A person seeking a Doctor of Divinity degree can do so studying formally at academic institutions, making significant contributions to his community or church, or paying for the title. People often assume that people who use “Doctor” after their name have chosen the first of these three options because it carries the most weight and respect. The second option is still respected, but it is not an academic degree that has been earned. The last option is the most straightforward, but it is also the most divisive within churches.
The Doctor of Divinity degree is an earned academic degree in many parts of the world. Individuals must first enroll in an undergraduate program and earn a bachelor’s degree in a field such as religious studies or theology in order to obtain this title. They must then finish a master’s degree with a similar focus. Individuals who have completed a master’s program can apply to accredited academic institutions and begin formal doctoral programs. These programs build on lower-level courses like Biblical ethics, Bible history, ministry, homiletics, and systematic theology requiring a dissertation, evidence of community service, and letters of recommendation in addition to lower-level courses like Biblical ethics, Bible history, ministry, homiletics, and systematic theology.
In some countries, such as the United States, the Doctor of Divinity is an honorary title rather than an academic degree. When a person has made a significant contribution to their community through religious leadership, his church or a church-affiliated academic facility may decide that the person is eligible for the degree. The point at which a person’s achievements become notable enough to merit the honorary title varies, but it is frequently required that the recipient be ordained as a minister. In many cases, the individual must submit a dissertation on a religious topic, a statement of personal faith, and a formal application in order to receive the title. Although the work required for a Doctor of Divinity degree is not nearly as rigorous as that required for an academic doctorate, the institution issuing the degree has evidence that the recipient understands and is committed to his faith.
Finding a religious institution willing to grant an honorary doctorate in exchange for a payment, which is usually referred to as a “requested donation,” is the simplest way to obtain one. This can be done online, with the recipient paying with a credit or debit card or an online escrow account. Purchasing a title can sometimes be as simple as paying a few dollars. This type of Doctor of Divinity degree does not typically qualify an individual to officiate at events such as weddings, but it may legally allow the recipient to use the title “Doctor,” despite how misleading that may be to those who associate doctorates with formal study.