Executive/Associate Pastor Cohorts
Dallas Seminary is pleased to offer a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree in Ministry Leadership with an emphasis for Executive and Associate Pastors.
This program is formatted as a modified Cohort in which the same group of students will go through a select portion of the program together. This program will use procedure similar to the Harvard Business School case study approach.
The Executive/Associate Pastor emphasis will be facilitated by Dr. David Fletcher. David is Executive Pastor, Grace Covenant Church, Austin, TX. David’s cutting edge dissertation involved case studies on the Executive Pastor role. His ministry to Executive Pastors is extensive and may be observed at www.xpastor.org.
Each student will be encouraged to be part of a group of 3-5 individuals that will form a Band of Brothers type of fellowship and encouragement group. Between Cohort I and II, the members of the group will be required to attend L.E.A.D. (3 credit hours) together with their spouses. L.E.A.D (DM510) is a sponsored by The Howard Hendricks Center for Christian leadership.
This method of study will be an excellent opportunity for students to interact and learn from others in their same areas of ministry. Case studies will be developed in evaluation of church problems, programs and/or procedures unique to executive and associate church leaders. Attention is given to leadership development and case-study research method. Each case will be developed around a ministry setting that will enhance the student’s ministry. All case studies will be read by the instructors and fellow students. Some student case studies may be presented in class. Students normally will use the two case studies prepared for class for their dissertation project.
The cohorts will involve onsite field trips to large area churches. Seasoned professionals will also be invited to class to discuss case studies in their designated areas of ministry. The objective is to provide students with practical ideas that can be immediately useful to their ministry.
Each student will be required to write a Dissertation. Students normally will use the two case studies prepared for class for their dissertation project.
Applicants must possess an accredited MDiv of ThM degree or equivalent, with two years of Greek and one year of Hebrew. Prospective students with three semesters of Greek may apply. Prospective students with an accredited Masters of Christian Education degree, without Greek and Hebrew, will be required to take a 3 hour modular computer biblical language tools course.
Degree Breakdown
Required Cohort Classes (18 hours)
First Summer (6 hours)
Second Summer (6 hours)
Third Summer (6 hours)
Additional Required Courses (12 hours)
- DM101/DM510 - The Ministry Leader/L.E.A.D. Seminar (3 hours)
- DM102 - The Applied Research Project Development Seminar (3 hours)
- DM103/105 - The Applied Research Project/Continuation (3 hours; 1 hours)
- DM901/905 - Elective Independent Study (3 hours)
Notable Students:
Bill Egner; Executive Pastor, Christ Chapel
Bill grew up in Overland Park, Kansas and graduated from the University of Kansas (’85) with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. After marrying Laurie (also a KU grad) and a brief stint in graduate school at Purdue University where he first understood his need for a Savior and gave his life to Christ, he was hired by Aerojet Propulsion Systems and they moved to Sacramento, California. Bill was (it’s true!) a rocket scientist for seven years before realizing a call from God on his life that he could no longer resist. So with Laurie, 3-year old Stephen, and baby Josiah on the way, they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly… no… Dallas, that is, Texas, to transition into full-time ministry.
Bill attended Dallas Theological Seminary, graduated with a Master of Theology degree, and came to Christ Chapel in the fall of 1998. He describes his job as Executive Pastor as similar to being a CEO of a large corporation -- he directs long-range vision planning, personally shepherds the pastoral staff and cabinet, gives guidance to countless committees and ministries, keeps the inner workings of the church streamlined and efficient, and occasionally preaches. Bill has a passion for God’s Word and wants others to know the same excitement, so he regularly teaches Old Testament classes and the S.H.A.P.E. course. He quotes most often from Psalm 103: “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.”
He enjoys watching football, college basketball (Rock Chalk Jayhawk!), reruns of “Police Squad!” and “The Beverly Hillbillies,” music (mostly 80’s), his Blackjack smart phone, making charts, and eating Altoids and Gobstoppers candy. And he watches the DVD of From the Earth to the Moon whenever he gets a chance.
Paul Utnage; Senior Associate Pastor of Pastoral Ministries
Paul’s official title is senior associate pastor for mission formation and strategic planning, but his business card simply reads “catalyst.” His specialty is leading during times of change. Paul also has a passion for hands-on leadership development. He oversees staff, interns, and volunteer leaders in Adult Life, Children’s, Hispanic, Missions and Outreach, Pastoral, and Student ministries.
Paul joined Stonebriar in 2007, bringing with him 25 years of experience pastoring churches from Texas to Alaska. He earned a theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1981.
Paul and his wife, Brenda, were married in 1980, and they have one daughter.