Director of Doctor of Ministry

At Houston Christian University, our Christian liberal arts, professional, and graduate programs have equipped students to lead, collaborate, and discover out of a deep sense of purpose for more than 60 years. We are driven forward by our central confession, “Jesus Christ is Lord,” and defined by our “Ten Pillars” core convictions. From this foundation we guide students confidently into discerning discovery, preparing them to think biblically, critically, and holistically about how to engage the world. We aspire to care for every student by meeting their academic, spiritual, and social needs with mentorship and support.

About the School of Christian Thought & Houston Theological Seminary

The School of Christian Thought at Houston Christian University is growing in size and program offerings, embracing distance education while maintaining residential programs. Students globally pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degrees here.

A central part of the School of Christian Thought is Houston Theological Seminary (HTS), an evangelical seminary committed to Christian orthodoxy with a Baptist heritage. Our community represents diverse Christian traditions united by shared commitment to Jesus’ Lordship and HCU’s Ten Pillars. The seminary is supported by the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), and the DMin program is supported by the Cole Scholarship fund.

The Doctor of Ministry program, launched five years ago, offers two tracks: New Testament and Faith & Culture. With over 50 doctoral students and an excellent faculty roster, the program continues to expand. Faculty join a warm scholarly community with active research projects, fortnightly research seminars, weekly prayer gatherings, and student meals.

About the Role

We are seeking a full-time faculty member to lead our Doctor of Ministry program. The ideal candidate will have leadership and ministry experience, a dedication to training others for ministry service, and expertise with a terminal degree in one of the following areas:

• Practical Theology
• Biblical Studies
• Cultural Apologetics

Responsibilities

• Provide vision and leadership for the Doctor of Ministry program
• Promote the doctoral program and recruit new DMin students
• Oversee program operations, including planning for semester intensives and managing supervisory assignments
• Serve as a point of contact for prospective DMin students
• Provide mentorship and advising for current doctoral students
• Advance the program through church partnerships, adjunct recruitment, and proactive initiatives
• Lead program accreditation maintenance and renewal
• Collaborate with the Department of Theology chair and Dean’s office to oversee the DMin budget, including Cole Scholarship awards
• Teach the equivalent of a 4-4 load, with a 2-2 course reduction for administrative duties
• Integrate Christian faith into teaching and engage in scholarly work
• Participate in service activities for the School, University, and community
• Maintain active Christian faith and church participation

Requirements

• Earned PhD or DMin in a related field
• Professional experience in the candidate’s discipline or related field (preferred)
• Substantial experience in organizational leadership and ministry
• Affirmation of HCU’s statement of faith (Preamble and Ten Pillars), reaffirmed annually
• Active Christian faith with a commitment to integrating faith and learning in the classroom
• Documented excellent teaching record and evidence of scholarly interests and achievements

Timeline

Review of applications will begin on September 15th. The position will remain open until filled. The ideal start date is January 2027, with August 1, 2027, as an alternative.