The purpose of this course is to assist students in growing their writing skills and basic research methods. In addition to writing itself, students will discuss Chicago style, plagiarism, evaluating and using sources, critical and analytical thinking, and use of rubrics for evaluating assignments.

Personal Transformation is the outcome of an intentional, ongoing, disciplined, and long-term process, involving God's activity and personal work and commitment. This course provides tools for an in-depth exploration of one's mind, body and soul and an invitation to embark on a journey of Personal Transformation, in relation to one's call and engagement of ministry. In this course, students will be introduced to the theories and practice of some disciplines such as: meditation and prayer, exploration of one's personality structure and ways of being in the world, cultivation of self-awareness and mindfulness, listening to one's own inner life, attentiveness to one's fully embodied presence in the world. As these practices expand our human potential for deep change and inner transformation, students are invited to continue their engagement of such disciplines beyond the duration of the course.

In this course, students formulate principles for leading ongoing revitalization of ministries. Two sets of sources provide the substance for developing these principles. The first set is historical biographies; the second is current case studies. These principles are gleaned from a probing examination of the intersections where leader biographies may speak to current case studies. Leaders selected for study are historic figures who led transformative ministries with lasting positive results. Case studies are created from actual incidents.

Leadership Integrative Professional Paper (3 credits)- The course cluster, "Sustained Spiritual and Personal Maturation," includes a guided independent research paper of about 7000-7500 words. The paper's purpose is to integrate learnings from DMIN911H and DMIN912H, and to reflect insightfully on how the student's personal identity shapes their practice of ministry in setting; in other words, how who they are shapes what they do professionally. If the student elects to pursue one of the track options for the Doctor of Ministry degree, then this paper will engage ministry through the focus of the student's concentration and include books from their track's bibliography that would help inform their work.

Leading the Dynamics of Change (3 credits) Participants will explore the church as a system, and the implications of systems thinking on leading a congregation. Participants will discuss the church as a community, and the church in the community; culture and its role; church health and vitality; and how all of this affects the church's ability to be a mission outpost in a changing world.

Missional Renewal in the Age of Globalization (3 credits) This course explores the implications of globalization for the church and its mission. "Globalization" is as big as the term suggests, referring to the coming together of many different cultures, socio-economic classes, and ideologies, thus creating cross-cultural, cross-socio-economic, cross-generational, interreligious and postmodern realities more than ever before. These realities pose challenges to congregations that seek to maintain the gospel's relevance in the world. What does missional renewal look like in light of these realities? This course addresses this question from sociological, theological and practical perspectives, as it considers the challenges of becoming missional congregations in the age of globalization.

Reflection Paper on the topic of the Colloquium in relation to the cluster theme (3 credits)

This course explores the changing context of Christian ministry in the 21st century. Through readings, class discussions, and written work, students will explore issues related to understanding gospel and culture, reading future trends, the changing nature of church in a post?modern world and the interplay of renewal and discipleship for ministry. Participants will dialog and explore the role of the church in this new era, and the churches' call to be relevant in the context that it finds itself. Finally, the participants will look at the implications of becoming an authentic community.

This familiarizes students with research methodology for Doctor of Ministry projects. As the range of options are explored, differentiations are made between quantitative and qualitative, empirical and observational studies. Students will choose the method that best suits their developing project proposal and learn to design tools suitable for their study.

This course will prepare students for the presentation of an acceptable project proposal to the Doctor of Ministry Project Review Committee with a strong emphasis on developing leadership strategies for community renewal. We will also address vital issues within the student's context and discuss church sponsorship, volunteer management, fiscal and ethical responsibilities, partnering with complementary programs, and more, as needed for effective projects.

Students who have not successfully defended their thesis/dissertation by the end of DMIN-949 must register for DMIN-951 until the project is completed. Grading is pass/no credit. No credits accrue if a continuation semester is needed.

Doctor of Ministry Seminar I - is a concentration specific course taken nevertheless by all students pursuing the optional curriculum tracks. The professor poses a particular problem situation(s) in ministry. Students address the problem(s) in several dimensions according to their track specialization.

This course explores problems currently discussed in homiletic and educational disciplines as they bear on speaking intentionally into specific situations with purpose and conviction. Key to this course is the cultivation of linkages between ministries of preaching and teaching, so the two are singularly focused and mutually enhancing.

This course looks carefully at, and practices, theory and technique at the intersection between spiritual disciplines, psychology, coaching, and spiritual direction.