 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Doctor of Ministry at Pittsburgh
Engaging the questions creatively and faithfully
What is distinctive about a Doctor of Ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary?
We bring together pastor, church, and seminary through:
-
Four vital, creative, and imaginative focus areas
-
Going to the source- theology, Bible, history, heritage, practice, and spiritual formation
-
Critical reflection among peers and faculty
-
Global mission, interaction, and dialogue.
Please view the video: Welcome to the Doctor of Ministry Program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Applications are accepted for all programs on a continuing basis. Inquiries are welcome by contacting Susan Kendall, Director skendall@pts.edu or 412-362-5610, ext. 2112
Upcoming Event
Postdoctoral Forum- Now What: Rebirth of the Church
July 21-25, 2008
First Postdoctoral Forum
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
The Rev. Dr. Alan Falconer, adjunct faculty in reformed ecumenism in the Reformed Focus of the Doctor of Ministry Program and pastor of the Cathedral Church of St. Machar, Old Aberdeen, Scotland, will be guest lecturer each morning on the general theme of Bonheoffer. Each afternoon, postdoctoral pastors will meet with a member of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary faculty on various topics. Of course the evenings are for baseball games, theatre, restaurants, and general revelry. Contact the Doctor of Ministry Office at skendall@pts.edu or 412-362-5610, ext. 2112 to learn more.
New Cohort Groups
Parish Focus
Pastor Theologian for the 21st Century
January 2009 at Arizona
June 2009 at Pittsburgh
Reformed Focus
Joint Partnership with the University of Aberdeen, Scotland
Cultivating the Practices of Pastor-Theologian in the Reformed Tradition
Aug. 18-29, 2008 at Pittsburgh
January 2009 at Aberdeen
August 2009 at Aberdeen
January 2010 at Pittsburgh
Reformed Christian Spirituality Focus (Beginning October 2009)
Eastern Christian Focus (Beginning May 2009)
Systematic Study and Reflection
Ongoing Cohort Groups
Eastern Christian Focus
Systematic study and reflection
May 5-May 7, 2008 at Pittsburgh
Aug. 25-Sept. 5, 2008 at Antiochian Village, Bolivar, PA
Reformed Christian Spirituality Focus
Discovering and recovering spiritual formation and practices within the Reformed tradition
January 12-23, 2009
June 1-12, 2009
Parish Focus
Restorative practices, disciplined reflection, theological clarity, spiritual renewal
June 16-27, 2008
January 12-23, 2009
Focus Area Descriptions
Parish
Focus
The Parish Focus is an opportunity for growth, challenge, study, and community with peers and faculty. Such a program is a gift of time for sufficient disengagement from the day-to-day responsibilities of ministry thereby facilitating collegiality and community and offering access and use of the total resources of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Through a series of two-week seminars, and the completion of an applied research project that addresses both the theory and practice of ministry, pastors and those engaged in specialized ministry are able to:
· integrate experience,
· step back and reflect in new ways,
· examine and deepen vocational and personal identity,
· form lasting collegial relationships, and
· develop a new level of insight, depth, and set of restorative practices.
While most candidates who elect the Parish Focus serve congregations, others with specialized ministries have found it a flexible vehicle adaptable to their own situations. These have included denominational posts, ecumenical agencies, prison work, and various school ministries. Involvement of the local congregation or agency is a necessary and valuable component of the Doctor of Ministry Program in ongoing course work and in the design and implementation of a Final Project.
Reformed Focus
This focus is designed to cultivate the Reformed emphasis on the minister as a theological leader of the Church. The adjective, "theological," calls attention to the formative role theological reflection and knowledge ought to have in the practice of ministry. The substantive, "leader of the Church," indicates that the context of such theological reflection is the Church's ongoing struggle to live out all dimensions of faithful service to Jesus Christ.
Since 1999, the Reformed Focus has been a cooperative program with the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Two of the two-week course periods are held in Scotland, with the other two at the PTS campus.
The goal of the program is to develop the ability of participants to formulate theologically based actions directed toward "the great ends of the Church," as these ends have been understood in the Reformed tradition. To accomplish this purpose, six "core" seminars develop the student's awareness and understanding of Reformed contributions in the areas of biblical studies, theology, ethics, and worship. In addition to these seminars, the Proposal Colloquium and nine hours of electives are required for the degree.
Three of these elective credits must be in the discipline most germane to the "practical" aspect of the student's project (education, pastoral care, homiletics, administration, etc.). Three other elective credits must be in one of the disciplines contributing to the "biblical and theological" foundation of the doctoral project. The final three elective credits are at the discretion of the student and the major adviser and should be considered additional research for the project.
Students in this focus, like those in the Parish focus, recruit an on-site committee which drafts a mission statement that informs the student's project. The committee also functions as a sounding-board for the student in the planning, execution, and evaluation of the project.
Urban Focus
* Please note this focus is under review and the next cohort group meets in late 2009.
The Urban Focus at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a cooperative partnership of the Doctor of Ministry Program and our Metro-Urban Institute. The program is designed to equip graduates with theological grounding and analytical skills for transformational leadership in faith-based public ministry in the metropolitan arena. A unique feature of the Urban focus is its collaborative pedagogy and research, involving the candidates and their places of service, the Seminary, and various community-based practitioners and agencies. This spiritually-grounded approach is enriched by faculty from the Center for Social and Urban Research at the University of Pittsburgh, the Division of Social Services at Carlow University, and Pittsburgh's Center for Family Excellence, among other resources.
Thirty credit hours of course work and a doctoral project valued at six hours are required for graduation. All phases of this program are designed to be:
- Contextual - focused on the unique settings of the candidate's ministries within the larger urban context
- Collaborative - building partnerships that link candidates, the Seminary, and congregations with religious agencies and community leaders
- Interdisciplinary - emphasizing connections between theological disciplines and the social sciences
- Cross-cultural - heightening awareness and experience of diversity in city life and enhancing respect for differences among peoples and cultures
Five additional five-day seminars scheduled at three month intervals make up the core curriculum. Following completion of these courses, students will select an area of special interest and design a doctoral project in that area. Three electives and a Proposal Colloquium prepare for the implementation of the project and writing the doctoral paper.
Eastern Christian Focus
The Eastern Christian Focus is a variation of the Parish Focus designed for clergy serving Orthodox and Eastern Rite congregations and agencies and those interested in dialogue with Eastern Christianity. The structure of the two focuses is similar, but several of the courses have been modified to reflect the Eastern emphasis.
Each of the six core courses is scheduled in a one-week intensive format. Three of the courses are held each summer at the Antiochian House of Studies in Bolivar, Pa., a spacious conference center about 90 minutes east of Pittsburgh. Reading lists and other assignments are distributed to candidates two months before the start of the courses. A combined faculty of Pittsburgh Seminary and recognized Eastern Christian scholars teach the courses.
Reformed
Christian Spirituality Focus
The purpose of this focus is one of discovering and recovering spiritual formation and practices within the Reformed tradition. Therefore, such study is approached through the lens of both a biblical and theological concentration that educates the mind and is inclusive of experience and emotion. Such a spirituality within the reformed tradition claims a core identity that deepens worship, prayer, and piety. In a culture that seeks spirituality, the emphasis of the focus is both a discovery and recovery process that addresses the pastor as person, the depth and purposefulness of tradition, and the function and place of authority and proclamation. Spirituality is a deep hunger in the church and in society, and this focus will seek to offer fresh dialogue for pastoral identity, formation, ecclesiology and leadership.
Students are required to work with a Spiritual Director during the entire program. Seminars are schedule both as one- and two-week seminars, depending on the course of study. Final Projects can include creative work in additional to a final paper.
Collegiality
Candidates who enroll in a focus during a particular term remain together for the required courses of the program. Other students are not usually added to the group. This assures a high level of collegiality and trust and facilitates the peer learning essential to the program.
Admissions Information
Applications for the Doctor of Ministry degree are submitted to the director of the Doctor of Ministry Program. A Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent from an accredited seminary or divinity school is required for admission to the program. Applicants are also expected to have completed a minimum of three years in ministry following the receipt of the Master of Divinity.
ContactFor more information, please contact the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program The Rev. Susan Kendall, Ph.D. 616 N. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-441-3304, ext. 2112
Financial Assistance
The Doctor of Ministry Program financial aid and resource
site is designed to assist you in fulfilling the call of God
to deepen and strengthen your ministry. Below is information
regarding the typical financial resources available for
Doctor of Ministry students at Pittsburgh Theological
Seminary. GENERAL OVERVIEW
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Program Budget for 2007-2008 Academic Year | |
| Tuition: $295*12 (four courses) | $3,540.00 |
| Books: | $600.00 |
| Technology Fee: ($30/term) | $60.00 |
| Meals: | $700.00 |
| Housing: | $550.00 |
| Travel:* | $1,088.00 |
| Total: | $6,538.00 |
*Travel costs represent an average of Doctor of Ministry
participants. Costs will vary due to traveling distance.
| Policy Reminder: |
|
The Seminary's Business Office requires all students' account balances to be paid in full before they can register for the following term. The Business Office may grant exceptions to full-time students with balances up to $500.00
|
NEED-BASED ASSISTANCE
Need-based assistance is awarded in the form of a tuition
grant. The student’s demonstrated need is the difference
between the seminary’s established program budget minus the
students Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by
the student’s FAFSA generated Student Aid Report and the
student’s continuing education allowance, if applicable.
Churches and individuals have expressed their commitment to
education for Christian ministry by providing financial aid
funds for Pittsburgh Theological Seminary to assist students
with financial need in meeting the expenses of theological
education. The Financial Aid Policy Committee (students,
faculty and administrators) meets with the Financial Aid
Officer to propose the most equitable policy and framework
for allocating the available funds.
Operational Principles
1. The Seminary's Financial Aid Program is based on an
annual enrollment period beginning June 1 and ending May 31
and is not automatically renewable from year to year. New
applications must be filed for each annual enrollment
period.
2. Need-based assistance is available to students for the
specified length of the degree program. Aid will not be
provided to any student beyond the minimum credits required
for graduation.
3. Only those students who are enrolled full-time as defined
by the Doctor of Ministry focus area are eligible to apply
for need-based assistance.
4. Awards are posted in student accounts at the end of the
month in which the drop-add period of a term occurs. Aid for
one or two week intensive sessions is posted in the month in
which the session ends.
5. If students have received financial aid from Pittsburgh
Seminary to complete one degree program, they are not
eligible for financial aid for a second degree program until
three years (nine terms) have passed since the last term
they received aid. This would apply to students, for
example, who complete our STM program and wish to continue
in the Doctor of Ministry program.
6. Students who are in a “default status” of their federal
educational loans are ineligible for institutional aid.
Students who are currently in default are encouraged to
contact their lending institutions to seek resolution.
7. These policies are subject to change. They are operative
for the current year and represent no commitment beyond that
year. The appeal of any decision should be made in writing
to the Financial Aid Committee.
Application Procedures and Deadlines
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a Seminary of the
Presbyterian Church (USA); its aid program is based on an
honor system of reporting. Any conscious misrepresentation
by the applicant/recipient of aid will constitute a breech
of the financial aid policy and will result in the loss of
aid.
To apply for need-based assistance, complete the following
steps:
1. Complete the seminary’s Application for Need-based
Assistance from the Financial Aid Office.
2. Complete the 2007-2008 Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). Students can submit their FAFSA over
the Internet at:
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Paper FAFSA forms
are available from the Financial Aid Office upon request.
(PTS School Code: G03356)
Completing the FAFSA will automatically generate your
Student Aid Report (SAR).
An electronic copy of your SAR will be sent to the Financial
Aid Office at the Seminary by using the PTS School Code on
your FAFSA Application. The SAR will indicate an Expected
Family Contribution (EFC). This EFC provides the base for
determining financial need.
3. Return the completed Application for Need-based
Assistance to the Financial Aid office, along with a signed
copy of your 2006 federal income tax return.
Applications for Need-based Assistance (with tax returns
attached) are due at least six weeks prior to the start of
each term or intensive session. Need-based assistance cannot
be applied to past due balances or be awarded retroactively.
Applications are reviewed in the order in which they are
received until funding is exhausted.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Continuation of financial aid is contingent upon the
candidate making satisfactory progress in the program. In
all cases, courses must be completed and credit received to
be counted. A review of progress compares the number of
courses attempted to the courses successfully completed, to
see if the rate of completion is such that it will allow the
student to finish the program within the maximum time frame.
The Doctor of Ministry Committee may choose to recommend to
the Financial Aid Committee that the satisfactory progress
requirement be waived for any case in which the student has
experienced undue hardship as a result of special
circumstances.
Should a student receive a grade of unsatisfactory in a
course or withdraw with faculty approval, no financial aid
will be awarded for this course when it is repeated, or for
electives that may be substituted as repeat credits. If a
student withdraws without faculty approval from a class
after the official add/drop period, financial aid for this
course will be revoked.
OUTSIDE SOURCES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Presbyterian Church (USA) Continuing Education Grants
The Office of Financial Aid for Studies awards over one million dollars annually to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) students pursuing undergraduate, graduate and post graduate degrees. The Continuing Education Grant Program is intended to provide funding to PC(USA) ministers who are serving congregations of 150 members or less.
Grants awarded within this program help pastors attend
training events that will enable them to serve the church
community and to assist with the Doctor of Ministry degree.
These funds are available for the first three years of
study.
http://www.pcusa.org/financialaid/programs/continuingeducation.htm
The Fund for Theological Education
The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) is a leading
national advocate for excellence and diversity in Christian
ministry. Their work supports the next generation of leaders
among pastors and scholars. In addition to providing
fellowships and a network of support to gifted young people
from all denominations and racial/ethnic backgrounds, The
Fund for Theological Education provides free internet access
to Fellowships Plus. Fellowships Plus provides information
about financial resources for theological students beyond
those offered by FTE and individual theological
institutions. Sources of financial assistance in Fellowships
Plus can be searched alphabetically, by keyword and by
specific categories. They include aid offered by various
church denominations as well as particular resources for
women, racial/ethnic groups and undergraduate, graduate,
doctoral, postdoctoral and international students.
http://www.thefund.org/programs/otherfinancialaid.phtml
DIVINITY STUDIES ADVANTAGE LOAN PROGRAM
Students of the Doctor of Ministry program can borrow
through Sallie Mae’s private educational loan program to
help meet their program costs. The Divinity Studies
Advantage Loan Program was created to support the needs of
students entering or furthering their education in a career
aligned with religious and theological studies. This loan
program is provided by Sallie Mae Education Trust, a
commercial lender, and is not supported by state or federal
financial aid funds. Application should be made for the
academic year.
At this time, the Seminary’s Financial Aid Office
participates only with Sallie Mae Education Trust’s Divinity
Studies Advantage Loan program. Other Alternative or Private
Loan applications from lenders or agencies other than Sallie
Mae Education Trust’s Divinity Studies Advantage Loan
program cannot be processed by our office.
To apply or to learn more about the Divinity Studies
Advantage Loan Program, please call 1-800-695-3317. To apply
on-line the following link has been created for your
convenience.
http://www.customschool.com/pts/apply/index2.html
Contact
Cheryl De Paolis
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
616 North Highland Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206-2596
Phone 412-441-3304 ext. 2111
Fax 412-363-3260
Application Materials
Financial Aid Application 2007-2008
