your understanding and skills for ministry through critical theological reflection.
4. Grow spiritually within your ministry.

Requirements

View a graphic overview of the five year schedule.

Introductory Seminars

Year One
CL7511 Integration of Theology and Ministry - Theological Reflection
      View a recent syllabus.
CL7512 Pastoral Identity, Leadership, and Spirituality
     View a recent syllabus.

Concentration Seminars

Year Two
CL7521 The Missional Church
     View a recent syllabus.
CL7522 The Missional Leader
       View a recent syllabus.

Year Three
CL7531 Theological Foundations for Congregational Vitalization - Part I
CL7532 Theological Foundations for Congregational Vitalization Part II

Year Four
Track A
CL7541 Introduction to Research Methods
CL7542 Program Review and Thesis proposal
     View a recent syllabus.

Track B
Two comparable seminars as a field of concentration - these may be transferred from another ATS accredited school.

Thesis: CL7551

Students meet in seminar cohorts for two-three days each in June, October and January. The cohorts review draft sections of their thesis on the following schedule:

• June - Overview of thesis, literature review (chapters 1-3) and research design
• October - Analysis of research (chapter 4)
• January - Summary findings and theological reflections (chapters 5-6)
• March - Completed thesis due

Ecumenical Partnerships

Although Luther Seminary is the primary provider of classes, seminars, etc. for this program, the seminary has partnerships and alliances with other educational institutions. These relationships give students greater flexibility and choice. They also reflect Luther Seminary's commitment to building and maintaining strategic ecumenical partnerships with schools engaged in providing theological education from a missional and confessional perspective. For more information on Luther Seminary's ecumenical partnerships, contact Krista Lind, Director of the Student Resource Center at klind@luthersem.edu.