Trinity Offers Joint D.Min. with Methodist Theological School

Trinity Lutheran Seminary has received approval from the Ohio Board of Regents and accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools for a joint Doctor of Ministry Degree program with the Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

Trinity and the Methodist Theological School, located in Delaware, Ohio, are partners in the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus. MTSO has offered a D.Min. program on its campus for eight years. Through cooperative efforts, the academic deans and program directors of the two institutions developed a joint degree program that will engage students and faculty from the two theological schools.

“This shared degree is a primary indicator of new collaborative efforts on the part of our two schools for the sake of mission,” said Trinity President Mark R. Ramseth.

Areas of specialization in the program include Leadership for Transformational Change, The Mission and Practice of Preaching, and Pastoral Theology and Care. The Doctor of Ministry is designed to provide ministering professionals with advanced educational experience, serve the church by providing leaders with advanced professional development, integrate classical and practical disciplines for theological work, and enhance analysis of changing contexts with a focus on transformation.

Based on a cohort model, the program can take anywhere from 3 ½ to 6 years to complete. New cohorts of five to 15 students will begin each July, starting with July 2011. For more information, contact Walter F. Taylor Jr., Director of Graduate Studies. Or read the academic catalog descriptions beginning on page 49. More information will also be available on Trinity’s Web site.

Trinity’s programs at the master’s level are approved by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Approval of the D.Min. program’s accreditation is underway, with an official determination expected in the fall.