Garrett-Evangelical News

Spiritual Direction

The Spiritual Direction track offers students an opportunity to enhance their ability to guide Christians in their understanding and practices of relating to God. In it, students learn the classical spiritual disciplines, study their historical applications, and consider how to apply these disciplines in a multitude of ways in their own congregations. Students also learn how to ground the spiritual disciplines in the mission of redemption, reconciliation and healing that God gave to the church, how to use spiritual disciplines to strengthen their leadership in the congregation, and how to bring spiritual formation to bear in issues of pastoral care, worship and administration. At the end of the degree, graduates will be equipped to serve as spiritual directors for individuals and small groups.

The conversations in classes are greatly enriched by ecumenical and ethinical diversity. The program provides a rich background as well as supervision experience in spiritual direction. The research project will also be directed in the area of spiritual formation/direction.

Please note that this track is offered on alternating years. The program will next accept applicants for the January 2012-2013 academic term.  

Admissions

Admissions Requirements:

  • Applicants must have earned a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree or its equivalent.

    Most master's degrees that are not MDivs require at least some additional theology courses for students to meet MDiv equivalency. Please feel free to contact the Registrar's Office to have your transcript evaluated for equivalency.
  • Applicants must have completed at least three years of full-time ministry following the awarding of that degree.

    Applicants do not, however, have to be ordained nor does the ministry have to be in a parish setting.
  • Applicants must be serving in a ministry setting in which the applicant could direct a ministry intervention as part of the final DMin project.

    It is important that applicants have both the access to and support of a ministry setting in which they can complete their final project. This setting could be a parish church, a cluster of local congregations, an annual conference or judicatory, or any other setting appropriate to the practice of ministry being studied by the applicant.

International Student Applicants

The DMin Program offers coursework in intensive sessions twice a year. This schedule has implications for international students and visa applications. Therefore, we are unable to offer F-1 visas for Doctor of Ministy students.

A completed application consists of:

  • Application Form
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Biographical Essay
  • Sample of Writing
  • 3 letters of reference
  • Ministry site Endorsement Letter
  • Transcripts from all institutions attended
  • $75 application fee
  • Background check (conducted by the seminary, may take up to two weeks to complete)
  • Additional financial and church documents are required of international students in order to satisfy internal and federal requirements.

Detailed information for the application requirements can be found on the online application.

The Doctor of Ministry committee reserves the right to determine in its sole judgment whether an applicant is a suitable candidate for a specific concentration in the DMin program.

Graduation

DMin Degree - 30 semester hours
DMin Degree Grid

The distinctic curriculum for the Spiritual Direction track consists of the following courses:

  • Spiritual Disciplines for Leadership
  • Spiritual Direction in Multi-cultural/Multi-religious World
  • Mission and Theology of the New Testament
  • Supervision in Spiritual Direction
  • Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Care

Schedule

The program is offered primarily in January and summer two-week intensives, with course preparation before and after course completion.

Sample Schedule (based on school years beginning with the Fall semester):

Year 1:
Fall - Submit application by 1 October, notified of admission by 1 November
January - Attend two courses
Summer - Attend two courses

Year 2:
January - Attend two courses
Summer - Attend two courses and begin work on mid-program material

Year 3:
Fall - Submit mid-program material for approval and begin ministry intervention
January - Complete ministry intervention and begin writing final ministry project paper
Spring - Complete and defend final ministry project paper

UMC Logo Garrett-Evangelical, a seminary related to
The United Methodist Church, welcomes
students from a wide range of faith traditions.