What is the Doctor of Ministry Degree All About?
When I am introduced as Dr. Kelley Mathews, someone inevitably asks, “So what did you get your PhD in?” When I respond, “I have a DMin, a Doctor of Ministry,” I often receive a puzzled look and, “Oh, ok.”
Welcome to the first in my series exploring both the Doctor of Ministry degree itself and the journeys that took students into the program. I’ll be talking with a number of graduates to learn about their research, dissertations, and overall experience. Why a DMin? Highs and lows? What next? Where can we find you now?
But first, meet Dr. Lynn Cohick [https://www.lynncohick.com/] (PhD, UPenn), Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Director, Houston Theological Seminary (part of Houston Christian University). Dr. Cohick is a world-renowned scholar focusing on the New Testament and Greco-Roman culture. She has authored several commentaries on Ephesians and Philippians as well as books and articles on women in the ancient church. In her free time (ha!) she also serves on the Bible Translation Committee [https://sites.tyndale.com/nlt/meet-the-scholars/] for the New Living Translation (NLT) Bible.
Dr. Cohick also founded the Center for Women in Leadership [http://www.letherlead.com], which produces the Alabaster Jar [https://open.spotify.com/show/1BsiZtDvhnUAphVldYEoe4?si=8a58a1fe48d74efc] podcast and houses the Visual Museum for Women in Christianity [http://www.visualmuseum.gallery]. And she served as my professor and program director.
In our conversation, Dr. Cohick and I discuss the difference between a DMin and a PhD, how the structure of a DMin program uniquely fits its purpose of equipping leaders to serve the local church body, and what prospective students can expect. Most of all, we agree that the DMin can strengthen and deepen the faith and capabilities of women and men who want to pursue practical solutions to problems within their field.
I hope you’ll be encouraged by our conversation and tune in to my future conversations with DMin graduates. They will release once a week during summer 2026.
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