Abstract
The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree was first approved by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) in 1970. Standards for the degree came two years later. Despite some initial reluctance to accept the degree, by the mid-1970s many theological schools had begun to offer the degree. The 1980s and 90’s saw an expansion in the number of schools offering the degree with some schools having well over 100 students in the degree program. While the degree is still a viable component of the curciculum of many theological schools, other seminaries have reshaped, suspended and in some cases dropped the degree. Given the decline in seminary enrollments over the past decade and the financial struggles many seminaries are facing, the uncertainties surrounding the Doctor of Ministry degree are understandable. As we move toward the 50th anniversary of the degree, I believe that the present state of the church and the seminaries that serve the church make this the appropriate time for the ITC and other seminaries to look again at the degree and ascertain its relevance for the 21st Century. My perspective on the degree is perhaps revealed in the title I have chosen for this article: “Rebooted: A Fresh Start for a Seasoned Degree.”