My Doctor of Ministry program has begun! I thought I’d share some of the structure and content of my DMin study with you, and I’ll continue to update my progress as I pursue this degree. I had my first course at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago (located by the University of Chicago campus) during the first week of January and I’ll have another week-long intensive course from June 13-17, followed by a week in October. Having three 1-week courses during a year is the basic pattern of the program for three years, with some initial “core” courses that all participants take on current issues in ministry, theology, and leadership and then some elective courses on areas of personal ministry interest. The DMin program moves toward a final thesis project which is on an area of interest that I will choose and research, and the course work in the final year turns more fully toward the thesis project. For my thesis I am considering developing liturgical resources that reflect the theology of Rene Girard and James Alison, who offer a language of non-violence and freedom for Christian faith.
I am making my way through the DMin program with a cohort of students who all began in January, and interacting with these colleagues and other students along the way is an important and enjoyable part of the DMin process. My cohort is a total of 8 students in various setting of ministry, and almost all younger than me! 6 of them are from the Chicago area and 1 is from Grand Rapids, Minnesota! 1 is Presbyterian and 6 are in various Baptist and Free Church denominations in the African-American church tradition. 5 are women, 1 is a chaplain, 5 are in an associate pastor roles and 1 is a solo pastor.
The support of Hope Church is an essential part of my DMin studies, and I’m grateful for the church leadership, congregation, Pastor Jill and staff, in providing the time and resources for me to be in the DMin program. An additional part of Hope Church support is the formation of an “Advisory Group on Ministry” to be in dialogue with me throughout my DMin program. McCormick includes the AGM as part of the DMin process as a way for there to be intentional support, feedback and collaboration within my ministry setting. I have 5 people who have agreed to be on my AGM – Laurie Baron, Keith Derrick, Josh Bochniak, Cindi Veldheer DeYoung, Curtis Gruenler – and we will meet periodically both to discuss the content of my DMin courses and to collaborate on my ideas for a final thesis project. I’m grateful to these AGM folks and to all of you for the interest and support provided as I work on my DMin.
To close I’ll just share a quick note about the first course that I completed in January (FYI: I passed!). The course focused on the dynamics present among groups as a part of a congregation and the role of a leader in promoting health within those groups. At Hope Church in recent years we’ve used the concept of Polarities as a way of understanding congregational dynamics (i.e. the interplay of Tradition and Innovation), and this course helped to build on that for me. A particular insight was to emphasize for me the language of “paradox” in dealing with polarities. This means that in the example of Tradition and Innovation that it is not only that there needs to be a balance between them but also to acknowledge that there is an inherent tension present between them that is never completely resolved. To recognize the paradox of such co-existing dynamics opens the way to engage tensions creatively, not as problems to be solved but as opportunities to better know what is alive in the people and ministry of Hope Church.
Thank you for supporting me in my Doctor of Ministry!
Peace,
Gordon