Programs: DMin
Admissions Process and Materials for the DMin Program

A list of admissions requirements, application materials, and program requirements.

 

DMin Program

Related Pages

 

The Doctor of Ministry degree program is designed to provide advanced study for persons who are already engaged in the practice of ministry in its varied forms. The program welcomes qualified applicants, laity and ordained, from the ministries of parish and congregational leadership, religious education, preaching, worship, pastoral care, hospital chaplaincy, and other forms of ministerial leadership. The emphasis of the program is on advancing personal, professional, and theological integration in order to help the participants achieve a high level of competency in the practice of ministry and its theoretical underpinnings.

The application deadline for the Doctor of Ministry program is November 15th for entrance into the program the following spring.

Admissions Requirements

  1. The Master of Divinity degree accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), or its equivalent, with a B+ average or better
  2. A minimum of three to five years experience in the practice of ministry.
  3. Proof of Institutional Support
  4. Computer literacy
  5. Minimum Technical Requirements
    • The equivalent of a 2 GHz Pentium or Mac (or higher)
    • 256 MB RAM
    • 24X CD ROM drive
    • Mouse
    • 56KBPS v.90 modem
    • Windows 98 or better
    • Printer
    • High Speed Internet or Cable Connection is preferable

    Software:

    • Current anti-virus software
    • Word processing: Microsoft Word 97 or later
    • Internet: Internet Explorer
    • PDF reader: Adobe Acrobat Reader

List of Application Materials Needed

Note: Application forms and letter of reference, etc. are available for download in the next section.

  1. A completed Application Form.
  2. A detailed Curriculum Vitae.
  3. A personal statement, not more than 1200 words on the following:
    1. Your views on the theory and practice of Christian ministry including your goals, objectives and rationale for ministry.
    2. Your ideas about the present and future needs of the church in ministries to changing social, economic and political structures.
    3. Your proposed research interest and your reasons for applying to the TST DMin Program.
    4. Your plans for the practice of ministry in the future.
  4. A bibliography of reading you have done in theology and other fields related to your practice of ministry and research interest.
  5. Official transcripts: Undergraduate degree, MDiv or its equivalent (which should be checked with the DMin Director) and any other post-graduate education. These should be sent to the attention of the Doctor of Ministry Office, Toronto School of Theology, directly by the institution.
  6. A TOEFL score, if applicable. (Please see the DMin Handbook for more details.)
  7. Reference Letters: the appropriate references request forms must accompany all reference letters:
    1. Two Academic References from faculty members in the institution where you received your MDiv or academically equivalent degree.
    2. Two Ministry Colleague/Associate References from your current ministry from person of good standing and known reputation in the field of ministry in which you are currently working.
    3. Official Letter of Denominational of Institutions Support from an appropriate official of your diocese, religious congregation, presbytery, conference or institution. They must declare full recognition of your intention to enter the DMin program which requires approximately 5 years until completion and a minimum of two days per week of course studies (not including completion of course work) as required by the DMin Program.
    4. A letter from a representative of the student’s ministry base indicating in principle that a Ministry Base Group will be formed to support the student’s progress until the student has an approved thesis proposal, normally in the third year.

Application Materials Available for Download

Application materials are available in both Adobe Acrobat format and in Flash Paper format. The former allows you to save the files on your computer, but the latter is generally faster to view.

Adobe Acrobat PDF Format

Flash Paper Format

Program Requirements

  1. Full participation in the Admissions process at the beginning of the program prior to the first academic year of study, normally in April.
  2. Active participation in the Collaborative Learning Group for at least three years, including the online component of the program, which consists of regular, ongoing collaboration throughout the academic year.
  3. The establishment and active participation of the Ministry Base Group for at least three years
  4. Successful completion of all core seminars and academic coursework, a comprehensive paper and oral exam, a thesis proposal and oral exam.
  5. A DMin thesis and a final oral examination. Normally, the DMin thesis will be examined on the TST campus. Exceptions may be made under certain circumstances. Students are responsible for the cost of their own travel, accommodation and meals.
  6. No languages other than English are required for entrance into the Program or as part of the Program requirements. DMin students are, however, encouraged to make use of materials related to their work in languages other than English and, should their thesis proposal require it, they may be asked to demonstrate competency in other languages.
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