The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.LC.) Degree with a Leadership & Coaching Focus is a 3-year program that provides an opportunity for experienced leaders to reflect biblically, historically, theologically, and theoretically on their leadership practice in the 21st century. Grounded in Christian principles and application, students will develop effective leadership and coaching skills that enable them to apply faithful, effective, and strategic responses to the spiritual, ethical, and formational challenges confronting Christian communities, while mentoring and guiding others in their personal and professional growth journeys.

Through the infusion of the 7 Core Competencies, each student is expected to:

PLO 1: Integrate advanced and contextually relevant biblical and theological knowledge into one's ministry and/or vocation.

PLO 2: Present biblically-faithful and historically-informed perspectives on contemporary faith, science, ethics, social-cultural issues, and church-state relations.

PLO 3: Formulate and lead ministry plans to address the world mental health crisis through an integration of theology, spirituality, and psychology

PLO 4: Analyze seminal texts and formulate and discuss ideas and conclusions logically, critically, and at an advanced level in oral, written, and media formats.

PLO 5: Demonstrate ministry practice and program development/implementation skills conducive to the integration of spiritual renewal and redemptive human flourishing for all persons.

PLO 6: Demonstrate Christian leadership skills which integrate faith and integrity and creatively respond to local and global challenges and opportunities in church, community, and marketplace.

PLO 7: Implement a spiritual development and formation plan that integrates self-knowledge, ministry gifts, and contextual support resources for ministry and vocational excellence.

PLO 8: Design and implement a well-researched ministry program and intervention and communicate its results and insights for the benefit of others.

PLO 9: Design a personal model of strategic organizational leadership practices for contemporary churches and/or organizations. 

PLO 10: Implement a personal strategy for forming and expressing pastoral care to others in collaboration with leaders and believers. 

PLO11: Develop a plan for managing change and mediating conflict as an organizational leader or administrator. 

Complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours.

A 3.0 cumulative grade point average and an A or B grade in all required courses.

At least 21 semester credit hours must be earned at Virginia Christian College.

Complete the general graduation requirements listed below.

Bible/Theology Core 

Biblical Studies (6)

• BIB 712 Foundations: Scripture, Authority, and Hermeneutics

Historial Studies (3)

• HT 721 Modern Christianity: Renewal, Reformation, and Resurgence

Ministry Practices Core 

Apologetic Studies (3)

• APOL 840"Glocal" Christianity: Science, Faith, and Culture in Mission

Care & Counseling Studies (3)

• CC 755 Mental Health and Crisis Intervention

Leadership Studies (12)

• LD 763 Leading in Context: Ethics in Personal, Social, Political and Media
• LD 865 Pastoral Care and Strategic Leadership 
• LD 866 Coaching and Mentoring 
• LD 960 Leadership: Special Topics/Experiences 
• Students may also select an Alternate Focus to replace the last three LD courses, but must be approved by the program director.

Spiritual Formation & Research (12)

• SFR 770 Doctoral Research: Theological Thinking and Research (2)
• SFR 771 Orientation: Assessment, Research, and Project Leadership (3)
• SFR 772-775 Spiritual Formation and Research (4) 
• SFR 870 Dissertation Submission and Defense (3)

• A graduate degree in a theological or another field of study (Master's Degree Equivalency Plan available for non-theological graduate degrees) and demonstration of mastery of the core competencies of Virginia Christian College’s Master of Ministry degree
• Completed application
• Essay addressing 1) reason for applying for the program; 2) description of ministry or leadership experience; and 3) future vocational and/or ministerial goals
• Two (2) letters of recommendation: (1) Pastoral reference; and (1) Professional colleague or acquaintance

Life experience is valuable as it informs one’s hermeneutic, however life experience cannot contribute toward the completion of the Doctor of Ministry degree program.  Additionally, because of the unique nature of this degree and the rigorous matriculation required to earn it, no transfer credits will be accepted, except for in the case of students who have already earned theological (or its equivalent) doctoral credits. Students who currently possess such doctoral credits, a maximum of 15 doctoral-level hours may be transferred to Virginia Christian College; unaccredited doctoral credits from reputable institutions may be accepted, but is at the discretion of the college. Students must have earned a grade of B or better (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) in order to be eligible to transfer a course from another institution to Virginia Christian College. Transferability of credits earned at this institution is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Consult the Office of Academic Affairs for further information.

Doctor of Ministry courses are organized into four, 4-wk phases spanning 16 weeks. Each phase ends with a face-to-face (in-person or virtual) Saturday session. 

What is unique to this program is that the dissertation work has been engrafted into each course, which means that students will begin the dissertation work when they start and will finish by the end of the program.

Candidates for the degree are required to complete a minimum of 36 hours at a B grade level or higher. Students must also satisfactorily participate in doctoral on-campus seminars, which provides the venue for cohort interaction and reflection. Continued involvement in ministry and/or leadership practice during the D. Min. program is required. Students will critically reflect on current ministry and/or leadership experience in doctoral seminars. Students must complete a research project following the steps outlined in the program handbook (made available upon admission). Students must complete and orally defend a dissertation that supports the program outcomes, reflects theological understanding, integrates theory and practice at an advanced level of excellence, and is approved by the Doctoral committee. 

The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.SF/SW) with a Spiritual Formation & Social Witness Focus is a 3-year program that empowers students to expand their readiness in addressing formational needs and social witness challenges across diverse contexts, enabling them to effectively lead spiritual development ministries in churches and organizations. This program uniquely intertwines the emphasis on spiritual formation with a commitment to social witness, ensuring that graduates lead ministries from a holistic Evangelical perspective, actively engaging with both internal spiritual growth and outward-focused social justice initiatives.

Through the infusion of the 7 Core Competencies, each student is expected to:

PLO 1: Integrate advanced and contextually relevant biblical and theological knowledge into one's ministry and/or vocation.

PLO 2: Present biblically-faithful and historically-informed perspectives on contemporary faith, science, ethics, social-cultural issues, and church-state relations.

PLO 3: Formulate and lead ministry plans to address the world mental health crisis through an integration of theology, spirituality, and psycholoy.

PLO 4: Analyze seminal texts and formulate and discuss ideas and conclusions logically, critically, and at an advanced level in oral, written, and media formats.

PLO 5: Demonstrate ministry practice and program development/implementation skills conducive to the integration of spiritual renewal and redemptive human flourishing for all persons.

PLO 6: Demonstrate Christian leadership skills which integrate faith and integrity and

creatively respond to local and global challenges and opportunities in church, community, and marketplace.

PLO 7: Implement a spiritual development and formation plan that integrates self-knowledge, ministry gifts, and contextual support resources for ministry and vocational excellence.

PLO 8: Design and implement a well-researched ministry program and intervention and communicate its results and insights for the benefit of others.

PLO 9: Achieve sufficient mastery of CPE Level 1 Outcomes to be awarded one unit of ACPE accredited CPE credit.

PLO 10: Complete all CPE Level 1 Outcomes and be awarded the second unit of ACPE accredited CPE credit.

PLO11: Achieve sufficient mastery of CPE Level 2 Outcomes to be awarded a third unit of ACPE accredited CPE credit.

Complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours.

A 3.0 cumulative grade point average with an A or B grade in all required courses.

At least 21 semester credit hours must be earned at VCC.

Complete the general graduation requirements listed below.

Bible/Theology Core 

Biblical Studies (3)

• BIB 712 Foundations: Scripture, Authority, and Hermeneutics

Historial Studies (3)

• HT 721 Modern Christianity: Renewal, Reformation, and Resurgence

Ministry Practices Core 

Apologetic Studies (3)

• APOL 840 "Glocal" Christianity: Science, Faith, and Culture in Mission

Care & Counseling Studies (3)

• CC 755 Mental Health and Crisis Intervention

Leadership Studies (3)

• LD 762 Leading in Context: Ethics in Personal, Social, Political, and Media

Spiritual Formation & Social Witness (9)

• SF 880 Models and Methods of Spiritual Formation 
• SF 881 Curriculum Development and Programming 
• SF 960 Social Witness: Special Topics/Experiences 
• Students may also select an Alternate Focus to replace the last three SF courses, but must be approved by the program director.

Spiritual Formation & Research (12)

• SFR 770 Doctoral Research: Theological Thinking and Research (2)
• SFR 771 Orientation: Assessment, Research, and Project Leadership (3)
• SFR 772-775 Spiritual Formation and Research (4) 
• SFR 870 Dissertation Submission and Defense (3)

• A graduate degree in a theological or another field of study (Master's Degree Equivalency Plan available for non-theological graduate degrees) and demonstration of mastery of the core competencies of Virginia Christian College’s Master of Ministry degree
• Completed Application 
• Essay addressing 1) reason for applying for the program; 2) description of ministry or leadership experience; and 3) future vocational and/or ministerial goals
• Two (2) letters of recommendation: (1) Pastoral reference; and (1) Professional colleague or acquaintance

Life experience is valuable as it informs one’s hermeneutic, however, life experience cannot contribute toward the completion of the Doctor of Ministry degree program.  Additionally, because of the unique nature of this degree and the rigorous matriculation required to earn it, no transfer credits will be accepted, except for in the case of students who have already earned theological (or its equivalent) doctoral credits. Students who currently possess such doctoral credits, a maximum of 15 doctoral-level hours may be transferred to VBC; unaccredited doctoral credits from reputable institutions may be accepted, but is at the discretion of the college. Students must have earned a grade of B or better (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) in order to be eligible to transfer a course from another institution to VCC. Transferability of credits earned at this institution is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Consult the Office of Academic Affairs for further information.

Doctor of Ministry courses are organized into four, 4-wk phases spanning 16 weeks. Each phase ends with a face-to-face (in-person or virtual) Saturday session. 

What is unique to this program is that the dissertation work has been engrafted into each course, which means that students will begin the dissertation work when they start and will finish by the end of the program.

Candidates for the degree are required to complete a minimum of 36 hours at a B grade level or higher. Students must also satisfactorily participate in doctoral on-campus seminars, which provide the venue for cohort interaction and reflection. Continued involvement in ministry and/or leadership practice during the D. Min. program is required. Students will critically reflect on current ministry and/or leadership experience in doctoral seminars. Students must complete a research project following the steps outlined in the program handbook (made available upon admission). Students must complete and orally defend a dissertation that supports the program outcomes, reflects theological understanding, integrates theory and practice at an advanced level of excellence, and is approved by the Doctoral committee.