About the D.Miss. Program
Program
Philosophy
The AGTS Doctor of Missiology is more than a degree program. It
is an experience in developing greater discernment of the Spirit’s
leading and greater dependence on the Spirit’s power.
J. Philip Hogan, executive director of AG Foreign Missions from
1959 to 1989, and a key player in the founding of AGTS as a training
ground for missionaries, wrote:
“Make no mistake, the missionary venture of the church,
no matter how well planned, how finely administrated, or how
fully supported, would fail like any other vast human enterprise,
were it not where human instrumentality leaves off, a blessed
ally takes over. It is the Holy Spirit that calls, it is the
Holy Spirit that inspires, it is the Holy Spirit that reveals,
and it is the Holy Spirit that administers.”
The D.Miss. recognizes the priority of the Holy Spirit’s
person and power in accomplishing the mission of God (Missio
Dei) and creates an environment in which students can
experience the kind of learning that connects them more deeply
to the Spirit’s
work in mission. Tracks in Intercultural Studies and Relief
and Development allow students to focus their program on
specific application of their learning in the field.
(back to top)
Program Design
Core Classes (20 credits)
- Leaders in a Global Context
- Missio Dei and the Contemporary World
- Intercultural Communication and Missions Anthropology
- Theological Issues, Contextualization and Area Studies
- Methods of Missiological Research
Choose One Track
Intercultural Studies Track (12 credits)
- The History of Christianity in Missiological Perspective
- Encountering Non-Christian Religions
- Evangelizing, Discipling and Church Planting
Relief and Development Track (12 credits)
- Biblical Perspective on Issues of Social Justice
- Relief and Development in Mission: Theories and Strategies
- Contemporary Social Issues in Mission
Electives (12 credits—Choose 3 courses)
- Areas Studies Elective (required)
- Alternative Approaches to Education
- Leading the Christian Non-Profit Organization
- Contextualized Leadership Training
- HIV/AIDS in Global Context
- Contemporary Missions: Issues and Strategies
- Special Studies with an Approved Educational Provider
- Special Studies: Tutelage
Project/Dissertation (4 credits)
- Project/Dissertation Workshop
- Project/Dissertation Development and Oral Defense
(back to top)
Program
Features
The AGTS Doctor of Missiology consists of 48 credits earned
in 11 modules and a professional project, and is built around
several components.
- Pentecostal perspective: Distinctive
emphasis on Spirit-empowered mission in a global context.
- Lifestyle fit: Relocating
to Springfield is not necessary; in fact the D.Miss. requires
only five visits to AGTS over the course of the program.
- Cohort experience: Learning
and growth occur through the bonds formed with other career
missionaries in a diverse small group setting.
- Modular convenience: Courses
are taught in two, one-week blocks scheduled back-to-back allowing
two classes on one airfare.
- Contextualized study: Area
studies, special study with an approved educational provider
and/or tutelage offer field-based training.
(back to top)
Program
Goals
The Doctor of Missiology Program will provide students with
- a deepening biblical and theological understanding
of Missio Dei;
- a distinctively Pentecostal theology of intercultural
ministry;
- an understanding of the historical development
of the Christian movement and the participant’s role
in the contemporary world;
- the ability to discern the Holy Spirit’s
direction in the fulfillment of the mission of God in diverse
cultural settings and to contextualize effective expressions
of the Gospel;
- an emphasis on the priorities of evangelism,
church planting, leadership formation, and compassion ministries;
- a continuing commitment to personal spiritual
formation and growth as a member of God’s missionary
people;
- a working knowledge of the close relationship
between the local church and missions; and
- a scholarly contribution to the understanding
and practice of intercultural ministry through the completion
of a D.Miss. major applied research project or a dissertation
that integrates theoretical and empirical disciplines important
to a specific ministry.
(back to top)
Core Courses (20
credits)
Core 1 - Leaders in a Global Context (4 credits)
This course will orient participants to the unique dynamics
and requirements of Doctor of Missiology education, highlighting
issues that will impact their lives and ministries; provide an
overview of the Tracks and courses, with special focus on missiological
research; and guide participants in self reflection in light
of their ministries and global issues.
Core 2 - Missio Dei and the Contemporary World (4
credits)
An examination of Missio Dei from biblical and Pentecostal
theological perspectives. This interdisciplinary study integrates
theory and praxis, preparing the student to develop strategies
for accomplishing the mission of God in diverse cultural milieus.
Core 3 - Intercultural Communication and Missions
Anthropology (4 credits)
Studies in the literature of intercultural communication, focusing
on cultural contexts and barriers, with implications for Christian
witness, lifestyle and relationships. Cultural anthropological
issues will be examined to determine their application to a Christian
view of intercultural ministry and the discipline of missiology.
Core 4 - Theological Issues, Contextualization and
Area Studies (4 credits)
A course to enable students to respond to theological issues
encountered in intercultural contexts, such as Trinitarian concerns,
bibliology, local theologies, syncretism and Pentecostalism.
Students will work with personally relevant area-specific case
studies and principles of “doing theology” in another
context will be analyzed.
Core 5 - Methods of Missiological Research (4 credits)
An introduction to the approaches to research design and research
methods employed in missiological research. The relationships
among theological inquiry, socio-anthropological inquiry, and
missions practice will be examined. Attention will be
given to each of the major components of a major applied research
project and a dissertation: problem, review of the literature,
research methodology, findings and conclusions. Development
of a research design, bibliography and database for missiological
research will be emphasized.
(back to top)
Track
Courses (12 credits)
Following their Core courses, D.Miss. students will choose between
two tracks: Intercultural Studies or Christian Relief and Development.
Each track involves 12 credits (Three courses) of study in a
specialized area.
Intercultural Studies Track: 12 credits
- The History of Christianity in Missiological Perspective
- A study of selected missiological paradigms throughout
the expansion of Christianity from Pentecost to the present.
Writings of mission theorists will be studied for understanding
the advance or decline at key historical junctures, as
well as the assessing of current missiology.
- Encountering Non-Christian Religions
- A focus on the biblical and theological understanding
of non-Christian religions. Participants will
examine critical issues facing the church in light of
biblical teaching and current conflicting ideas and theories
in pluralistic societies. Attention will be given
to diversity, truth and salvation in religions.
- Evangelizing, Discipling and Church Planting
- An exploration of biblical principles, contemporary
models, and effective strategies for evangelizing non-believers,
discipling converts, and planting healthy churches. Global
challenges of the urban context and assimilation will
be considered. Case studies will be examined.
Relief and Development Track: 12 credits
- Biblical Perspectives on Issues of Social Justice
- An investigation of biblical perspectives on social
justice and the formulation of a scriptural foundation
for the Church’s response to human suffering with
holistic ministries. Special attention will be given
to racial injustice and global poverty. A prerequisite
for Relief and Development Track.
- Relief and Development in Mission: Theories and Strategies
- This course facilitates the articulation of a Christian response to global relief and development. Classical and modern theories of economic development and poverty eradication will be examined from a Christian perspective. Community development within a Christian worldview will be informed by the role of the developer on a personal, local, regional and global level.
- Contemporary Social Issues in Mission
- This course will identify the major global issues of injustice that impact women, children and minority people groups, such as human sexual trafficking, children at risk and human rights abuses. It will explore issues that impact on development such as AIDS and other international health crises, urbanization trends, global economic threats, wars and refugees and environmental issues. It will provide a critical overview of best practice interventions by international agencies and Christian relief and development organizations who address these global issues of social injustice.
(back to top)
Elective
Courses (12 credits)
Students will select three classes from the available Elective
courses to deepen their study of specific topics. One elective
course in Area Studies is required.
Area Studies Elective (required)
Specialized study in a particular area or region of the world.
These studies may be taken as a tutorial or through course
work in government-approved universities around the world. (In
order to take this required elective course, the student must
petition and secure the approval of his/her program advisor.)
Alternative Approaches to Education
An analysis of the principles of traditional and nontraditional
education, both formal and informal, with emphasis given to
ministry formation. Selected educational systems such as theological
education by extension (TEE), distance education, in-service
training, will be evaluated as to contextual suitability and
effectiveness. Participants will engage in creative application
of the principles presented and innovative modes of delivery
systems.
Leading the Christian Non-Profit Organization
This course will trace the history of non-profit organizations
and examine their unique contribution to international and
national community development. Laws governing these groups
and their financial management and accountability will be explored.
The student will be guided in the skills of creating a viable
business plan including potential funding resources.
Contextualized Leadership Training
A study to facilitate leadership development vision by analyzing
leadership selection processes, authority patterns and spiritual
formation in a particular setting. Participants will be encouraged
to develop culturally appropriate principles, strategies and
methods of leadership training including church-based, institutional
and non-formal approaches. Emphasis will be given to designing
resources and building team concepts for long-term reproducible
models.
HIV/AIDS in Global Context
The course will explore the global HIV/AIDS pandemic from
various perspectives such as its contribution to poverty and
the medical, political, economic, social and security issues
that it has created. The role of both the international and
local church in prevention and ministry to the infected will
be examined.
Contemporary Missions: Issues and Strategies
A study of current issues and strategies in missions. Topics
such as collaboration, short-term and career commitments, non-residential
missions, the “business as missions” movement,
theological education, training church leaders/planters, missionary
lifestyle, interfaith dialogue and holism/international development
will be considered.
Special Studies with an Approved Educational Provider
A track elective taken with an approved educational provider
that facilitates the development of competencies germane to
the major applied research project or the dissertation. (In
order to take this course, the student must secure the approval
of his/her Program Advisor.)
Special Studies: Tutelage
A track elective taken under the tutelage of an assigned professor
of record. (In order to take this course the student must
secure the approval of his/her program advisor.)
(back to top)
Project/Dissertation
Workshop
The workshop focuses on the development and refinement of the
doctoral major applied research project proposal/dissertation
proposal and the exploration of issues related to the major project
and dissertation research. The student will submit an acceptable
project proposal to the D.Miss. Committee. Prerequisite:
Completion of core and track courses.
(back to top)
Project/Dissertation
Development
Upon the completion, acceptance and successful oral defense
of a written major applied project/dissertation which integrates
theory and praxis and makes a scholarly contribution to the practice
of intercultural ministry, four credits will be recorded on the
transcript. All participants working on the project/dissertation
phase will maintain a continued registration in the program.
(back to top)
Qualifying Exam
The qualifying examination is intended to demonstrate an
acceptable level of competency in missiology, and the ability
to apply the literature to a set of circumstances. Students will
be eligible to take the examination upon successful completion
of the following core courses:
Core 1 – Leaders
in a Global Context
Core 2 – Missio
Dei and the Contemporary World
Core 3 – Intercultural
Communication and Missions Anthropology
Core 4 – Theological
Issues, Contextualization and Area Studies
A list of recommended readings to support competencies developed
in the core courses will be provided at the beginning of the
program. In the event of an unsuccessful examination,
the student may have one retake.
(back to top)
What will a
D.Miss. do for me?
- Equip you with advanced
resources and enhanced practice
- Prepare you to teach
missiology at every academic level
- Enable you to train
missionaries in other nations
- Train you for leadership
in Christian compassion ministry agencies and projects around
the world
(back to top)
Cost
A fee for the entire program is $21,000 to be paid in 12 equal
installments over four years. AGWM and AGUSM appointed missionaries
are eligible for a discounted fee of $16,500. (Applicable for
the 2012-2013 academic year and subject to change thereafter
for new participants.)
(back to top)
Updated:
Thursday, September 27, 2012 3:19 PM
|
