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LOUISVILLE — Columbia Theological Seminary will begin offering Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) courses at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Montreat Conference Center next fall, according to spokespersons for the seminary and the popular retreat center.
“The seminary is seeking ways to network with the larger Presbyterian Church in ways that will helpfully resource it,” said Charles Raynal, the seminary’s director of Advanced Studies. “So we’re taking the introductory part of our D.Min. program on the road.”
The introductory seminar to the seminary’s D.Min. program will be offered next fall and two additional elective courses at Montreat will be offered in the fall and spring of 2006.
Montreat has embraced the Columbia decision to offer the course work off-campus with open arms.
“We are indeed honored to be chosen as a D.Min. site for Colombia Theological Seminary,” said Merri Bass, vice president for program development and marketing at the conference center. “It is always a joy for us to continue to build partnerships throughout the church. We’ve enjoyed working with Columbia in the certification program for spiritual formation and look forward to this opportunity to further serve the larger church.”
Columbia has taken its D.Min. course work on the road for nearly 15 years. Other sites have included Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL; First Presbyterian Church in Summerville, SC; Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC; and Fondren Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS.
“Taking the program beyond the seminary campus has been successful. It makes it convenient for people to get started on D.Min. study,” said Raynal. “The purpose of a D.Min. is to help people be more effective pastors and church leaders.”
Columbia’s D.Min program requires a student to complete 36 hours of graduate credit and typically requires three to four years of study to complete. Much of the course work is designed around a supervised ministry practicum and a research project in the student’s place of ministry. It is designed for church leaders who have completed a Master of Divinity degree and at least three years of church service.
Two informational lunches have been scheduled for prospective students. The first is scheduled for noon, Tuesday, March 1, at the Assembly Inn at Montreat; the second will get under way at noon Monday, March 7, at First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC.
To register for the lunch or to obtain more program information, contact Raynal at 404-687-4534 or raynalc@ctsnet.edu.
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