Admission Requirements
Applicants seeking admission to the DMin program must hold an ATS-accredited MDiv degree or meet the seminary’s MDiv equivalency requirements†, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
The highest professional degree for those in church or related ministries is the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree. This particular program is geared toward educated, experienced practitioners who desire to stimulate renewal in themselves and their ministries through the integration of their experience with advanced training, research, and reflection.
With a focus on forming leaders who are interested in the integration of Christian spirituality with ministry and leadership studies, the DMin in Spirit-filled Global Leadership in the African Diaspora program engages the richness of African culture in a global, ecclesial context.
Fill out the Inquiry QuestionnaireApplicants seeking admission to the DMin program must hold an ATS-accredited MDiv degree or meet the seminary’s MDiv equivalency requirements†, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
The Jakes Divinity School, Spirit-Filled Global Leadership in the African Diaspora Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program will consider applicants that do not hold the Master of Divinity (MDiv), providing that MDiv equivalence can be established. Applicants requiring 18 hours of MDiv equivalent leveling work or less may be admitted into the program. Students admitted with 12-18 hours of required leveling may be required to wait 1 year while completing some or all of the leveling coursework.
As a degree program approved by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) by virtue of partnership with Portland Seminary, the DMin program supports ATS standard 5.5, which states:
The Doctor of Ministry degree is an advanced professional doctorate that builds upon an accredited master’s degree in a ministry-related area and upon significant ministry experience. Students without an accredited Master of Divinity degree may be admitted, provided the school has publicly stated admissions criteria that address the following six areas and provided the school documents how each applicant meets each of these criteria: (a) the ability to thoughtfully interpret scripture and the theological tradition of one’s ministry context, (b) the capacity to understand and adapt one’s ministry to the cultural context, (c) a basic self-understanding of one’s ministerial identity and vocational calling, (d) a readiness to engage in ongoing personal and spiritual formation for one’s ministry, (e) an accredited master’s degree (or its educational equivalent) in an area related to one’s ministry setting or vocational calling, and (f) significant ministerial experience that enables the applicant to engage as a ministry peer with other students in this advanced professional doctorate.
Please note that establishing MDiv equivalency does not result in the conferral of the MDiv degree, nor does it equate to admission to the DMin program. As such, it is not intended for, nor adequate to serve as establishing MDiv equivalency for applying to other institutions, chaplaincy programs, denominational ordination, etc.
It is an internal courtesy service that Jakes Divinity School offers to prospective DMin students to determine whether or not the applicant is qualified to apply for admission to the DMin program.
* See below for “Details for creating an Academic Portfolio,” if you do not have the MDiv degree.
Tuition | Fee | Total | |
Year 1 | $9,664 | $6,000 | $15,664 |
Year 2 | $9,664 | $4,000 | $13,664 |
Year 3 | $2,416 | $0 | $2,416 |
$21,744 | $10,000 | $31,744 |
The DMin in Spirit-filled Global Leadership in the African Diaspora at Jakes Divinity School is powered by Portland Seminary at George Fox University. This degree program is geared toward educated, experienced practitioners who desire to stimulate personal formation and spiritual renewal for their ministries through the integration of their experience with advanced training, research, and reflection.
Graduates Become:
Tuition | Fee | Total | |
Year 1 | $9,664 | $6,000 | $15,664 |
Year 2 | $9,664 | $4,000 | $13,664 |
Year 3 | $2,416 | $0 | $2,416 |
$21,240 | $10,000 | $31,744 |
This degree is offered in an online hybrid format. Students will meet weekly synchronous online (zoom) and work asynchronously online.
The program takes at least three (3) years to complete with 36 semester hours: 16 hours are prescribed in taught courses and 20 hours are in the research sequence.
There are limited merit-based scholarships available for the DMin program. Upon acceptance, students will be given information on merit-based scholarships as amounts do vary.
A Master of Divinity degree is preferred but not required. Applicants without a Master of Divinity degree will need to establish MDiv equivalency. Program administrators must perform an MDiv Equivalence Evaluation of your total academic portfolio.
Yes. Please refer to the financial registration deadline and academic registration dates made available through your JDS Enrollment and Student Services Coordinator.
Yes. You have the option of applying for federal loans, grants and/or scholarships.
Complete a FAFSA application and use School Code: 003194 George Fox University.
Click here to complete a Spanish FAFSA application.
The link to the online application will be provided to you by the Enrollment and Student Services Coordinator. Complete the DMin Inquiry Questionnaire for more information.
Prospective students without an earned Master of Divinity degree from an accredited educational institution will have to establish MDiv equivalency by submitting a portfolio. It is an internal courtesy service that Jakes Divinity School offers to prospective DMin students to determine whether or not the prospect is qualified to apply for admission to the DMin program.
Portfolio items include:
At a minimum, the following items are required:
Pursuant to accreditation requirements for applicants for the DMin program who do not have the MDiv degree, please consider the following information in your checklist for equivalency evaluation:
(a) The ability to thoughtfully interpret scripture and the theological tradition of one’s ministry context.
Provide any of the following that apply.
The program will also consider applying some non-academic study toward MDiv equivalency. For example, as a Renovare Institute Partner, applicants who have completed coursework within their certification in Christian Spiritual Formation are eligible for up to 10 hours of credit toward MDiv equivalency in the DMin program.
Provide documentation to demonstrate the context, scope, character, and time investment of the training or certification. These may include, but are not limited to:
(b) The capacity to understand and adapt one’s ministry to the cultural context.
Provide either or both of the following.
Provide documentation or copies of the items produced, which may include, but are not limited to:
(c) A basic self-understanding of one’s ministerial identity and vocational calling.
Note: If you choose to apply, a similar question is embedded in your application. Feel free to use this essay for that purpose.
(d) A readiness to engage in ongoing personal and spiritual formation for one’s ministry.
Note: If you choose to apply, a similar question is embedded in your application. Feel free to use this essay for that purpose.
(e) An accredited master’s degree (or its educational equivalent) in an area related to one’s ministry setting or vocational calling.
Note: Your essay responses to (c) and (d) above should make clear the connection between your ministry vocation and your completed graduate degree.
(f) Significant ministerial experience that enables the applicant to engage as a ministry peer with other students in this advanced program.