Bakke Graduate University's Doctor of Ministry program introduces a study focused on Missional Spiritual Formation. This course concentrates on refocusing essential and foundational understanding, skills, and practices for transformational pastoral/shepherding leadership. Why is this focus being introduced? According to observations of the current realities:

1. Prioritization problem: Practical ministry demands consistently crowd out spiritual formation.

2. Identity crisis: Pastors increasingly view themselves as CEO/managers rather than spiritual shepherds.

3. Preparation gap: Seminary training emphasizes knowledge acquisition over character formation.

4. Metrics mismatch: Success is measured by external growth rather than spiritual depth.

5. Integration challenge: Spiritual practices are treated as supplemental rather than foundational to leadership.

This course of study is important for pastors, ministry leaders, and those involved in ministry inside the church structures.

In Phyllis Tickle’s book, Great Emergence, the author suggests that every 500 years, there is a “monumental phenomenon” that impacts all walks of life. “…Bishop Dyer observes, about every five hundred years the empowered structures of institutionalized Christianity, whatever they may be at that time, become an intolerable carapace that must be shattered in order that renewal and new growth may occur.” Many suggest that this shattering has been taking place as we entered the 21st century.

We are one-fourth of the way through the 21st Century. Tickle’s assertion of a monumental phenomenon is being felt. It is no longer the question of whether this shattering of the power structures in general and specifically the institutionalized church will occur. Rather, it is how we respond, how we engage, and what the emerging structures become.

One response that often occurs is to focus on preserving the past. What worked in years past is sure to work today. Perhaps the people who are called late adopters lead this response. Generally, the reaction is to maintain the past organizational and leadership structure, including the practices and forms of the church.

A second response is to resist the shattering of power structures and rely upon adjusting and improving the current structures and practices. The solution is to adjust and improve. The reaction is to ignore the failing foundation, and the focus is on remodeling. This approach is a renovation-style response.

The third response is to take a posture of reform and transformation. This means entering into the unknown of what structures, practices, and leadership are emerging. Often, there is a renewed focus on the early church, which becomes a reimagination of the present realities.

We are in a place where the new emerging structures and practices remain unclear. Over the past twenty years, there has been an increased interest in the early church and spiritual practices of the church pre-modernity. There are various new and renewed structures, practices, and leadership emerging. The proposed Doctor of Ministry course of study is a response by encouraging students to learn early church history, the spiritual practices of the church, and the spiritual journey for the purpose of imagining and leading into the emerging new structures, practices, and forms of leadership for the church.

One of the hints to the “new wineskins” is the role of pastor/shepherd leadership and functions. We look at the early church, Abbas and Ammas. We look at desert spirituality. In this panorama, we discover the emphasis on spiritual formation and direction. I have noticed since the early 1990s the growing desire for a deeper union with God, authentic community, and living into the call and invitations of God in aligning with God's mission.

This observation, which began years ago, is how the formation of Missional Spiritual Formation arose. Now is the time for pastors, Christian leaders, missional leaders, and those desiring to guide and equip followers of Jesus to gain training in developing new wineskins.

Bakke Graduate University’s emphasis has been on training and equipping for transformational leadership. An important aspect of training and equipping is “getting in front of the curve.” This time, the church is facing disorientation; it is the opportunity to develop the skills for the new emerging leadership.

Missional Spiritual Formation has emerged to encourage, equip, and empower leaders in and outside church organizational structures, from traditional expressions to emerging expressions, with the skills of exegeting the community and church and working with the community to create new expressions of the church.

The BGU Doctor of Ministry is proposing a course of study focused on Missional Spiritual Formation for leadership. The course of study will begin in October 2025. The students will take the focused study through a two-year cycle. It will provide the student the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) or Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership (MATL) degree. Thus, the focus study is available to applicants seeking a master's or doctoral degree. For information, email DMin Program Director, Dr. Bruce Jackson bruce.jackson@bgu.edu or MATL Program Director, Dr. Yvonne McKenzie yvonne.mckenzie@bgu.edu.

You can find more details about the DMin program HERE.

You can read more about the MATL program HERE.