Discipleship

 
 

The next cohort opportunity is expected to begin during spring semester 2022.

Mission

The Doctor of Ministry Discipleship Concentration integrates an understanding of a theology of discipleship and biblical spirituality, with the process and dynamics involved in the participants' personal spiritual growth and consequent modeling, mentoring and teaching roles within the context of family, church and community.

Concentration Goals

Upon completing this program, the participants will be able to:

  • Articulate a Seventh-day Adventist perspective on discipleship and biblical spirituality.
  • Demonstrate a continuing maturity in personal growth and ministry.
  • Integrate the theological, theoretical, experiential and practical dimensions of discipleship into a theologically reflective practice of ministry.
  • Train spiritually mature and relationally gifted people as spiritual mentors.
  • Conduct a biblically and theologically faithful praxis of discipleship and biblical spirituality both individually and corporately.
  • Discern truth from counterfeit as a means of both personal and corporate protection in light of the growing number of non-biblical "spiritualities."
Competencies

The DMin Discipleship and Biblical Spirituality concentration seeks to create competency in the areas related to the discipline:

  1. Academic Advancement: to enable participants to acquire knowledge of current and classic literature related to the area of biblical spirituality and the process of discipleship. To engage this area of ministry through theological, biblical, and psychological perspectives, as well as to learn basic research skills relating to the field of discipleship and biblical spirituality.
  2. Spiritual and Theological Discipline: to enable participants to reflect on their personal spiritual and theological perspectives and to integrate them into their practice of ministry.
  3. Praxis: to enable participants to acquire skills pertinent to their practice in pastoral care and spiritual leadership within the context of discipleship and biblical spirituality in the family, church, and wider community.
  4. Self-reflection/Personal Growth: to enable participants to become aware of their personal strengths and limitations and to understand that, in Christian ministry, being is as important as doing.
The Cohort Experience

The program is delivered in the cohort model, wherein participants proceed through the sequence of courses together. Study and learning are year-round, with pre-intensive, during-intensive, and post-intensive activities and experiences. Pre-intensive assignment preparation can begin as early as six months prior to an intensive. There are four annual teaching sessions presented by ministry professionals. During the program you will participate in regional work groups, follow a ministry development plan, read and reflect on the best literature in your concentration area, and develop and evaluate a professional project within the context of your own congregational or other leadership responsibilities.

Cohorts are identified by the year in which they formed. For example, if you are a member of a cohort that formed in 2014, during the five-six years you expect to be in the program, the title of your group will be "the 2014 Discipleship Cohort."

Module Descriptions
  1. DSRE705 - Theological and Historical Perspectives on Discipleship
    Credits: 4
    Examines the biblical and theological basis for spiritual life, discipleship and Christian experience as well as how this theology has been understood and experienced in the history of the church and the lives of believers. Critiques contemporary forms of spirituality to enable students to discern truth from counterfeit.
     
  2. GSEM790 - DMin Professional Dissertation Seminar
    Credits: 4
    Participants receive assistance in forming their DMin project proposal, and orientation to issues in successful completion of the project. Areas of focus include a literature review, theological reflection, critical thinking, experiential learning, reflective observation, research design and techniques, reading and evaluating research, academic writing, development of an effective work plan for completion of the project, and other project-related topics.
     
  3. DSRE707 - The Personal Practice of Discipleship and Biblical Spirituality
    Credits: 8
    Covers an historical view of those devotional practices outlined in Scripture, Ellen White and significant devotional writers that lead to Christian formation. Provides a praxis model of reflection upon and engagement with those spiritual practices and patterns of life that define who we are as disciples of Jesus.
     
  4. DSRE708 - Mentoring and Coaching for Discipleship
    Credits: 5
    This module will equip participants for assisting in the  discipling of others through spiritual mentoring and coaching. It will develop an understanding of the mentoring and coaching process, as well as how the age, temperament and developmental stage of a mentoree help to determine the most effective model for discipling.
     
  5. DSRE709 - Constructs of Corporate Ministry for Discipleship
    Credits: 5
    Explores constructs of corporate ministry that will enhance growth in Christian formation and discipleship within the context of the church and wider community. A corporate life of outreach and ministry to others through loving and maturing relationships will be developed.
     
  6. GSEM796 - DMin Professional Dissertation/Portfolio
    Credits: 6
    The DMin professional dissertation/portfolio integrates theological reflection, scholarly research, and practical ministry. The professional dissertation/portfolio contributes to the enhancement of ministry and to the growth and development of the ministry professional. Students taking the Chaplaincy ACPE Certified Educator option must successfully complete the competency-based professional portfolio according to the guidelines outlined in the ACPE Certification Manual. 
Contact the Coordinator

The concentration coordinator is Dr. Allan Walshe. He can be reached at 1-269-471-3318, walshe@andrews.edu.

Schedule

Travel and lodging information is provided in the links under the "Intensive Location" column. 
Cohorts are identified by the year in which they formed. Cohort participants will take these courses and modules:

2018 Cohort

Course requirements and schedule for the cohort started in 2018:
Online registration must be completed before course start date. The course registration number (CRN--in parentheses) is the number that registers the course.
Follow the linked course names to obtain the course syllabi.

Course # Course Name Instructor Course Start Intensive Dates Course End Intensive Location
DSRE 705-112 (1690) Theological & Historical Perspectives on Discipleship (4 cr) Allan Walshe Feb 8, 2018 Apr 9-17, 2018 Feb 7, 2019 Altamonte Springs, FL
GSEM 790-112 (1681) DMin Project Seminar (4 cr) David Penno Feb 26, 2018 Apr 18-25, 2018 Feb 25, 2019 Altamonte Springs, FL
GSEM 706-031 (1600) Spiritual and Theological Foundations for Ministry (8 cr)
(includes 2-day Field Research Symposium with Petr Cincala)
Field Research Symposium syllabus
Field Research Symposium schedule
Allan Walshe Jan 29, 2019 Mar 28-Apr 22, 2019 Jan 28, 2020 Andrews University
  Implementation Symposium David Penno   December 1017, 2019   1:00-5:00 pm EDST via Zoom
DSRE 708 Mentoring for Discipleship & Biblical Spirituality (5 cr) Ben Maxson   March 16-26, 2020   Loma Linda Univ
GSEM 796 DMin Project (3 cr)     spring semester 2020    
DSRE 709 Constructs of Corporate Ministry for Discipleship & Biblical Spirituality (5 cr) Kleber Gonçalves   April 12-22, 2021   Andrews University
GSEM 796 DMin Project (3 cr)     spring semester 2021    


The Doctor of Ministry reduced residency (for intensive venues other than the Andrews University campus) is offered as an approved exception to Association of Theological Schools Degree Program Standard B, section E.3.1.1.

Ordering Books

For a schedule of dates and locations of intensives planned for cohorts in other concentrations, see the four-year DMin Program Planner.

You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software loaded on your machine to access any pdf documents referenced on this page.

7/9/2019