Global church and ministry leaders facing the challenges of a rapidly changing world now have a new opportunity for advanced training. Beginning in Fall 2026, Columbia International University’s School of Missions and Intercultural Ministry will launch the Doctor of Global Leadership (DGL), a practical doctoral program designed to equip leaders serving in multicultural and international ministry contexts.
The fully online program prepares experienced ministry and nonprofit leaders to navigate the complexities of global mission today while remaining deeply grounded in Scripture and servant leadership.
Applications are now open, and prospective students can apply for free. Learn more about the program at ciu.edu/dgl.
Preparing Leaders for the Global Church
Christian leadership today often spans cultures, languages and continents. Teams may include members from Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America and Europe, reflecting the reality that the majority of Christians now live in the Global South.
Dr. Ed Smither, dean of CIU’s School of Missions and Intercultural Ministry, says those realities helped inspire the creation of the program.
“Leadership in the mission and nonprofit world has become wonderfully complex and challenging,” Smither explains. “The majority of Christians in the world now come from the Global South, and many teams and organizations are multicultural. Globalization and technology have made the world a smaller place. Given these realities, this program provides formation for mission and nonprofit leadership today.”
The Doctor of Global Leadership was designed specifically for ministry practitioners who are actively serving in cross-cultural contexts and want to strengthen their leadership, cultural understanding and strategic thinking.
A Practical Doctorate for Mission Practitioners
Unlike many doctoral programs that focus primarily on academic research, the Doctor of Global Leadership emphasizes practical ministry impact.
Smither says the program was intentionally designed to help leaders address real-world challenges.
“This program was created to help leaders address global realities in the church and mission today,” Smither says. “It is a practical degree that helps global church leaders address challenges and solve problems in their ministries.”
Students will complete a practical project designed to address a real need within their ministry context, allowing them to apply biblical and cultural insights directly to their leadership environments.
The program can be completed in 18 to 36 months, allowing leaders to remain active in their ministry while pursuing their doctorate.
Designed for Global Ministry Leaders
The ideal student for the Doctor of Global Leadership is someone already leading within a ministry, church or nonprofit organization.
“The ideal student is a leader of a team, organization or church striving to lead their organization through the complexities of global mission today,” Smither says.
Students will explore leadership challenges from biblical, cultural and strategic perspectives, developing the skills needed to guide organizations serving across cultures and global contexts.
Courses That Address Today’s Mission Challenges
The Doctor of Global Leadership includes six online doctoral courses designed to help leaders understand culture, mission strategy and multicultural leadership.
Featured courses include:
- Introduction to Cultures and Worldviews
- This course explores the ways culture shapes worldview, belief systems and ministry approaches in different global contexts.
- Mission and Evangelism in the Contemporary World
- Students examine the practice of mission and evangelism in a rapidly changing global environment, considering both historical foundations and contemporary strategies.
- Multicultural Leadership
- This course prepares leaders to guide diverse teams, navigate cultural dynamics and lead effectively within international organizations.
These courses are designed to help ministry leaders develop deeper cultural awareness while strengthening their ability to lead with wisdom and humility.
Flexible Online Format for Ministry Leaders
The Doctor of Global Leadership is structured to allow students to remain active in ministry while completing their degree.
Program details include:
- 30 credit hours
- Fully online format
- Six 16-week doctoral courses
- 4–8 credits per semester
- Program completion in 18–36 months
Students can begin the program in Fall, Spring or Summer, providing flexibility for ministry leaders around the world.
Affordable Doctoral Education
CIU has intentionally priced the program to make doctoral education accessible to ministry leaders.
At $500 per credit, the entire program costs $15,000 in tuition, significantly lower than many comparable doctoral programs.
Smither notes that both the cost and timeline make the program distinctive.
“This program can be completed within 18–36 months without ever leaving your ministry context,” Smither says. “That timeline is shorter than many other schools, and at $15,000 for tuition we have priced the program lower than comparable programs.”
Students may also qualify for financial support, including:
- Partner Scholarships for members of organizations connected to CIU’s extensive network of over 130 ministry partners.
A Collaborative Effort from CIU Faculty
The Doctor of Global Leadership was developed through collaboration among faculty members with extensive experience in mission, theology and cross-cultural ministry.
Key contributors include:
- Dr. Ed Smither, specialist in the history and theology of mission
- Dr. Ryan Klejment-Lavin, cultural anthropologist with expertise in world religions, particularly in East and South Asian contexts
- Dr. Victor Cuartas, who brings decades of experience in church planting and training global church leaders
Together, they designed a program that reflects both the biblical foundations of mission and the realities of ministry in the modern world.
Integrating Faith, Leadership and Global Engagement
At the heart of the Doctor of Global Leadership is a commitment to integrating biblical theology, leadership formation and global mission.
“We reflect on the meaning of mission today from Scripture,” Smither explains. “We help students cultivate a biblical theology of mission, wrestle with servant leadership principles and do all of this in the context of the global church today.”
The goal is to develop leaders who combine spiritual depth with cultural intelligence and strategic thinking.
Equipping Leaders for the Future of Global Mission
Looking ahead, Smither hopes graduates will lead with wisdom and humility in increasingly complex ministry environments.
“My prayer is that global church leaders will be equipped to lead their organizations with humility, courage and wisdom, addressing the challenges and opportunities of mission today.”
This vision reflects the broader mission of Columbia International University: Educating students from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.
“Our vision is to train reflective practitioners — those who think biblically about mission practice and who boldly step out into mission,” Smither says. “We want our graduates to have both zeal and knowledge in the work of mission.”
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the Doctor of Global Leadership program must meet CIU’s doctoral admission requirements, including:
- Free online application
- Affirmation of the Christian faith and agreement with CIU’s Statement of Faith
- Official transcripts for the highest earned degree
- Master’s degree from an accredited university or seminary
- Minimum 3.0 GPA from the most recent degree
- One church or mission leader reference
- One academic reference
- Application essay (800 words total)
Applicants are also encouraged to have three years of cross-cultural ministry experience.
Apply Now
Applications are currently open for the Fall 2026 launch of the Doctor of Global Leadership, and prospective students can apply for free.
Leaders who want to deepen their biblical understanding, strengthen their leadership and expand their impact in global mission are encouraged to explore the program.
Learn more and apply at ciu.edu/dgl.
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