Over the years, we who are part of the biblical studies faculty at Ashland have regularly been contacted by alumni who sense a need for an even deeper understanding of the scriptures, of the world in which these texts took shape and within which they spoke, and of the variety of approaches that they might take to interpret the scriptures responsibly and powerfully beyond what their master’s programs provided.  But these same alumni, gifted for advanced work as they may be, also haven’t sensed a change in their call to continue in pastoral ministry.  This essentially rules out Ph.D. programs at reputable institutions, since such programs prioritize applicants seeking a lifelong career in academia.

We created the “Biblical Interpretation and Culture” track within our Doctor of Ministry program to answer this precise need and began enrolling students in the fall of 2023.  The course work was crafted to mirror the groundwork laid in American Ph.D. programs in biblical studies.  Two courses offer a guided immersion into the contexts of the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman World, tailored particularly to the relevance of various facets of these environments to the Old and New Testaments and the communities reflected therein.  A third course prepares students for, and takes them to, an area rich in biblical archaeology (Israel/Palestine in summer 2023, Western Türkiye in summer 2025 and 2027). This allows them to get a sense of the “lived environment” of the recipients of particular scriptural texts and how an awareness of the same can inform their interpretation as we read the texts along with the ancient audiences in these spaces.  (This is, of course, a favorite part of the program!)  Two further courses provide advanced engagement with hermeneutics, history of interpretation, and theological interpretation.  We’ve left an open elective that most students so far have used to craft a directed study in the specific area of their final project with a faculty mentor.

And speaking of that final project…  A good number of our students have been using this phase of the program to flex and hone their skills at writing resource material for the church.  These resources are field-tested and their effectiveness evaluated as part of the project.  Quite a few pastors have significantly expanded their kingdom impact through writing small group and Bible study resources, and we hope that this program will help a number of our students discover and enter this important field of ministry.

We’ve been blessed with our fourth entering class this fall and love the special camaraderie that comes from engaging scripture, its world, and its ongoing challenge at this higher academic level with people who remain committed to the life of local congregations.  If this program sounds like it might equip you for the next stage in your own ministry of teaching and preaching – as well as your personal engagement with scripture – I would welcome your inquiries personally.