Doctor of Ministry in Spirit-filled Global Leadership in the African Diaspora

The highest professional degree for those in church or related ministries is the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree. This particular program is geared toward educated, experienced practitioners who desire to stimulate renewal in themselves and their ministries through the integration of their experience with advanced training, research, and reflection.

With a focus on forming leaders who are interested in the integration of Christian spirituality, the D.Min. in Spirit-filled Global Leadership in the African Diaspora program offers such while expanding upon the richness of African culture in a global, ecclesial context. 

Additionally, the Spirit-filled Global Leadership in the African Diaspora D.Min. program is organized around the foci of Bishop T.D. Jakes’ life and ministry and reinforces cultivation in the following areas:

1. Leadership development: Students develop a plan over four semesters that details their ministry philosophy and interest in cultural diversity.
2. Communication techniques: Students analyze and practice the Bishop T.D. Jakes method of preaching to enhance their own art of communication.
3. Innovative ministry experience: Students pursue research topics under the supervision of a faculty advisor in subjects arising from their ministry context.
4. Expanded perspective: Students will be required to participate in four Advances. Advances are face-to-face intensives, during which, they will be challenged with core readings and supplemental materials:
   • One African Advance during their enrollment in the D.Min. program, in locations such as Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, or Nigeria.
   • Attend two of the annual International Leadership Summits (ILS), to participate in sessions with guest lecturers from a wide variety of disciplinary, theological, and demographic perspectives. 
   • Attend one of the annual Jakes Divinity School Symposiums in Dallas, TX.

As with all of the JDS degree programs, students will not need to relocate to Dallas, TX, to pursue the D.Min. program. The delivery system of the Spirit-filled Global Leadership in the African Diaspora D.Min. degree includes participation in several seminars, conferences, and ‘field research’ experiences both domestically and abroad; coursework with faculty specialists, personal academic mentoring by select faculty advisors; online interactivity with cohort members and professors; as well as reading, reflection, research, and writing.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the D.Min. program must hold an ATS-accredited M.Div. degree or meet the seminary’s M.Div. equivalency requirements†, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

†Equivalency Procedures

An applicant who holds a master’s degree but does not hold the M.Div. degree from an ATS-accredited seminary may qualify for admission to the D.Min. program by meeting the ATS-requirements of a 72-graduate-semester-hour educational equivalent in theology, biblical studies, and the arts of ministry from an accredited institution.

The tuition includes instructional expenses. It also includes 1 international advance and 1 national advance with related lodging, ground transportation, and food). It does not include airfare for international and national advances.

	Tuition	Fee	Total
Year 1	$9,216	$6,000	$15,216
Year 2	$9,216	$4,000	$13,216
Year 3	$2,304	$0	$2,304
	$20,736	$10,000	$30,736