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Ministry
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By virtue of the federation of Saint Paul University with the University of Ottawa, the Faculty of Theology at Saint Paul University offers graduate programs leading to degrees conferred jointly by the senates of both universities.
These programs operate within the framework of the regulations of Saint Paul University and of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies of the University of Ottawa.
The Doctor of Ministry is an applied research degree program designed to give professionals a deeper appreciation of the plurality of forms and understandings of ministry. It assists students in developing knowledge and appropriate methodologies for the advanced critical study of ministry through applied research. Graduates will be equipped to discern and promote the forms of collaborative and transformational ministry best suited to the human values, cultural expressions, and multiple dynamics of their given context.
The Doctor of Ministry program envisions the role of professionals in ministry as facilitating the public activity of Christians, who form a ministering community and work hand-in-hand with women and men of other faiths to serve the wider society. Ministry is carried out through a variety of institutional structures located within distinctive ecclesial, ecumenical, multi-faith, social, and cultural contexts.
The Doctor of Ministry combines the resources of theological study and reflection with the methodologies of the social sciences to equip leaders with the skills needed for critical practicum research and the generation of new knowledge. The combined resources of the Faculties of Theology and of Human Sciences support the interdisciplinary character of the Doctor of Ministry degree.
The DMin is a bilingual program.
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BELLEHUMEUR Christian, Associate Professor
Counseling, psychotherapy, spirituality and Imagination (imaginary); Human development and positive psychologie; Psychospiritual integration of the counsellor; Psychology and spirituality. -
BLÉE Fabrice, Associate Professor
Christian Spirituality;Comparative Studies of Mystical Traditions, Interreligious Dialogue -
BLOOMQUIST Gregory, Full Professor
Socio-Rhetorical Analysis; Theology of the New Testament; Classical and Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament; Greek -
BONNEAU Normand, Full Professor
Pauline Studies; Synoptic Gospels; Sunday Lectionary -
CHIROVSKY Andriy, Full Professor
Patristic and Later Eastern Christian Theology and Spirituality Studies in the Life and Thought of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky (1865-1944) Theology and Spirituality of Byzantine icons Evagrius and the Tradition of Evil Thoughts Studies in the Kyivan Ecclesial Tradition Orthodox-Catholic Ecumenism Spirituality and Health Care -
CLIFFORD Catherine, Full Professor / Director of the Graduate Studies
Ecumenical Studies; Sacramental Theology; Ecclesiology; Vatican II -
DEMASURE Karlijn, Associate Professor
Christian family studies; practical theology: epistemology, hermeneutics, narrativity; pastoral care; child sexual abuse; violence and spirituality -
DIONNE Christian, Associate Professor
New Testament Exegesis; Gospel Interpretation; Mark and Luke; Pauline Literature; Acts of the Apostles; Biblical Languages; Narrative Criticism -
EATON Heather, Full Professor
Ecological dimensions of conflict; Religious aspects of conflict and peace; Gender/feminism, peace and conflict research -
GALADZA Peter, Full Professor
Kule Family Chair of Eastern Christian Liturgy; Byzantine Liturgy; Eastern Christian Studies -
GUIRGUIS-YOUNGER Manal, Full Professor
Palliative care and homelessness -
JILLIONS John Alexander, Associate Professor
Eastern Christian Studies; New Testament; Ecumenism; Practical Theology -
MALETTE Judith, Full Professor
Rétrospective de vie; les images de Dieu et de soi, les styles d'apprentissage -
MARTÍNEZ DE PISÓN Ramón, Full Professor
Fundamental theology; relationship of philosophy and theology -
MARTIN PBVM Miriam K, Associate Professor
Mercy and Presentation Sister Chair of Newfoundland in Religious Education and Catechetics; Religious Education; Liturgy; Feminist Theology; Eco-theology; and Practical Theology -
MATHIEU Yvan, Associate Professor
Biblical Studies; Biblical Languages -
MELCHIN Kenneth, Full Professor
Economics Ethics; Business Ethics; Social and Political Ethics; Lonergan Studies -
MICHAUD Jean-Paul, Emeritus Professor
Synoptic Gospels; Johannine Studies; Epistle to the Hebrews; New Testament Apocrypha -
MOOREN Thomas, Full Professor
Interreligious dialogue; Islamic Studies; Missiology -
PAMBRUN James, Full professor
Theological Hermeneutics Theology and Modern Science Creation in the First Testament -
PEELMAN Achiel, Full Professor
Faith and Culture; Amerindian Culture and Religion;Native American Spirituality; Interreligious Dialogue; Contextual Theologies -
POWER Myrtle, Associate Professor
Religious Education; Catechetics -
PROVENCHER Normand, Emeritus Professor
Revelation; Christology; Modernism; Liturgy and Sacramental Theology -
ROLL Susan, Associate Professor
Liturgy; Sacramental Theology -
SHARP Carolyn, Associate Professor
Social and Political Ethics; Sexual Ethics; Women's Studies -
SPATAFORA M.S.F. Andrea, Associate Professor
Research Fields : Apocalypse; Biblical Canon; Canonical Criticism Current Projects : Heavenly Liturgy and Temple in the Apocalypse -
STE-MARIE Lorraine, Associate Professor
Le langage et le changement dans la formation au ministère; la préparation des candidats à un programme de leadership en pastorale -
VAN DEN HENGEL John, Emeritus Professor
Christology; Hermeneutics -
VOGELS Walter, Emeritus Professor
Old Testament; Semiotics -
YOUNG Ronald W., Assistant Professor
Missiological History; Theories and Practices of Evangelization; Pneumatology; Theologies of Inculturation; Theology and Mission; Oblatology
To be admitted to the D.Min. program, the candidate must :
- hold a Master in Pastoral Theology or equivalent, with an average of B+ or better. Candidates with master’s degrees in Theology, Religious Education, or other related disciplines must have completed 60 credits in theology plus 30 credits of graduate-level study in a related field (e.g., pastoral counselling, religious education, etc.), with a component of relevant supervised field experience.
- provide proof of five years of sustained professional experience in ministry.
- master one of the two official languages of the University and have a passive knowledge (ability to follow lectures and read) of the other. One of the following is required to demonstrate language proficiency in the second official language:
- a certificate of competency from the Alliance Française
- a score of 4.5 in the CANTEST or TESTCAN administered by the University of Ottawa
- a minimum score of at least 550 in the written version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 213 in the computer version
- a minimum score of 6.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - provide two confidential letters of reference from experienced professionals in the applicant’s area of ministry attesting to the applicant’s skills in pastoral practice and suitability for the program. One of these letters must be from a supervisor in the applicant’s ministry context, indicating support for his or her program of study and an appreciation for the need for stable placement, insofar as possible, during the period of study.
- write a letter indicating the goal of his program of studies and area of research interest.
- have an interview with members of the Admissions Committee.
Student Transfers from Other Universities
Students registering in the Doctor of Ministry program at Saint Paul University after having completed graduate courses at other universities may be granted the equivalent of up to two optional courses (6 credits) of advanced standing for successfully completed courses that pertain to the course of study in the Doctor of Ministry. Courses must have been completed within the past five years.
Some additional documents, and in some cases specific forms, are required. For more information, please see the page Step 4: Gather the documents needed for the assessment of your application.
The Doctor of Ministry is a 33 credit program which includes:
Core Courses (12 credits)
The following four courses are compulsory:
- IPA7120 METHODS FOR APPLIED RESEARCH (3cr.)
- IPA7121 THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT OF MINISTRY (3cr.)
- THO7191 METHODS OF THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION (3cr.)
- THO7192 THE ECUMENICAL AND INTER-RELIGIOUS CONTEXT OF MINISTRY (3cr.)
Elective Courses (6 credits)
Students must complete two elective courses, one of which must be selected from the following list:
- THO7196 BIBLE AND CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN IDENTITY (3cr.)
- THO7197 ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE PRACTICE OF MINISTRY (3cr.)
- THO7198 THEOLOGIES AND PRACTICE OF MINISTRY (3cr.)
- THO7199 THE DYNAMICS OF FAITH (3cr.)
Research Practicum (12 credits)
Year One:
- IPA8210 RESEARCH PRACTICUM I (6cr.)
Year Two:
- IPA8211 RESEARCH PRACTICUM II (6cr.)
Comprehensive Examination (THO 9998)
Thesis Project Presentation (THO 8998) (3 cr.)
Thesis (THO 9999)
Minimum Standards
The passing grade in all courses is C+. Students who fail two courses (equivalent to 6 credits), the thesis proposal, or the comprehensive exam or whose research progress is deemed unsatisfactory are required to withdraw.
Residence
The program is considered a full-time program of study and all students must complete at least six sessions of full-time registration. Even though students may not be physically on-campus throughout this period and on-campus instruction will be offered in intensive two-week modules, students are required to follow a schedule of readings and assignments and to engage in on-going research based on their professional practice of ministry.
Duration of the Program
Students are expected to complete all requirements within four years. The maximum time permitted is six years from the date of initial registration in the program.
Research methodologies and their application to the study of the context and practice of ministry. Understanding and planning the research process. Qualitative, quantitative, and action-based methods in data gathering and analysis. The use of social-scientific methods in theology. Research ethics, especially as it pertains to research with human subjects.
Social-scientific analysis of the society in which the religious community exists. The relationship and function of the religious community with the wider social, cultural and civil community. The structures of the religious community and their functioning: especially in reference to authority, interaction, freedom, and growth. Study of the needs, hopes, aspirations of the religious community and society at large, and the resources, (material and personnel), obstacles, etc. in order to answer to these.
Méthodes de recherche et leur mise en pratique dans l'étude du ministère et son contexte. Compréhension des procédures de planification et du processus de recherche. Les méthodes qualitative, quantitative, et «action-based» pour la collecte et l'analyse des données. L'emploi des méthodes sociales-scientifiques dans la réflexion théologique. L'éthique de la recherche, en particulier celle qui a trait aux sujets humains.
L'analyse sociale-scientifique de la société dans laquelle la communauté de foi est insérée. Le rapport entre la communauté religieuse et sa fonction dans le milieu social, culturel et civil. Les structures de la communauté religieuse et son fonctionnement, particulièrement en référence à l'autorité, à l'interaction, à la liberté et à la croissance. Étude des espoirs et des aspirations de la communauté religieuse et de la société, et les ressources (matériel et personnel), obstacles, etc à leur réalisation.
Application of the appropriate methods of social-scientific analysis and theological reflection to the work of the ministry practitioner and his/her community of insertion. Identification of key issues, resources, and strategies to sustain the development of holistic human and faith communities.
The development and implementation of an appropriate research design to explore an identified research question in depth. Test and evaluate the implementation of new models and approaches of ministry. Work towards the precise formulation of a hypothesis that will form the basis of the doctoral thesis project.
Application des méthodes d'analyse sociale scientifique et de réflexion théologique appropriées à la pratique professionnelle du ministère et à la communauté dans son milieu d'insertion. Identification des questions clés, des ressources et des pratiques qui favorisent la croissance des communautés humaines et des communautés de foi holistiques.
Élaboration et implantation d'un plan de recherche pour étudier en profondeur une question de recherche précise. Tester et évaluer la mise en pratique de nouvelles approches ou de nouveaux modèles de ministère. Formulation précise d'une hypothèse qui deviendra la base du projet de thèse doctorale.
Theories and models of theological reflection. Principles for the selection of appropriate methods and their application in the critical analysis and interpretation of the context and practice of pastoral ministry.
Critical examination of the impact of theological and religious pluralism on the context and practice of ministry. Investigation of particular issues, authors or trends related to the theory and practice of ecumenical and inter-religious collaboration and dialogue.
Exploration of the interaction of the Bible and contemporary Christian identity: the dialogue between Bible, church, and society. The Bible and world religions. Recent approaches to interpretation and the rise of fundamentalism.
Critical reflection on ethical issues arising in diverse contexts of ministry. Theoretical, methodological, and theological dimensions of these. Religious traditions and public debates on contemporary ethical questions.
Critical examination of the biblical roots and historical evolution of the structures for ministry in the life of the Church. Recent theological developments giving rise to new forms of lay and ordained ministries. Identifying the operative theologies of ministry in diverse faith communities and their consonance with stated theology and mission. Evaluating their capacity to respond to issues arising from the contemporary social, ecumenical, and interreligious context.
Various social-scientific understandings of faith development in the human person and faith communities. Critical study of different theories of faith development and of the inner dynamics of religious communities. Evaluation of the coherence between the stated faith development objectives and the means to attain them.
Théories et modèles de réflexion théologique. Les principes pour la sélection d'une méthode appropriée et pour sa mise en œuvre dans l'analyse critique et l'interprétation du contexte et de la pratique du ministère pastoral.
Étude critique de l'impact du pluralisme théologique et religieux sur le contexte et la pratique du ministère. Examen de questions choisies, d'auteurs et de tendances récentes liés à la théorie et à la pratique de collaboration et de dialogue œcuménique et interreligieux.
Exploration de l'interaction entre la Bible et l'identité chrétienne contemporaine. Le dialogue entre la Bible, l'Église et la société. La Bible et les grandes religions du monde. Approches récentes d'interprétation et l'émergence du fondamentalisme.
Réflexion critique sur les questions éthiques soulevées dans les divers contextes du ministère selon leurs dimensions théoriques, méthodologiques et théologiques. Les traditions religieuses et les débats publics sur des questions éthiques.
Étude critique des origines bibliques et de l'évolution historique des différentes formes du ministère dans l'Église. Développements théologiques récents qui favorisent de nouvelles formes de ministères laïques et ordonnés. Identification des théologies du ministère sous-jacentes dans les communautés de foi et leur cohérence. Évaluation de leur capacité à répondre aux questions soulevées dans les milieux sociaux, œcuméniques, et interreligieux actuels.
Compréhension sociale scientifique du développement de la foi religieuse de l'être humain et des communautés de foi. Étude critique des théories du développement de la foi et des dynamiques à l'intérieur des communautés religieuses. Évaluation de la cohérence entre l'affirmation explicite des objectifs de la foi et les moyens pour leur réalisation.
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Office of Admissions and Student Services
Room 154
Saint Paul University
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Ottawa, ON
K1S 1C4
CANADA
Telephone: 613-236-1393
Fax: 613-782-3014
admission@ustpaul.ca
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