I've already been told by Beacon University (NA), where I received my Master's in Biblical Studies, that I can be admitted to their DMin program based on my LRU MDiv and ministry experience (I've been an associate pastor for 8 years). I also believe that I will qualify for admittance into LRU's DMin program when I finish my MDiv next year. So, I don't think that entering a DMin program right after I finish my MDiv will be a problem.
Interesting. It might be the non-accredited nature of the school that will let you enroll with no experience.
Let me ramble a bit.
Early on (and still in the eyes of many) DMins were considered money makers. I think for some schools that is still true; for others not. Let me digress and come back.
I agree with Rhet (I think he is the one who said it) on this one. Most schools (and people) reqard a DMin as a professional degree like a JD or an MD. There is, at credible schools, a large amount of research involved. It is just a different type of research. You could go into a PhD right out of a BA or MA becuase it was a research degree for the point of contributing an unique academic contribution to the field. In the DMin, it is expected you that you have experience in the field so that you are better able to evaluate and research the practice of ministry. After all, if you have never been a pastor, how can you interact in class with pastors who are discussing the application of the text to the pastorate?
Back to the money thing now ... After a man left seminary, there was no wqy to get any more money from him so the DMin was created in order to lure them back, to get more money for relatively little investment. The emphasis, as I understand it, was not always on the quality of teaching. Many Dmins were not good programs (still aren't). Wasn't it Os Guinness who wrote a book or talked about "The D.Min.ization of Ministry"?
Now some DMins are substantially more substantive now (is that redundant)? Some are actually worth doing. The danger is that a DMin tends to focus on doing rather than theology. There is an attitude out there that "If we were just doing things right, the church would grow." The church growth tool is a hammer and therefore everything looks like a nail. The reality is that we don't need better practitioners, administrators, planners, dreamers, visionaries. We don't need more programs, family life center, etc. We need better theologians who are better men of God.
IMOO If a school will let you in their DMin with no ministry experience, then it probably isn't worth doing. You would be so far out of your league in interacting with the others in the class it would probably serve little benefit. I would skip it. If you have ministry experience, I would choose a DMin school based largely on professors. Many will be adjuncy (though some will teach on a regular shedule as well as the DMin). Look to see who they are and what they have written. For adjunct professors, look to see where they have ministered and what their specialty is.
The big benefit of a DMin program is, to my understanding, the interative nature. I can get the syllabus of a DMin class and read everything and do the writing and benefit from it. But the interaction with others ia a huge benefit. This was also true in seminar classes in seminary.
Bottom line: For me, I would stay away from a DMin that does not require substantial work and that does not require prior ministry experience.
And I'll take my D.Min. and teach online and make more than the professors at the seminaries. :laugh: