Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School announced in July 2016 that it was adding two new concentrations to its doctor of ministry degree: chaplaincy studies, and preaching and teaching.
The concentrations began in fall 2016 in response to demand for advanced professional development among Christian ministers. The doctor of ministry is designed for people who already hold a master of divinity degree.
Chaplaincy studies
Led by a diverse faculty of experienced chaplains, the chaplaincy studies concentration focuses on holistic Christian care. Students receive practical training in addiction counseling and care, marriage and family issues, and pastoral care and counseling in grief, loss and crisis.
Chaplains serve in hospitals, hospices, the military, prisons, colleges and workplaces, often working with people of many faiths at moments of crisis. Advanced training helps them provide care while navigating complex institutional settings.
Preaching and teaching
Taught by longtime pastors and professors of Bible and theology, the preaching and teaching concentration focuses on advanced biblical exegesis, hermeneutics, homiletics and biblical communication skills.
The track is aimed at pastors and teachers who want to deepen their study of Scripture and sharpen how they communicate it to congregations and classrooms.
A growing doctoral program
The doctor of ministry was LBC | Capital’s newest doctoral degree. It launched in 2015 with two cohorts of students in a strategic leadership concentration.
“The need for deeply studied, deeply caring chaplains, preachers and teachers in Christian ministry is immense,” said Dr. Doug Kegarise, who received the college’s first-ever doctoral degree and became director of the doctor of ministry program. “We’re thrilled to be able to expand our program to offer these two concentrations that directly address those needs.”
Applications for the new concentrations were accepted that summer.
What is a doctor of ministry?
The doctor of ministry, or DMin, is a professional doctorate for people already working in ministry. Unlike a research-focused Ph.D., it emphasizes applying advanced study to real-world ministry. Programs typically combine intensive coursework, often in cohorts, with a final project addressing a challenge in the student’s own ministry setting. Many programs are designed so students can continue working full time.
About Lancaster Bible College
Founded in 1933, Lancaster Bible College is a private Christian college based on Old Philadelphia Pike in Lancaster. Its merger with Capital Bible Seminary in Greenbelt, Maryland, expanded its graduate offerings, and the combined institution offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, with additional sites in the region and online options.
The college is a short drive from Lititz, and many of its students, graduates and faculty serve in churches and ministries across northern Lancaster County.
Learn more
Information about LBC’s doctor of ministry program is available at lbc.edu.
Who enrolls
Doctor of ministry students are typically mid-career pastors, chaplains, missionaries and ministry leaders. Many have served for years and are looking to deepen their training without leaving their congregations or posts. Cohort models, in which a group of students moves through the program together, are common and give participants a built-in network of peers.
Chaplaincy in demand
Hospitals, hospices, the armed forces, correctional facilities and first-responder agencies all rely on chaplains, and many require advanced training and clinical experience. Specialized programs help ministers prepare for those settings.
Lifelong learning
For many ministers, continuing education is a long-term commitment rather than a single degree. Advanced programs give them time to step back from daily responsibilities, study with peers facing similar challenges and return to their work with fresh perspective. Colleges near Lititz offer a range of options, from short courses to full graduate degrees.
This article was originally published in July 2016.