The Campbell University Divinity School conferred eight Doctor of Ministry degrees at a hooding ceremony on Saturday, May 12. The degrees were the first to be conferred since the Divinity School began its Doctor of Ministry program in 2004.”This is another significant and wonderful marker in the short history of the Divinity School,” said Dean Michael Cogdill. “The eight ministers receiving these first doctoral degrees are proven church leaders and they will bring excellence to their future service in Christian ministry. We award doctoral degrees only to the brightest and best and we are extremely proud of these first recipients.”The Doctor of Ministry program is offered in addition to the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education degree programs and the certificate programs in preschool and children’s ministry and in congregational leadership for Hispanics. A total of 42 Master of Divinity degrees and three Master of Arts in Christian Education were also conferred by the Divinity School. Dr. Frank R. Campbell, president Emeritus of Averett University and interim president of Gardner-Webb University, delivered the graduation address. “Today’s world is more complex and demanding,” Campbell said. “The way we do church has changed, but God still calls men and women to serve him. The biblical message has not changed.”The three-year Doctor of Ministry program assigns students to a mentoring professor. The students complete 32 credit hours, including 14 hours of core seminars, nine hours of guided reading and research in a selected area of vocational emphasis and nine hours of an approved ministry project and written report such as developing a team-based ministry program; helping parents embrace their role as spiritual leaders in the ho me, positioning the church to address worship needs in the post modern environment and faith formation in children.Those receiving the Doctor of Ministry degree were James Paul Brown of Rose Hill, N.C.; Elvin Ray Butts, Jr., of Dunn, N.C.; James Michael Collier of Lexington, N.C.; Kenneth Carl McNeill of Robbins, N.C.; Jeffery Anson Nichols of Wilmington, N.C.; Reginald A. Rushing of Louisburg, N.C.; Matthew Stewart Thomas, of Elizabeth City, N.C.; and David J. Wilson, of Atlanta, Ga. Photo Copy: Campbell Divinity School graduates first Doctor of Ministry class. First Row, from left, Dr. Jimmy Brown; Dr. Barry Jones, associate dean of the Divinity School; Dr. Mike Cogdill, Dean of the Divinity School; and Dr. Elvin Butts. Second Row, from left, Dr. Mike Collier; Dr. David Wilson; Dr. Reginald Rushing; Dr. Matthew Thomas; Dr. Kenneth McNeill and Dr. Jeffrey Nichols.
Campbell Divinity School graduates first Doctor of Ministry class