Curriculum for DMIN in Transformational Preaching Online Program
Led by Dr. Lenny Luchetti.
Year 1
The Formation of the Preacher: (September 21-25, 2020, Monastery in St. Meinrad, IN)
This course focuses on the holistic formation of the preacher. Students will experiment with and implement practices that foster spiritual, emotional, relational, intellectual, ministerial, and physical health and vitality by reading and reflecting on classic devotional texts, participating in the monastic life, and learning from nationally known preachers.
Orientation to Ministry Research (Online)
This course will introduce students to the purpose, methods, and skills of ministry research. It will give an overview of the DMin project and its processes.
Biblical Interpretation for Preaching (May 3-7, 2021, Marion, IN)
In this course students will be led by biblical scholars through an in-depth exegetical study of a single book of the Bible. Students will learn advanced skills for exploring the historical and literary biblical contexts, and interpreting the meaning for the contemporary context. A process for developing and delivering sermons that is faithful to both the biblical text and the contemporary context will be appropriated. Students will immediately employ exegetical and homiletical skills by preaching a sermon in class and receiving constructive feedback.
Year 2
Incarnational Preaching in Context (September 20-24, 2021, Marion, IN)
Students will explore the intersection of incarnational theology with contextual preaching. In this course, students will analyze the dynamics of various preaching contexts, as well as develop and deliver contextual sermons. Students will interact with leading practitioners who have preached effectively in very unique contexts.
Frameworks of Ministry Research (Online)
The student will engage the process of formulating ministry research questions. Students will explore research questions related to their ministry setting.
Preaching as Historical Movement (May 2-6, 2022, England)
Strong biblical preaching can transform the trajectory of a community and nation. That’s what happened in England through the preaching of John Wesley, George Whitefield and others. In this course, students will travel to England and explore how God has historically used preaching to transform society. Students will visit and preach from historic sites in the Wesleyan-Methodist movement. Insights from some of the most impactful preachers of the past will be gleaned to shape the student’s present homiletic practices.
Year 3
Sermon Planning and Preaching for Special Occasions (September 26-30, 2022, Marion, IN)
In this course students will consider how to develop a thoughtful annual preaching plan that incorporates a variety of biblical genres and themes related to holy days and holidays. Students will develop tools to solicit congregational input for sermon planning. The unique dynamics of preaching for special occasions like weddings, funerals, Christmas Eve, Easter, camps, and community events will also be explored. A special occasion homily will be assigned and preached in class.
Methodologies for Ministry Research (Online)
In this course, students will evaluate various methods for ministry research. Students will formulate methodologies suited to specific ministry research problems and settings.
Creativity, Imagination, and Story (TBD with Festival of Homiletics)
The best preachers paint pictures with their words that people can see and not just hear. In this course, students will develop the skills necessary to increase their capacity for creativity, imagination and story-telling. Students will explore how narrative plot and creative imagery can be employed through Christian preaching to transform people and cultures.
Year 4+ (online)
PROJECT COURSES
The first phase of the DMIN ends when the student’s course work is completed and they defend their Project Proposal. When the proposal is approved the student enters the project phase, where the student and his/her Project Advisor implement the study, gather results and draw conclusions. This second part, where they finish writing a Project, could take as little as a year, although the student customarily has four years in which to finish it..
*All course descriptions and location are subject to change.
