Doctor of Ministry

An Acadia Doctor of Ministry will help you by:

• Providing opportunities for personal refreshment through worship, friendship, and encouragement while on campus in the beautiful retreat-like setting of Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley.
• Enriching your mind and soul by going deeper through the advanced study of scripture and theology.
• Deepening your spiritual life through courses and companionship in spiritual formation.
• Strengthening your ministry and leadership skills through advanced practical courses from scholar-practitioners.
• Helping you conduct cutting-edge research to discover insights for ministry effectiveness in the 21st century.

We invite you to join us at Acadia to gain the energy, skills, and depth you need for the long-haul in ministry and to sharpen your effectiveness as a Christian leader. Take some time and explore this site, and then contact us so we can discuss how we can support you in fulfilling your call as a ministry leader for today’s world.

Why Choose the Acadia DMin Experience?

Affordability: We understand the pressures on family finances in ministry homes. We do all that we can to keep your tuition low and to provide generous scholarship support to help you achieve your doctoral degree.

Flexibility: By offering you the opportunity to take up to two Directed Studies, you can focus your studies in an area of personal interest. Your supervisor for such Directed Studies and your thesis could be from within the Acadia faculty, from your denominational context or another scholar/practitioner located anywhere in the world. In addition, you can talk with the DMin Team when significant life or ministry changes mean you need a little flexibility and grace in tailoring the pace of your program.

Priority: We have great respect for Scripture and theology and view them as foundational to all we do in life and ministry. We require all DMin students to take two courses in Biblical Studies and two courses in Theology. We believe that such study at a high level is essential for doctoral studies in the practice of ministry.

Diversity: ­Our student body and faculty represent more than 20 denominations and many different ministry vocations. Students from across Canada, the US, and several other countries choose to study at Acadia, and they feel welcome here. At Acadia, you will build friendships with instructors and fellow students from a variety of backgrounds, which will enrich your collegial learning experience.

Quality: We have excellent instructors with a concern for both academic rigour and applied research. Through our courses, we will challenge you to combine substantial, intellectual depth with a study that is practical and useful in your life and ministry.

Vitality: We value both personal renewal and missional engagement. At Acadia, you have the opportunity to strengthen your spirituality and discipleship through a spiritual formation elective, weekly chapels, class prayer times as well as through the mentorship of a seasoned ministry mentor. If you desire to study in an environment that supports creative, fresh approaches to Gospel ministry for advancing God’s kingdom today, you will feel at home at Acadia.

Accessibility: Wolfville, just an hour from Halifax Stanfield Airport, is an easy location to access international flights. Halifax has frequent connections with London, Boston, New York, Chicago, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and a host of other major centres.

University: As a seminary affiliated with one of Canada’s most acclaimed universities, you can earn a degree your peers and your family will respect. Through our many electronic library databases, journals, books, and partnerships with other major libraries across Canada and beyond, you can access hundreds of thousands of resources from wherever you live. This academic setting strengthens research and writing skills so that you can apply them to your unique context.

About Acadia Divinity College

Acadia Divinity College (ADC) is on the campus of one of Canada’s oldest and most respected liberal arts universities in Canada, Acadia University. As the official seminary of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (CBAC) and the Faculty of Theology for Acadia University, ADC has a distinguished history of equipping Christians for full-time and volunteer ministry in Canada and the world. Offering full-time and part-time degree programs at the bachelors, masters, and doctoral level, as well as continuing education programs, ADC students are challenged by their professors to ask questions, to explore the depths of their faith, and to cultivate their calling, whether academic or vocational ministry, through rigorous intellectual instruction, meaningful spiritual formation, and practical ministry experience.

ADC’s impact is local and global. Our diverse student population of over 200 students come from across Canada and more than 12 countries and represent 15 denominations. Through our diverse partnerships, students can study, research, and intern in some of the world’s largest cities or most remote villages in northern Canada.

We are committed to equipping men and women from diverse backgrounds and contexts to serve others in the love and knowledge of Jesus to gain confidence in God’s Word to speak to the realities of life today by:

Developing Knowledge: We teach with academic rigor and faithful commitment. We nurture skills in research and lifelong learning. We produce research and publications that build knowledge and explore new ideas.

Nurturing Personal Formation: We facilitate Christian formation and nurture relational community. We emphasize the exploration of identity, self-understanding, and personal growth.

Cultivating Skills: We develop competencies for church ministry and broader Christian service. We mentor leaders in partnership with local churches and other agencies.

ADC is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada .