Context Support Group

During the first year in the program DMin participants in all concentrations are required to select five persons within their ministry context to serve on their context support group. These persons meet as a group once a year with the participant throughout their program and provide both encouragement and assessment of their growth throughout the journey. Assessment of transformation within the participant and transformation within the organization served by the participant is provided by feedback from the site group through:

1. the relational dynamics of the group,
2. verbal feedback to the participant regarding the Ministry Development Plan, and
3. an anonymous survey provided to the DMin office in the first year and one year following graduation.

The Process:

1. The concept and role of the context support group are reviewed during the orientation process delivered at the intensive for the first module.
   
2. A file will be provided to participants for sharing with their selected context support group during that orientation. The file will include: 1) this document; 2) DMin program concentration competencies; and 3) an orientation document regarding the ministry development plan (MDP);
   
3. The participant selects the context support group and conducts the first meeting with them within 30 days after the end of the first intensive.
   
4. Participants are required to have one meeting with the context support group each year. The participant is also required to have two cohort work group meetings each year. Journal and attendance reports for these three meetings are sent to the lead teacher of a specific module. The meeting with the context support group centers on the MDP each year, while assignments for the cohort work group vary.
   
5. In the first year and one year after the participant graduates from the program the context support group members receive an online survey from the program office. The final survey helps the program complete the feedback loop by using the surveys to assess perceived transformation within the participant and within the organization.

1/4/2010