Unification Church: State OKs doctoral program at seminary

BARRYTOWN – The Unification Theological Seminary will begin offering a doctoral degree in ministry this summer.

The state Education Department has approved the seminary’s application to offer the doctorate at its Barrytown campus in Red Hook.

“It’s going to be for people who finished their master’s, are out in their field, have a ministry and have had experience taking care of a pastoral ministry and now what to come back and gain more understanding and knowledge,” said Henry Christopher, a spokesman for the Unification Theological Seminary.

Persons interested in the program must hold a master’s degree in divinity, or its equivalent, and have had three years of ministry work.

The doctoral program comprises four two-week intensive sessions conducted over a two-year period at the seminary – which is affiliated with the Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church – and the completion of a dissertation.

The program is designed to limit the time on campus. About 80 percent of the coursework, research and dissertation preparation will occur off-campus, Christopher said.

In a prepared statement announcing the new course offering, Kathy Winings, director of the program, said it will provide participants “the opportunity to enhance and expand their ministerial skills” and “reflect more profoundly” on their own theological and spiritual development.

She said the program will appeal to active ministers regardless of the type of ministry they have.

The first session will begin Aug. 14. Christopher said 12 people have enrolled so far.

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