Date of Award
2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Department
Seminary
First Advisor
Winford Amos, DMin
Second Advisor
Valerie Houston, DMin
Third Advisor
Kimla Beasley
Abstract
There is a critical issue affecting some African American Baptist churches in Central Mississippi: the absence of formal theological training among a significant number of pastors. While these ministers are spiritually mature and deeply committed to their congregations, the gap in theological preparedness tends to pose challenges to doctrinal accuracy, exegetical soundness, and the long-term effectiveness of their ministries. This study aims to address the following question: How can a contextually informed and practically accessible theological education model equip African American Baptist pastors in Central Mississippi for faithful ministry? The argument presented asserts that theological education is not a luxury but a ministerial necessity. The research employs a qualitative methodology, including interviews with pastors from a variety of academic backgrounds—those holding seminary degrees, secular degrees, and no degrees at all. The findings reveal a need for flexible, relevant, and theologically sound training options. In response, the researcher has developed a Hybrid Flexible seminary curriculum that enables pastors to engage in theological education through three pathways: traditional in-person instruction, hybrid coursework, and independent study. This model combines traditional academic rigor with the practical accessibility of non-seminary options such as preaching conferences and mentorship-based learning. The resulting artifact—a pilot Hybrid Flexible curriculum—serves as a practical expression of the proposed solution. Designed with theological depth, cultural sensitivity, and flexibility in delivery, the curriculum aims to nurture exegetical excellence, pastoral competence, and long-term spiritual vitality in African American Baptist congregations.
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Kevin, "A Contextual Proposal Toward Ministerial Competency: The Theological Education of Pastors in the African American Baptist Churches of Central Mississippi" (2026). Doctor of Ministry. 743.
https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/743