The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree is an advanced program oriented toward ministerial leadership, with the purpose of enhancing the practice of ministry for ministerial leaders in congregations, non-profits, missions, and other Christian-oriented contexts. Founded in 1987, ACU’s D.Min. program seeks to provide the context for deepened spiritual formation for ministerial leaders, to advance skill development for leadership in faith communities, and to promote critical theological reflection that informs mission and practice.


The thesis represents the culmination of the student’s work in the D.Min. program, and incorporates both academic rigor and effective ministerial praxis. Each student identifies and addresses a practical ministry issue relevant to his or her ministry context, develops theological and theoretical frameworks to respond to that issue, and then plans and executes a response.

In December 2014, ACU began uploading D.Min. graduates’ theses to its repository. This collection will continue to grow as increasing numbers of theses are uploaded.

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Theses from 2024

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Evaluating “GRIT” (Genuine Relationships, Intergenerationally Tied) Groups at the Highland Church of Christ: An Intergenerational Enhancement of Small Group Community Life, Beth Ann Fisher

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Protocols for Enhancing the Role and Value of Spiritual Care Resources in the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Garrett Harper

Theses from 2023

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A Holy Land Guidebook: Cultivating Spiritual Disciplines For Pilgrimages, Johnnie L. Birks

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Constructing a Theological Framework That Revitalizes the Missional Nature of Churches of Christ in South Australia, Mark Daniel Riessen

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Cultivating Reproductive Small Group Leaders within Southwest Church, Springboro, Ohio, Roger D. Hendricks

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Designing a Drama-Based Arts Ministry for the North 10th and Treadaway Church of Christ, Curtis Alexander King

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Developing a Program of Well-Being for Coptic Orthodox Clergy in the Diocese of Melbourne, Australia, Abanoub Attalla

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Executing Vision: Operationalizing the Vision Statement of Logos Preparatory Academy in Sugar Land, Texas, Jason Henderson

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Liturgical Practices for Full Participation: Creating Opportunities for Engagement in Corporate Worship for People Living with Intellectual Disabilities at the Mooroolbark Salvation Army, Catherine Jane Spiller

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Missional Renewal in a Large and Established Suburban Western Church, Michael Stevens

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Recovering a Missional Ecclesiology: A Framework for Reviving Congregational Mission within the Baptist Union of Victoria, Gayle Hill

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Tell Me the Old, Old Story: An Educational Curriculum for Junior Week at Christian Youth Encampment, Justin Lance Simmons

Theses from 2022

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An Inclusive Framework for Ministry: Fostering the Spiritual Formation of Children in a Multicultural Church, Jennifer Reinsch Schroeder

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Creating an Action Plan to Increase Diversity and Inclusion at Northwest Church of Christ, Kenton Reeves Brown

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Designing a Program to Train Elders to Respond to #MeToo Experiences of Adult Females in a Church Context, Jana H. Unruh

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Developing Policies and Procedures for Restorative Accountability at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, W. Lance Meche

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Developing Practices Within the Lord’s Supper That Develop Central Identity at Queen City Church of Christ, Ryan Russell

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Incorporating Wisdom Christology into the Phronesis of Courtyard Church of Christ, Tiffany A. Dahlman

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Refining the Eden Community’s Pathways for Shaping Regenerative Christian Culture in the Apprenticeship for Regenerative Culture, Laura Callarman

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The Spiritual Care Protocol: Developing Informed Responses to End-of-Life Concerns, Gabriel Fisher

Theses from 2021

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Equipping God's People at the Campbell Street Church of Christ, Danny Sorrell

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Exploring Missional Partnership Practices Between the Littleton Church of Christ and Her Peruvian Missionary Partners Through Dwelling in the Word, Justin L. Thompson

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Theological Practices for Sustaining Community Renewal at Speedway Church of Christ, Kent A. Ellett

Theses from 2020

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Adolescent Spiritual Formation: Practical Theology as a Filter for Youth Ministry, Jeremy Smith

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Cultivating Virtue: Developing a Guiding Document for Youth Ministry at Cookeville First United Methodist Church, Adam Daniels

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Formulating a Communal Covenant for the Elders and Ministers of South Fork Church of Christ, Drew Baker

Theses from 2019

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The Practice of Children’s Ministry: Developing a Cohesive Vision of Practice with Church Leaders, Shannon Clarkson Rains

Theses from 2018

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A Renaissance of the Visual Arts in Worship for Churches of Christ, Heather Heflin Hodges

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Elders Intentionally Developing Future Leaders Through a Mentoring Program at the Central Church of Christ in Topeka, KS, Terry Kitson

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Evaluating “Discovery Bible Study” in an Evangelism Program at African Christian College, Floyd Vidler

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Practicing the Way of Jesus in the College Ministry at the University Church of Christ, Jonathan Andrew Gann

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Spiritual Transformation at Austin Christian Church, David Hooper

Theses from 2017

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Learning to Pray the Lord’s Prayer for Spiritual Transformation at Tachikawa Church of Christ, Naoyoshi Fukushima

Theses from 2016

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Challenging Students at Fort Worth Christian School to Engage the Economically Disadvantaged in Their Community, James Hensley

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Formulating A Covenant Of Discipleship For The Membership Of The Gwinnett Church of Christ, David Chisholm

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Formulating an Intentional Curriculum for Spiritual Leadership Development at the West University Church of Christ, Daniel A. McGraw

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Implementing Vocational Training at Escuela Quiteña de Estudios Bíblicos, Joshua K. Marcum

Theses from 2015

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Cultivating the Practice of Missional Hospitality for Small Groups at West Houston Church of Christ, Kevin Stewart

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Evaluating an Oral Draft of Luke 8:4-15 in Uduk, Jeremy N. Harrison

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Facilitating a Pastoral Leadership Model for the Ulysses Church of Christ, Warren Baldwin

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Fostering Healing through Reconciliation in the Abernathy Church of Christ, Randall K. Carr

Theses from 2014

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Developing an Intentional Mentoring Model for Disciple Formation at the Mayfair Church of Christ, Jason Bybee

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Facilitating Holistic Spiritual Formation at the Northside Church of Christ in Laredo, Texas, Kirk R. Cowell

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Preaching that Leads to Transformation At The North Street Church of Christ in Nacogdoches, Texas, Curtis Barbarick

Theses from 2013

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Elder Selection: Engaging the Monterey Church of Christ in a Collaborative Elder Selection Process, Benjamin D. Pickett

Theses from 2012

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Extending Story Listening as a Practice of Communal Formation at the Lake Orion Church of Christ, Eric R. Magnusson

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The Initiation of Growth-Focused Relationships Involving Healthy Accountability at the Carbondale Church of Christ, Stephen Shaffer

Theses from 2011

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Crafting a Congregational Narrative for the College Church of Christ in Fresno, California, Jason W. Locke

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Discerning a Vocational Theology of Marriage for the Smyrna Church of Christ, Daniel F. Camp

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Engaging Scripture Through Dwelling In The Word At The Newmarket Church Of Christ, Nathan Pickard

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Implementing a Discernment Phase for those Nominated in the Shepherd Selection Process at the Cinco Ranch Church of Christ, Aaron Walling

Theses from 2010

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Communally Discerning a Covenant of Hospitality for the Care of Children at Westview Boys' Home, Ron Bruner

Theses from 2009

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Developing a Model for an Incarnational Ministry at the Webb Chapel Church of Christ, L. Bert Alexander

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Totally Devoted: Developing a Holistic Spiritual Formation Course for Western Christian College, Stanley N. Helton

Theses from 2006

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Blessing and Sending the Church into the World for the Sake of the World, Using Congregational Blessings as a Missional Enterprise, Michael Harbour

Theses from 2005

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Living Waters: An Invitation to Contemplative Spirituality for the Quail Springs Church of Christ, Wyatt E. Fenno

Theses from 1999

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Leadership Development In The Christian Church and Churches of Christ In Northeast Nebraska, Wayne Dykstra

Theses from 1995

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The Nature and Authority of Scripture : Historical Sources and Theological Engagement for Congregational Awareness and Reflection, Carson Reed

Theses from 1992

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A Biblical Program for Building New Self-Love in African American Males and Fathers, Anthony Roach Sr.

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Assessing Patterns of Disengagement and Re-entry in Two Local Congregations of Churches of Christ, David Mitchell Malone

Theses from 1991

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Leadership in Churches of Christ in Argentina: Expectations of National Christians for the Use of Power by Church Leaders, William Alan Richardson

Theses from 1990

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Inspiring a Church to Dream, Jerry Austin Jenkins