Strategic Plan

Andrews University
Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary
Doctor of Ministry Program

Our Values

As an integrated expression of the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary community, the Doctor of Ministry program affirms the six core values of the Seminary: faithfulnees with expectation, Christ-likeness with humility, respect with justice, community with joy, discipleship with wholeness, and service with passion.

In the formation and delivery of our service to participants we value practicing authentic integrity, humility, and creativity. We relate to others with loving compassion in a relational community that celebrates global diversity and practices shared leadership. And we seek to facilitate experiential, transforming learning through sacrificial service and a commitment to excellence.

Our Vision: Changing the People Who Change the World

Therefore, we envision:

The Andrews Doctor of Ministry degree as a global leader in Doctor of Ministry programs and the premier choice for Seventh-day Adventist ministry professionals.
A growing global community of women and men of diverse cultural and faith traditions seeking their Doctor of Ministry degree in cohorts formed around specific concentrations.
Graduates who:
a) deepen their spirituality, leading to enrichment of personal and family life and a greater commitment to ministry;
b) participate in cohorts that contribute to collegial relationships;
c) understand the biblical model of leadership and develop competencies contributing to the strengthening of an Adventist perspective of discipleship, evangelism, mission, and ministry;
d) learn to evaluate ministerial practices through theological reflection, aiding in the formation of a biblical model of servant leadership;
e) learn to use appropriate tools to analyze the needs of churches and communities, to facilitate more effective ministry;
f) develop a global view of ministry;
g) enrich their learning experience within their ministry context.
A growing number of faculty and advising teams formed from our own seminary, sister institutions, outstanding professionals from the field, and Doctor of Ministry graduates who are passionate about our vision, understand and embrace the distinctive nature of Doctor of Ministry education, and are each remunerated for their service.
Participants finishing the program in a timely manner with support from faculty and staff.
Participants enjoying positive support from Doctor of Ministry faculty and staff, including an associate director, project coaches, full-time editor, writing workshops, a consistently applied process of accountability, and project advising.
A Doctor of Ministry Journal managed with adequate human resources, funded from our budget, that shares life-changing ministries launched by Doctor of Ministry projects.
A pathway for graduates of diverse master's degree programs to affordably pursue their Doctor of Ministry.
Graduates who contribute expertise to the program and continue in a lifelong community of learning and alumni fellowship.
A dedicated space for Doctor of Ministry functions with class and conference rooms, uplink capability, adequate offices, and a common room. Doctor of Ministry students are welcomed at an on-campus conference center with meeting rooms and lodging rooms for students.

Our Mission

Prompted by the promise of Christ's soon return, the Doctor of Ministry program at Andrews University is designed to develop spiritually mature and responsible professionals in ministry for worldwide church leadership.

Our Desired Outcomes (Preferred Future)

The Doctor of Ministry program seeks to develop the person, knowledge, and practice of its students. While the program is structured around certain areas of concentration, there are outcomes we feel are important to evaluate as outcomes for all students. The following are those program outcomes.

Being:

Seek deeper biblical spirituality
Obtain enrichment of personal and family life
Intensify greater commitment to ministry
Clarify an Adventist perspective of evangelism, mission, and ministry
Cultivate a global view of society and ministry

Knowing:

Acquire exceptional theoretical knowledge that contributes to advanced ministry
Understand the biblical model of servant leadership

Doing:

Enhance the ability to evaluate ministerial practices through theological reflection
Increase the ability to use appropriate tools to analyze the needs of churches and communities
Hone skills that facilitate more effective ministry
Sharpen the ability to articulate theological and theoretical understandings that advance global ministry
Strengthen habits of study that contribute to lifelong learning

Our Goals

Provide Quality Doctor of Ministry Education
Implement Effective Administrative Processes in the DMin Program
Respond to the Global Vision of the Church for Doctor of Ministry Education
Foster a Lifelong Learning Community

Our Goals with Action Steps

Provide Quality Doctor of Ministry Education
a. Build a consensus within our university regarding the nature of Doctor of Ministry research
b. Fully implement the assessment process
c. Demonstrate spiritual connection within the service and curriculum of the program
d. Establish an expectation for consistent assignment due deadlines
e. Tighten the process for dropping participants
f. Assure effective efforts at retention
g. Improve link between concentration outcomes and program outcomes, and assure they are published
Implement Effective Administrative Processes in the DMin Program
a. Help establish a bridge for people needing to satisfy an MDiv equivalency
b. Seek a part-time budget for a project editor
c. Make spiritual connections intentional
d. Improve the buy-in from coordinators, providing an honorarium for them
e. Promote the establishment of the Project Coach as a faculty position
f. Promote the need for adequate office space
g. Link the number of support staff to program enrollment
h. Establisn online enrollment and registration
Respond to the Global Vision of the Church for Doctor of Ministry Education
a. Seek input on quality of education issues
b. Ask for expectations regarding enrollment size
c. Ask for expectations regarding inclusion of non-SDA participants
d. Establish a suitable equivalency stance for international applicants that satisfies ATS
e. Establish a viable communication network with the field
Foster A Lifelong Learning Community
a. Promote a journal with a paid editor
b. Create a network for DMin graduates as a community of lifelong learners
c. Conduct an annual symposium for DMin graduates focusing on excellence in ministry, open to guests, and featuring the program, as well as the annual research award

September 15, 2011