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Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development

DMin in Congregational DevelopmentThe Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development prepares leaders for vital, dynamic and diverse communities of faith. By combining the strengths of Seabury Western and Church Divinity School of the Pacific, students take advantage of an unparalleled opportunity to learn, stretch, challenge themselves and others, and emerge at the end of three years with exceptional skills in leadership and deeper theological grounding for innovative and effective congregational ministry.

Students study with and learn from the outstanding residential faculty at Seabury Western and CDSP, the expert practitioners from important fields related to congregational development who serve as adjuncts, and their peers. Collaborative study in small groups, classroom lecture and discussion, on-line reflection throughout the year with one's core group, case studies and a congregational study of one's ministry location, and a thesis research project are some of the learning opportunities designed to integrate theory and practice. The DMin. in Congregational Development assists students in reflecting theologically on the nature of the church, understanding the challenges and opportunities facing today's faith communities, provides tools for analyzing the congregation and its context, offers training in effective organizing and strategizing, and fosters collegial interactions with others asking similar questions.

Seabury’s Kellogg School Summer Institute 2012, June 18-22, is a custom educational program tailored to meet the distinctive needs of lay and clergy leaders. It is taught by professors at the Center for Nonprofit Management, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a global leader in management education. 

Learn more about the program, and apply through the online application. Questions? Talk with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

DMin Theses Abstracts

Find abstracts from DMin theses 1998 to 2011 here

icon DMin Theses Abstracts 1998 to 2011

Degree Requirements

This program requires a minimum of 3 years and no more than six years to complete. Coursework offered by Seabury Western and CSDP is in one-week intensive sessions (June at Seabury, January at CDSP).

Required Courses

  • Congregations in the 21st Century
  • Congregational Systems
  • Community Organizing for Missional Living
  • Diversity and Context
  • Nonprofit Management
  • Nonprofit Management and Community Development
  • Research and Writing (1/2 course)
  • Writing the Thesis Proposal (1/2 course)

Each student is to take 2 Elective Courses which may be on-line, an intensive, a regular residential semester course, or a transfer course.

Sample elective offerings include

  • Missional Liturgy and Leadership
  • Implications of the Emergent Church for Ministry
  • Skills Development depending on the student's interest and context
  • Academic Subjects shaped by the students' interest and context

Additional Program Requirements

  • Participation in on-line Core Group throughout the year, with expert practitioner supervision
  • Reflection papers on relevant readings shared on-line with core group
  • A case study of an experience from your ministry shared on-line with core group
  • A congregational study of your local congregation
  • Thesis Project and Oral Defense

Core Group Participation

As students enter the program, they join a Core Group of between 10 and 20 others. This cohesive group comes together in person twice a year at the on-campus intensives, and throughout the years of study they engage in theological reflection, as well as offer each other constant support, encouragement and community. They work together on case studies. They offer advice and perspective as members tackle the day-to-day challenges in congregational life. They both learn from and teach each other. Each Core Group is supervised by a Seabury or CDSP faculty member and an expert practitioner in congregational development.

Admission Requirements

Persons wishing to enroll in the Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development program must meet the following requirements:

  • An M.Div. degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited theological school
  • At least 3-years of experience in ministry following the M.Div. degree
  • Evidence of desire to increase level of effectiveness in congregational leadership and development
  • Evidence of the capacity to engage in advanced theological study and practical reflection.

Admissions instructions and an application form are available here.

Prospective DMin students may apply for admission at any time. The deadline for starting June of each year is February 15 for priority admission. The final admissions deadline for starting June of each year is May 15.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition per 3-credit course $1,440
Advising Fee per year 100
Continuous Registration Fee
(Due annually after completion of coursework or during leave-of-absence)		 400
Thesis Fee - due at submission 750

(The figures above are for 2010 - 2011 and may be changed by Seabury at the school's discretion).

Transfer of Credits

Seabury accepts DMin credit in transfer for work done at the doctoral level at other accredited seminaries or institutions of higher education, subject to the degree restrictions on number of credits which can be transferred. For students in the joint DMin in Congregational Development program, courses taken at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP) are not considered transfer credits. Students in this program may transfer up to two doctoral-level course credits from an accredited seminary or institution of higher education that is other than Seabury-Western or CDSP.

Program of Study Schedule

Year One

Summer: Congregations in the 21st Century course at Seabury

January: Congregational Systems course at CDSP, Research and Writing Course at CDSP

All Year:
Core Group On-Line Participation
  • Ministry Critical Incident Report
  • Reading Reflections

Elective Course

Year Two

Summer: Community Organizing for Missional Living course at Seabury

January: Diversity and Context course at CDSP, Writing the Thesis Proposal course at CDSP

All Year:
Core Group On-Line Participation
  • Ministry Critical Incident Report

Elective Course

Year Three

Summer: Nonprofit Management course at Seabury

January: Nonprofit Management and Community Development course at CDSP

All Year:
Core Group On-Line Participation
  • Thesis Proposal
  • Thesis Writing

Continuing Education and Non-Credit Opportunities

All courses taught in the DMin in Congregational Development program are open to all students of faith. Those who want to pursue advanced study, but don't want or need a degree, may receive a Diploma in Congregational Studies (all course work for academic credit but no thesis) or a Professional Certificate in Congregational Development(four required courses for non-credit and the congregational study). People seeking enrichment or with an intellectual curiosity may take the courses for Continuing Education Units or simply for their own educational value at a significantly discounted cost.

For more information, contact the Director of Congregational Development, Dr. Susan Harlow at susan.harlow@seabury.edu