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.