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Affective Spirituality and Christian Formation Track

Home » Academics » Multnomah Biblical Seminary » Doctor of Ministry Degree » Affective Spirituality and Christian Formation Track

Launching in 2019

The Affective Spirituality and Christian Formation Track focuses on a biblically informed, spirituality grounded understanding of the triune God. The Bible, the revelation of the Living Word, and Jesus, the Living Word incarnate, are central in Christian spiritual transformation, and they inform the process of maturation and growth, as guided by the Holy Spirit. This approach to spiritual formation is quite distinctive in its thoroughly affective and Trinitarian approach to both personal and community transformation. This new track will launch as soon as there are 8 students admitted.

Cohort class structure

Students participate in a close-knit community with their cohort and their faculty mentor, who serves as spiritual director for the cohort. Over a period of three years (one two-week intensive each year, with on-going video/online forums throughout the year), the track involves six major courses focusing on knowing God and responding to His great love for us more completely, learning how the Holy Spirit ministers to us as part of the community of Christ-followers, the historical development of Christian spirituality, and the affective power of God’s Trinitarian love poured out by the Holy Spirit to transform us in Christian community.

After completing program coursework, the student will embark on the final phase of researching, participating in, and writing down and reporting on their ministry project/thesis.

About Dr. Ron Frost

The Affective Spirituality and Christian Formation track is led by Dr. Ron Frost, who is a lifelong student of the history of Christian spirituality. He received his undergraduate degrees in Bible from Multnomah Bible College and history from the University of Portland. After some time away with the Army and in ministry he earned an MA (Church History) and an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He returned to teach at in the college at Multnomah for eight years before taking three years to earn a PhD at King’s College London (a center for Trinitarian studies). His doctoral research centered on the affective Trinitarian teachings of Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), a teacher and pastor in both London and Cambridge. Sibbes was a man completely captivated by God’s love. He viewed this love as the outflow of God’s eternal triune communion. Thus God’s “spreading goodness” extends to the cosmos as the basis for its creation and the proper context for all of life: we were made by God and for God, as those beloved by the source of love himself. Jesus, who is the “Word” that expresses God to humanity in terms we can grasp, offers God’s love and life through the Spirit.

After earning his Ph.D., Dr. Frost returned to Multnomah Biblical Seminary to teach historical theology and Ethics from 1995-2007. Since 2007, Ron has served with Barnabas International as a pastoral care consultant, speaker, and instructor. Along with his ministries at Multnomah and Barnabas, Ron has served in local churches as a teacher and mentor. And now, Ron is back at Multnomah again to lead this Formation track that is so crucial to the on-going Spiritual reformation of the Church!

For whom is this track designed?

This track would be a good fit for people serving in all areas of ministry—from lead pastors seeking a Bible-defined framing of the issues related to spiritual formation, to those tasked with formative aspects such as discipleship, spiritual direction and coaching, prayer, caretaking and pastoral counseling. Even church children’s ministry departments could be dramatically strengthened by this biblically steeped, historically grounded, and Spirit led approach to Christian formation. There is no area of missional Christian ministry that will not be transformed through the perspective and practice of an affective spirituality.

Why Multnomah?

Designed for those in full-time ministry, Multnomah’s Doctor of Ministry program allows you to earn your degree through a ten-day intensive held once a year with a cohort of students going through every course together for three years (phasing). In between intensives, online interaction led by faculty will reinforce what you are learning and build your cohort community.

Experienced faculty mentors lead each track. You will study with faculty who are mentors in the respective ministry tracks they lead. In addition, guest lecturers are friends and ministry colleagues of your faculty mentor.

The Doctor of Ministry program offers an opportunity for advanced study and learning to expand your ministry reach and legacy. The culmination of the program is a final project that integrates course work with your ministry. Through this project, each doctoral candidate is provided an avenue for increasing their ministry impact.

MA in Applied Theology

We also offer an MA degree that shares the same core classes as the DMin program, a Master of Arts in Applied Theology (MAAT). This degree is designed for ministry leaders with significant ministry experience but lack a graduate degree in ministry. Entrance into this degree program hinges primarily upon approval by the track supervisor, along with meeting the relevant admissions requirements.

Learn more

Contact the Doctor of Ministry Program Director, Greg Dueker, at gdueker@multnomah.edu for more information about this track.

Course descriptions

DM 812S Knowing God and Knowing Self (3 credits) 

In this course we start with God’s triune relational love and then consider the believer’s soul-awakening response to that love. The spiritual journey begins with meeting and knowing God as eternal Father, Son, and Spirit. It progresses with the believer’s union with Christ through the Spirit. It brings recognition of sin and repentance; and it grows by gaining a heartfelt confidence in Christ. We will pursue Bible paradigms and language in order to better understand and live the spiritual life.

 

DM 813S Knowing God and Knowing Self Forum (1 credit) 

The follow-up online course to the in-class seminar. The discussion forum is an opportunity to put what was learned in class into action in the student’s ministry setting.

 

DM 814S The History of Christian Spirituality (3)

In church history, a variety of spiritual traditions have emerged. Some are biblically sound while other endorse questionable human impulses. This course offers a pathway to spiritual reformation and renewal by examining Christ’s ministry to his followers and be engaging lessons provided in other New Testament teachings.

 

DM 815S The History of Christian Spirituality Forum (1)

The follow-up online course to the in-class seminar. The discussion forum is an opportunity to put what was learned in class into action in the student’s ministry setting.

 

DM 822S The Role of the Spirit in Christian Formation (3)

This course will focus on the unique role of the Holy Spirit in the process of Christian transformation. The apostle Paul’s call for the believers in Galatia to “keep in step with the Spirit” will be employed as a crucial biblical calling. The Spirit’s ministry will both be distinguished from the persons of the Father and Son and engaged as God’s bonding presence in the believer’s union with Christ and communion with the Father. The Spirit’s work in shaping the New Testament Church will be taken as an applied model for both our personal faith and for reforming the practices of today’s Christian communities.

 

DM 823S Spiritual Theology Forum (1)

The follow-up online course to the in-class seminar. The discussion forum is an opportunity to put what was learned in class into action in the student’s ministry setting.

 

DM 824S Following Christ in a Life of Love (3)

This course will first review how the Spiritual Formation movement emerged along with its use of Spiritual Disciplines. The course will then elevate God’s love in Christ as his spreading goodness that captures and transforms souls. Within this inside-out relational model, course participants will explore various biblical pathways that stimulate spiritual growth. Time will be given to asking when and how God speaks today and about how to discern God’s voice among the alternative calls upon our heart. Partnership pathways to growth will be considered and applied.

 

DM 825S Following Christ in a Life of Love Forum (1)

The follow-up online course to the in-class seminar. The discussion forum is an opportunity to put what was learned in class into action in the student’s ministry setting.

 

DM 832S Christian Transformation in Community (3)

The authentic spiritual life is heart-based and whole-life. In this course, we will consider how the affective power of God’s Trinitarian love, poured out in hearts by the Holy Spirit, brings change to every realm of life. This includes work, leisure, sexuality, the use of time and money, and more. The mutual love that emerges in a transformative Christian community then grows and spreads to the world as a natural missional outreach.

 

DM 833S Christian Transformation in Community Forum (1)

The follow-up online course to the in-class seminar. The discussion forum is an opportunity to put what was learned in class into action in the student’s ministry setting.

 

DM 834S Integrated Spirituality (3)

This course seeks to integrate the core elements of a renewed spiritual life in the real world. A Christian shares in union and communion with the Father and Son, by the Spirit, so the basis for loving both God and neighbor emerges as a response to God’s active love. This, in turn, stirs both the desire and energy to shape personal and corporate ministry in line with Christ’s life.

 

DM 835S Integrated Spirituality Forum (1)

The follow-up online course to the in-class seminar. The discussion forum is an opportunity to put what was learned in class into action in the student’s ministry setting.

 

More DMin Tracks

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