Midwestern Seminary recently announced a new degree offering to its doctoral program, the Doctor of Ministry in Ministry to Women. Launching in the fall of 2023, the degree seeks to expand the seminary’s efforts to develop theologically based strategies for ministry to women.
“I am grateful to announce our new Doctor of Ministry in Ministry to Women degree,” said Jason Allen, MBTS president. “We desire to train both men and women for the church and this new degree program will further serve that aim. I am especially thankful for Dr. Thor Madsen, Dr. Leslie Umstattd, and the many others who helped bring this new program to fruition.”
The new degree is designed to prepare students for leadership in local churches and denominational service.
Professional doctoral degree offerings, such as the doctor of ministry, are designed for those seeking growth in ministerial competencies, spiritual vitality, and overall character development.
In the continued effort to biblically educate God-called men and women to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ, Midwestern Seminary’s new degree provides further opportunities to equip women to minister to women.
Seeking to serve local churches
The degree offering also seeks to serve local churches by providing further educational opportunities focused on a significant population within Southern Baptist churches — women.
The D.Min. in Ministry to Women will be led by Leslie Umstattd, assistant professor of Christian education . Umstattd has served in a variety of ministry roles for over 20 years, including teaching Bible studies, developing curriculum, and leading women’s retreats.
She joined the faculty after receiving her doctorate in educational ministry from Midwestern Seminary. Additionally, she serves her local church in Kansas City as the women’s ministry leader.
Speaking to her hopes for this degree offering, Umstattd said, “Midwestern Seminary has the local church in mind when training men and women for ministry. This new path of study aligns perfectly with the seminary’s overarching vision by giving women an occasion for deeper understanding of their calling and furthering of their education to hone their ministry skills.”
Umstattd will teach the first seminar in the program next spring, called Foundations of Ministry to Women. The course seeks to provide contextualized strategies for women not only to evaluate ministerial approaches, but also to provide a platform for theological insight for personal and professional ministry.
Additional plans
She also shared plans for a second course in the degree, Contemporary Issues in Ministry to Women. This course will provide opportunities for students to research and analyze prominent concerns while developing and defending biblical solutions with biblical and cultural insight.
Thor Madsen, dean of doctoral studies and academic initiatives, said of the added degree, “Midwestern Seminary has always had women as doctoral students, on both the professional and research sides. This degree affords the element of specialization that was not available before this time.”
He continued, “The Doctor of Ministry in Ministry to Women degree aligns well with the for the Church mission, based on the specialization it provides. Ministry to women involves many of the same principles that would be of general application both to men and women, but also some unique areas which are ideal for further study on the doctoral level.”
Students interested in applying for the Doctor of Ministry in Ministry to Women can now begin their application process at Midwestern Seminary.
Women interested in the Doctor of Ministry in Ministry to Women can visit https://www.mbts.edu/degrees/doctoral-studies/dmin/ to learn more and apply.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Brett Fredenberg and originally published by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
