D.Min. enrollment hit an all-time high in 2012

 
Download Excel document of ATS DMin Enrollment 1988-2012

Comments: Why are there so many people today in Doctor of Ministry programs?

5 reasons why there are so many people doing D.Min. programs
today

1. A Ph.D. is too painful and a D.Min. is just right. I think it is
too expensive, long, and painful to get a Ph.D. for most people. The average
time for a Duke Ph.D. in Religion is 5.8
years and that is one of the very best stipends and student-friendly
programs anywhere. And, even if you survive for 6 years living on $20,000 a year
(at best), it is very difficult to get a job. A D.Min. is not a Ph.D. or Th.D.
but does demonstrate initiative, a zeal to learn, and perseverance. 

2. A D.Min. is a way of carving out space to learn. Yes, there are
enormous resources available on the web for pastors and many superb books to
read but it is of course very difficult to find time to get away from the daily
hectic routine and learn. Some ministry leaders are capable of getting away
enough to cultivate vision, assess themselves, even write books, but for many
ministry leaders, a D.Min. program (with the discipline of coursework and time
away) is ideal for carving out time to study, learn, and find solace and
friendship with other pastors.

3. Sometimes churches help with the cost. Sometimes churches will
share some of the cost of the D.Min. program knowing that it benefits them to
have a more balanced, rejuvenated, learning pastor. However, there are some
churches who have had their clergy leave to a larger church after getting a
D.Min. so they feel resentful toward what they paid. The church should structure
their payments knowing that a pastor may leave because of course this can happen
at any time for any reason; They may for example pay 1/2 of tuition right away
but gradually pay for the whole thing if the pastor stays for 5 years after
completing the D.Min.program. (There are a number of costs also for D.Min.
programs that are away from home such as plane tickets and housing for intense
courses but these trips are so rich-in-experience that few seem to complain
about the costs).

4. D.Min. programs are getting better with the web. Rather than just
reading at home by yourself before the intensive courses on campus, with online
course components, ministry leaders can now bond, share, empathize, and learn
online with other pastors in their class before meeting.

5. D.Min. programs have tracks for all sorts of specializations. You
can do a D.Min. in spiritual formation, executive leadership, marriage and
family counseling, preaching, leading parachurch organizations, etc. 

Two things to ask about prospective D.Min.
programs 

1. Ask whether you have the opportunity to study with regular seminary
faculty or just adjuncts. What is odd is that some D.Min. programs use
adjuncts almost exclusively so that a student may have very little interaction
with the regular faculty from the school. It is cheaper for the seminary that
way. But you have to wonder as a DMin student if you are getting a first class
education from that seminary with all adjuncts. Some seminaries justify this as
"The regular residential seminary faculty don't know anything about ministry so
it is good they don't teach in the D.Min. program!" But it would be better if
regular seminary faculty could invest in D.Min. students and learn from
them. 

2. Beware of the tendency to get stalled during the dissertation-writing
phase. The other thing to note is that many students get stalled after
coursework writing their "project" or "dissertation" or "thesis." A program
should have a workable template which makes completing the dissertation fairly
straightforward but should also allow room for creative, ambitious projects for
those highly motivated and capable for pulling them off. Ask about how they help
students finish their projects in a timely way.

Note: I did this research for a separate project but thought I would share it here for others' benefit.

See also my posts:

The rise of the non-M.Div. theological masters degree ATS Enrollment 1999-2012

and 

Largest D.Min. Programs 2012, 2011, 1988