How Will a Doctor of Ministry Prepare Me for Teaching Ministry?

Calvin Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree is designed with the student in mind, providing a personalized approach to education through innovative coursework and authentic contextual engagement. When Dorothy Jenkins found she wanted to further hone her teaching and leadership development skills, she found the DMin program would directly integrate her ministry experience as part of her learning.

An Early Call to Ministry

Dorothy Jenkins felt an early call to ministry, having been raised in the church and surrounded by family members who served in pastoral and ministry capacities. As a teenager, she developed an interest in writing, leading her to self-publish several books as an adult. Over time, Dorothy’s call to ministry has developed into ministry to women, writing books with them in mind, counseling, and leading retreats. In the midst of her busy ministry schedule, Dr. Danjuma Gibson (Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care, and Counseling at Calvin Seminary) spoke at an event at her church, serving as a catalyst for her interest in Calvin Seminary and the DMin program. 

Why pursue a doctoral degree when you already have an established ministry? Dorothy saw that a doctoral program that takes theory and pairs it with practice, would offer her the opportunity to hone her pedagogical skills and focus on how to prepare future church leaders.

Integrating Experience into Pedagogical Development

Throughout her time in the DMin program, Dorothy discovered a multitude of opportunities and spaces to integrate her ministry experience into her in-class learning. She discovered the DMin program community to be one of active listening, with faculty members and classmates alike focusing on how each students’ gifts, experience and God-given calling shaped their education and interaction with diverse ministry contexts, making each student a continually effective kingdom worker. This is the heart of the DMin program: whole-person formation, emphasizing the life of her heart and mind, not just regurgitating information read in books or learned in class. 

With years of experience in preaching and teaching, Dorothy has been offered numerous opportunities to develop and practice her own style of teaching, receiving encouraging feedback and development advice from professors and fellow students. This pedagogical development, combined with her in-class learning, has laid the beginning foundations for her doctoral research, where she’s examining leadership development in black female ministers.

Equipped for Teaching Ministry and Leadership Development

Even as Dorothy works on her dissertation, she continues to be equipped for ongoing teaching ministry and developing future leaders through her studies. In addition to writing, counseling, and leading retreats, Dorothy has a heart for spiritual formation, helping individuals understand God’s presence in the midst of painful experiences. She also deeply enjoys writing to help women understand and have a fresh perspective on Scripture. 

Dorothy’s story is only one example of how theory and practice go hand in hand in the DMin program. We invite you to start a conversation with us about how our DMin program can hone your skills and prepare you for new paths in ministry. 

How to Apply

If you’re interested in learning more about our Doctor of Ministry program, our Admissions Team is available to answer any questions you may have. To begin your application, visit our website. We’re excited to hear from you!