Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Ministry
Join the First Congregational Ministry Cohort
Launching in June 2027
Cultivate a theologically grounded pastoral identity and develop the leadership, preaching, worship, and caregiving skills needed to guide congregations in a changing world.
The Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Ministry is designed for experienced pastors who want to deepen their understanding of pastoral leadership, strengthen their ministry practice, and engage the challenges facing today’s congregations with theological wisdom and practical skill.
More than a refresher on seminary training, this cohort invites students to revisit the core practices of ministry—preaching, worship, pastoral care, leadership, contextual engagement, and biblical interpretation—with greater depth, perspective, and integration. Through rigorous theological reflection and conversation with fellow ministry leaders, students will cultivate a coherent pastoral identity from which effective congregational leadership can emerge.
Faculty include respected scholars and experienced practitioners who understand the realities of parish ministry and the opportunities and challenges facing congregations today.
Hear From our Faculty
Why Congregational Ministry?
Many pastors begin ministry with a solid foundation in Scripture, theology, and ministerial practice. Yet over time, new questions emerge.
- How do we lead congregations through change and conflict?
- How do we proclaim the Gospel in an increasingly secular culture?
- How do we cultivate faithful worship and Christian formation among people with little familiarity with the church?
- How do we sustain our own vocational calling while caring for others?
The Congregational Ministry DMin cohort provides space to engage these questions alongside peers who share a commitment to faithful ministry. Students will explore both enduring practices and emerging challenges while developing the theological, pastoral, and leadership capacities needed for long-term effectiveness in ministry.
Who Should Apply?
- This cohort is designed for experienced pastors and congregational leaders who:
- Want to enhance their pastoral identity and leadership practice
- Seek deeper theological engagement with the work of ministry
- Desire advanced study in preaching, worship, pastoral care, and congregational leadership
- Are navigating significant change within their congregations or communities
- Want to connect academic scholarship with the realities of everyday ministry
- Seek renewed clarity and energy for their vocational calling
- Are looking for spiritual nurture/formation within a community of colleagues
Faculty Mentor
The Rev. Dr. Jerome Creach
Dr. Jerome Creach serves as faculty mentor for the Congregational Ministry cohort. A respected biblical scholar and experienced theological educator, Dr. Creach brings deep expertise in Scripture, preaching, and congregational life. He is joined by a diverse team of faculty whose scholarship and ministry experience equip students to engage both the enduring practices and emerging challenges of pastoral leadership.
Program Details
Review the application steps, tuition information, and curriculum for the Congregational Ministry D.Min. program.
How to Apply
With limited space in each Congregational Ministry cohort, we encourage prospective students to apply early. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary accepts D.Min. degree applications on a rolling basis, and a waitlist is available if the cohort reaches capacity. Explore the D.Min. degree admission requirements to start your application.
Have questions about applying to the Doctor of Ministry program? E-mail the admissions team at or call 412-924-1365.
Cost and Financial Aid
We’ve structured tuition for the Congregational Ministry D.Min. program to reflect our commitment to church leaders by keeping the cost of attendance lower than most doctoral programs. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary also offers financial aid and scholarship opportunities for eligible students earning their D.Min. degree.
Note: Federal loans are not available for this program.
Course Topics
Courses explore the central practices of congregational ministry while addressing the changing contexts in which churches serve today.
Topics include:
Being Church in a Post-Christian Age
Develop theological frameworks for understanding the church’s role in an increasingly secular society and explore faithful responses to contemporary challenges.
The Art of Biblical Exegesis
Strengthen your ability to interpret Scripture for preaching and teaching by engaging the Bible as a coherent witness to God’s redemptive work.
Slow Preaching
Explore practices of proclamation that cultivate theological depth, attentiveness, and faithful engagement with contemporary audiences.
The Identity and Work of the Pastor
Develop a deeper, more coherent sense of vocational clarity and theologically-informed pastoral identity.
Worship and Liturgy in the Post-Christian World
Consider how worship practices can remain faithful to Christian tradition while engaging people with little prior church experience.
Plunging into the Neighborhood
Learn tools for contextual analysis that help congregations understand and engage the communities they serve.
Attending to Suffering in Church and Community
Explore pastoral care as a ministry of accompaniment that responds to personal, communal, and systemic experiences of suffering.
Schedule
| Date | Course |
| June 2027 | Research Methods The Rev. Donna Giver-Johnston, Ph.D. Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program Pittsburgh Theological Seminary |
| June 2027 | Being Church in a Post-Christian Age The Rev. Edwin Van Driel, Ph.D. Directors’ Bicentennial Professor of Theology ittsburgh Theological Seminary |
| January 2028 | The Art of Biblical Exegesis: Interpreting Scripture for Teaching and Preaching The Rev. Jerome Creach, Ph.D. Robert C. Holland Professor of Old Testament Pittsburgh Theological Seminary |
| January 2028 | Slow Preaching The Rev. Angela Hancock, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, Howard C. Scharfe Associate Professor of Homiletics Pittsburgh Theological Seminary |
| June 2028 | The Identity and Work of the Pastor The Rev. Katherine W. Pershey, D.Min., Co-Pastor irst Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), Appleton, Wisc. |
| June 2028 | Worship and Liturgy in the Post-Christian World Instructor TBD |
| January 2029 | Reading the Bible as Meta-Narrative: the Congregation’s Place in the Biblical Story Dan Frayer-Griggs, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biblical Exegesis and Director of the Center for Writing and Learning Support Pittsburgh Theological Seminary |
| January 2029 | Plunging into the Neighborhood Scott Hagley, Ph.D. W. Don McClure Professor of World Mission and Evangelism Pittsburgh Theological Seminary |
| June 2029 | Attending to Suffering in Church and Community The Rev. Leanna Fuller, Ph.D. Joan Marshall Professor of Pastoral Care Pittsburgh Theological Seminary |
| June 2029 | Proposal Seminar The Rev. Jerome Creach, Ph.D. Robert C. Holland Professor of Old Testament Pittsburgh Theological Seminary |
Student Learning Outcomes
Students in this focus will:
- Integrate theological and scriptural knowledge with their cultural contexts.
- Richly describe and analyze cultural contexts to recognize, frame, and respond to crucial issues arising in their ministry.
- Develop enhanced leadership capacities oriented toward effective ministry.
- Draw upon theological resources and practices to reinvigorate and deepen their vocational callings.
- Demonstrate the ability to reflect on their own social location (e.g. gender, religion, nationality, race, etc.).
- Analyze and describe the effects of trauma on individuals and communities and how it undermines human flourishing
- Ethically integrate the psychological sciences with theology, scripture, and other components of religious life to promote psycho-spiritual health and wholeness
A Community of Learning and Renewal
The Doctor of Ministry is more than a degree program. Through Pittsburgh Seminary’s cohort model, students join a community of peers committed to thoughtful reflection, mutual encouragement, and faithful leadership.
Together, students explore how theological wisdom, pastoral practice, and contextual awareness can shape congregations that participate more fully in God's work in the world.
The application will be open by June 2026. Complete the form below to express your interest and be notified when the application period opens.
