“Doctor. Huh. It’s funny when people call [pastors] ‘doctor.’”[1] Maybe you’ve seen the clip of the late Andre Braugher’s Brooklyn 99 character Captain Raymond Holt in his interrogation-turned-rant about the etymology of the word doctor. The usually composed captain, seeking to get a rise out of his suspect (guest star Sterling K. Brown), begins to poke at dentistry but quickly derails into a passionate defense of the PhD. I will admit that I have referenced the clip once or twice in a joking apology of whether or not I qualify as a “real doctor.” The irony here is that the etymology which the captain seeks to source in the academy (specifically for college professors and art history PhDs) actually finds its root in the church.
In the late thirteenth century, the Roman church formally conferred its first “Doctors of the Church.” Ambrose, Augustine, Gregory, and Jerome were each given the title not because of any office they held—Gregory was a pope, Ambrose and Augustine were bishops, and Jerome was never more than a priest—but for their contributions to theology and the church. Doctor, from the Latin docere, means teacher or learned one, and while the term would eventually find its way to describe those with terminal degrees (in medicine, art history, and, yes, Captain, dentistry), its nearest equivalent today to its original meaning is found in those committed to the study and teaching of theology for the good of the church.
And just as those four first doctors of the church differed in their roles, writings, and social locations, there are a host of differences in the ways doctors in the church study and practice today. Of course, there likely are pastors and ministers out there who are also MDs or DOs, who hold PhDs in chemistry or sociology—and as all truth is God’s truth, there are undoubtedly parallels and benefits to the body of Christ in these. But our question concerns those degrees which most directly concern the theology and practice of the people of God.
Traditional Degrees
Generally speaking, the division of degrees is traditionally bifold, between research doctorates and professional doctorates. Most commonly, these are Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Ministry (DMin) programs. Less commonly, there are of also several professional Doctor of Education (EdD) and Doctor of Educational Ministry (DEdMin) programs, as well as more specialized Doctors of Missiology (DMiss), Music (DMA), and more.
And these are only becoming more common. The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) reports that doctoral programs have consistently seen enrollments increase by more than one thousand students in each of the past four decades.[2] The majority of these increases have come in professional doctorates like the DMin, which has nearly doubled its enrollments in the last forty years, while research doctorates like the PhD and ThD have increased by about one third. But what is the difference between these programs? Is one better, another worse? Which should a pastor or minister consider if they wish to argue the merits and etymology of each—or, more seriously, to serve the church to their fullest? To answer these questions, we will ask two more.
Of What Does the Doctor Speak?
Perhaps the most obvious distinctions between the types of doctors of the church come in the content of their study. At large, the PhD is centered around the research of an academic discipline. I have heard this often described as learning more and more about less and less until you know everything about nothing. The Doctor of Philosophy narrows their scope from a general field (e.g., New Testament or Church History), to a focus within that field (e.g., Pauline studies or Reformation studies), and finally to the research of some detail within that focus (e.g., “A Socio-Rhetorical Approach to Paul’s Ethics with Special Reference to the Resurrection of the Body” or “The Doctrines of Peter Martyr Vermigli and John Henry Newman and Their Ecumenical Implications”).[3] As such, their entry requirements, courses of study, and final dissertation are meant to reflect the rigor therein.[4] This usually requires proficiency in biblical Hebrew, biblical Greek, and any necessary research languages (usually two of either Latin, French, or German), and terminates in a substantial dissertation (ranging from 150–250 pages).
The DMin is instead concerned with the practical nature of ministry and while there may be some fields shared with research programs (e.g., Biblical Theology, Missions, et al.), DMin programs are more likely to be focused on more pragmatic concentrations (e.g., Leadership, Preaching, et al.). As such, many DMin programs will have less academic prerequisites for application (less or no language requirements, a shorter program of study, etc.), but may require additional ministry experience than a research program. Instead of a dissertation, most DMin students complete a final doctoral project (75–125 pages), often specific to their immediate ministry’s social location (e.g., “Retrieving A Theology and Methodology for Community in the Local Church from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together” or “Toward a Healthier Leadership Approach for Emerging Lead Church Planters Years One Through Five”).[5] Their aim is to become an expert practitioner, rather than an expert scholar.
To Whom Does the Doctor Speak?
Another distinction between these doctors is in their audiences. There are obvious exceptions to this rule, but broadly speaking, the PhD trains academics to speak to the academy and the DMin trains practitioners to speak to their local church. In some ways, they even speak a different language. A common critique of the PhD—at least within the church—is that in its emphasis on the theoretical it has lost all practicality. No PhD program requires a dissertation to demonstrate its relevance to ministry or even mention the church. The PhD can at times leave the consequences of its ideas “beyond the scope of this paper.” On the other hand, the DMin can struggle to speak beyond its context. This is in part because it lacks the robustness of a research program and is less conversant with a larger discipline than the PhD. In this, the DMin exchanges practice for philosophy and can shortchange the depth of its knowledge.
A Case for the ThD
The ThD seeks to solve both issues. While it is nearer the research program and rigor of the PhD in terms of program length and outcomes, the ThD has a distinct eye towards theology for the church. Unlike professional doctorates, which were first created in the 1960s (ATS first accredited the DMin in 1970),[6] the ThD has a rich history which dates back centuries in the church.[7] Unfortunately, many universities and seminaries have phased out their ThD programs in lieu of PhDs, but we at Emmaus Seminary are praying for the degree’s recovery. To this end, we are announcing our Doctor of Ecclesial Theology in partnership with the CPT. And so we revisit those questions above. Of what does the ThD speak? It speaks of theology in and for the church. To whom does the ThD speak? It speaks both to the academy and to the church—locally and more broadly. It is conversant in both its own ecclesial tradition and others outside of it, engaging them with humility and charity.
By all means, the PhD, the DMin, and similar degrees will still exist and serve the church—each with their own strengths and weaknesses. But we hope that as theology seeks to serve the church, doctors of ecclesial theology will add a distinct voice for the good of God’s people and the flourishing of the kingdom.
Footnotes
[1] Andre Braugher, Brooklyn 99, Season 5, Episode 14, “The Box,” Aired April 1, 2018.
[2] “Enrollment (Fall Headcount)” by degree. 2022: 12,305 DMin and Other Prof Dr students; 4,113 PhD/ThD students. 2012: 9,774 DMin and Other Prof Dr students; 4,023 PhD/ThD students. 2002: 9,209 DMin and Other Prof Dr students; 3,890 PhD/ThD students. 1992: 7,961 DMin and Other Prof Dr students; 3,168 PhD/ThD students. https://www.ats.edu/Data-Visualization.
[3] For these examples, I have chosen the works of my friends and brothers of the St. Peter Fellowship, Drs. Matt O’Reilly and Chris Castaldo.
[4] To compare the differences between the different models of PhD programs (UK vs. US, Seminary vs. University, etc.) see, https://www.pastortheologians.com/articles/2021/3/5/choosing-a-phd-part-1-getting-oriented.
[5] For these examples, I have chosen the works of my friends and brothers, Drs. Nick Abraham and Ronnie Martin. Dr. Abraham completed his DMin in 2018 and decided to pursue a PhD, of which he is now in the final stages.
[6] See, https://dmineducation.org/history/.
[7] Martin Luther, as one example, received his Doctor of Theology from the University of Wittenberg in 1512.
To learn more about Emmaus Seminary’s Doctor of Ecclesial Theology, you can listen to this conversation with CPT president, Joel Lawrence; read about the Emmaus ThD program; explore Emmaus’s full range of ecclesial theology programs; or email us at info@emmausseminary.org.
Paul J. Morrison (PhD, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Provost at Emmaus Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio, where he teaches Christian Ethics and Biblical Theology. He also serves as Theologian in Residence at City Church in Cleveland Heights. Paul is a member of the St. Peter Fellowship of the Center for Pastor Theologians. You can follow him on Twitter @PaulMorrisonPhD.
