Concentration Description

Drew University is announcing an exciting new concentration in Practicing Mind-Body-Spirit-Healing for Congregations and Clergy (MBS). This concentration is founded upon two important notions: First, that healing and wholeness are communal processes which when put into practice create a pilgrimage that is its own destination; second, that clergy can never be healthier than their congregation, nor can congregations be healthier than their leadership. What this means is that to have healthy families, individuals, and clergy it is essential to develop healthy communities. The concentration takes for granted that causing students and their congregations to experience the practical application technique and theory toward building healthy communities starts the journey towards wholeness for pastors and their communities. This exercise will begin during the first semester when pastors and their congregations will experience together the building of community as they consider issues of suffering, trauma, and loss that accompanies contemporary modern life. Accordingly, this concentration will entail some small group experience and site visits to examine what creates healthy community. As part of the coursework in this concentration, students are expected to have leadership from their church or other ministry context participate in some portion of the classes.

We feel that the Practicing Mind-Body-Spirit-Healing for Congregations and Clergy concentration has relevance not only for traditional mainline denominational churches, but for immigrant and urban churches as well. In this concentration students will be taught theological reflection, prayer traditions, conflict mediation, small group development, community building, and psychological theory that will enable them as pastors and religious leaders to build stronger communities in many different contexts. We believe the learning processes in this format will not only provide healing for groups within the congregations and ministry settings of candidates, but will have enormous benefits for the wider community as well. A problem with traditional approaches to clergy health has always been that they attempt to instruct clergy to live healthily but without simultaneously transforming their congregations. We maintain that new wine must always be placed in new wine skins. This new Doctor of Ministry concentration is designed to produce just that in both student and setting.

The approach in the Practicing Mind-Body-Spirit-Healing for Congregations and Clergy concentration begins with the idea that health is a process, not a state of non-illness or disease. It presumes, therefore, that a healthy community considers conflict a normal part of existence, and that healthy community teaches people both how to forgive and to be reconciled with differences and loss. The approach found within this concentration also understands that communities must develop symbols and structures of meaning making that sustain them during times of crisis and trauma, including rituals for losing and incorporating new members. These and other skills will be taught in this exciting new Doctor of Ministry Concentration.

Practicing Mind-Body-Spirit-Healing for Congregations and Clergy Structure

  • First Year: Three on-campus semesters of study (Fall, JanTerm and Spring) followed by a three-week Summer Residency Intensive.
  • Second Year: A regional Colloquium (two days in September and again in October), a Professional Project executed at the ministry site, an April ministry site visit, a Report Back Session (Spring – One Full Day).
  • Third Year: Preliminary Project Report due (Fall – One Full Day). Writing a Doctoral Thesis, 70-90 pages, of publishable quality (Draft of Thesis Due February 1st), submission of the Final Draft for Faculty Review (March 15th), and an Exit Interview.

Courses

Fall 2012 Psychological and Biblical Metaphors of Personal and Congregational Growth: Learning to Travel Together (week long intensive) Janterm 2013 Clergy Health and Its Relationship with Congregational Life (Intensive Course held at retreat center) (week long intensive) Spring 2013 Conflict, Anger and Forgiveness: Working Through Loss and Difference (2 3-day meetings) Summer 2013: Mind-Body-Spirit-Healing and Congregational Life and Methods Seminar: Qualitative and Quantitative plus one additional elective. Fall 2013-Spring 2015 Project Phase Colloquia

Core Faculty Include

  • Timothy Barrett, D.Min.
  • Virginia Samuel, D.Min.

To Apply Contact

Kevin Miller, Director of Theological Admissions
973-408-3111 theoadm@drew.edu

Application Deadline: July 1, 2012
Apply online at http://www.drew.edu/theo/forms/degree

For additional program information:

Dr. Carl Savage, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program
(973) 408-3630 csavage@drew.edu