In response to an invitation by the Hispanic Strategy Committee for the Church of the Nazarene USA/Canada Region, Nazarene Theological Seminary and the Office of Multicultural Ministries established a Kansas City Spanish Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree. Like its English counterpart, the degree's emphasis will be on Wesleyan pastoral theology.

“When Dr. Roberto Hodgson, USA/Canada Region Multicultural Ministries director, began the conversation about contacting NTS leadership to make the DMin program available to the Hispanic leadership in our denomination, it seemed a far away, very difficult, and perhaps impossible project," said Mario Zani, program coordinator for the Kansas City Spanish DMin program. "However, thanks to the vision and good will of a great team, the first residential seminar will be held in Kansas City this fall, October 12-22. We are excited to announce that the first cohort of students includes 13 proven leaders from across North America that will bring a wide array of skills, expertise, and experiences to the program.”

With more than 700 Hispanic Nazarene churches and congregations in the U.S., a dynamic immigration movement, and second- and third-generation Latinos permeating a majority of communities today, there is an ever-growing need for additional theological training for Hispanic pastors. 

“At NTS, we desire to respond to the needs of the church and our communities as we prepare pastors and leaders for the future,” said Carla Sunberg, NTS president. “This Spanish-language DMin program is our response to the changing demographics in our churches and communities. News of the program has been very well received across the country, and it is great to have such a significant number of students in our first cohort. We are excited to see how the program will continue to grow.” 

Applications for the next cohort of students are being accepted. Ministry leaders on the USA/Canada Region who have a master’s degree in theology or ministry and who are interested in a contextualized Spanish-language DMin should contact Mario Zani at zaniexrd@aol.com for further information. 

The cost of the program for USA/Canada Nazarenes in the Spanish-language DMin degree is being supplemented by grants NTS received from foundations committed to multicultural theological education for ministers, as well as by the Office of Multicultural Ministries.

"There is a great support team that is working hard to make this a very rewarding experience for the entirety of the Church,” Zani said. “We are grateful for all the encouragement being provided to the candidates by district superintendents and local churches.”

More information on the NTS Doctor of Ministry degree program can be found on the NTS website at nts.edu/dmin.

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--Nazarene Theological Seminary