An exploration of the place of discernment in the life of the Christian and of the church, including such topics as attending to the Spirit, and developing individual and communal discernment practices.

Explores the many of facets of becoming like Jesus and their impact on our formation. Areas of exploration include families of origin, gender, personality, culture, and church tradition, and the many ways we engage in our formation, such as spiritual disciplines. These facets, as well as an overview of the history of spiritual formation, an introduction to operative images of God and the emergence of the false self, will create a lens for creating healthy relationships with God, ourselves, and others. Journaling will be a sustaining discipline throughout this course, serving as a mechanism for answering formational questions and as a repository of observations of the student’s own formation. This form of journaling will also prepare students for writing their spiritual autobiography later in the program.

An integration of Biblical and psychological insights, formational prayer, and transformational spiritual direction, using teaching, modeling, and group experience and including such topics as woundedness, addictions, and healthy ego development.

An investigation into how the Bible presents spiritual formation and how the Bible can be employed in spiritual formation, including such topics as worship, Bible study, and lectio divina.

Designed to connect the Imago Dei (image of God) to the Missio Dei (mission of God), as an educational and experiential journey. It includes a theological exploration of the Trinity, Christology, and Pneumatology; an overview of the missional church movement and missional traditions; and examines how these are integrated with prayer and worship. Spiritual formation and mission are explored as worship. Students will learn to connect their own stories to missional spirituality, to their ministries, and to their potential DMSF research.

An exploration of ancient practices of the church that will enhance one’s spiritual well-being in the midst of the busyness of daily life and ministry. This will include practices such as contemplative prayer, being in silence and solitude, listening to God to discern his voice and discovering what it means to rest in God.

A theoretical and practical review of dyadic relationships such as mentoring, discipleship, and spiritual direction that play a critical role in spiritual formation. This integrative course explores Christian spiritual formation in community, providing a theoretical and practical review of the relational and communal context of Christian formation. This includes an examination of the identity, structures and practices of Christian community. It also explores historic Christian disciplines and relationships to cultivate a theologically reflective practice of Christian discipleship. Includes application of learning to ministry.

Directed Reading and Research (DRR) courses allow students to study in a specific area of interest not addressed by the scheduled course offerings. Permission required.

An exploration of the issues related to suffering, adversity, death, dying and grief. These issues will be examined from a theological, psychological and spiritual perspective in order to be able to respond in an appropriate pastoral manner. What is critical in all of this is to discover God’s role in all of life including the end of life.

Provides support and guidance for continuing in and completing work for the DMin program. Pass/ No Pass. No credits. Permission required.

An overview of the ancient and contemporary practice of writing a spiritual autobiography and the composition of one’s own spiritual memoir. Project report will be included in your research portfolio.

Students will develop a biblically grounded and informed spiritual formation model and describe it with words, image and/or diagram. Students will learn the components of a spiritual formation model, be able to identify spiritual formation models in Christian history and Scriptures, and other forms of stories. They will also develop a theological foundation for their own models. The model will be a chapter in the research portfolio and will provide a thematic bridge to the field research project.

A research project on a ministry of spiritual formation or thanatology leading to experimental findings, the development of applied ministry competencies, and practical positive changes to an individual's ministry. This project report will be included in your research portfolio. Prerequisites: DMSF 0941 and DMSF 0942/DMPT 0942.

Facilitates the completion of the summative Doctor of Ministry document, integrating the main three research projects in a portfolio that meets publication standards. Includes a public presentation and an oral hearing based on the portfolio and the objectives of the program. Normally the last course; normally runs from January to December. Prerequisites: DMSF 0941, DMSF 0942/DMPT 0942 and DMSF 0943.