Northwind Theological Seminary
Semiotics
Hilliard Sweet Fellows
Leonard Sweet is a Phi Beta Kappa who earned his Master of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester/Crozer Divinity School and PhD from the University of Rochester. The author of more than 200 articles, 1300+ published sermons, and more than seventy books, Sweet’s publications include best sellers Soul Tsunami, Aqua Church, and Jesus Manifesto (with Frank Viola), as well as many other volumes like Rings of Fire that are revolutionizing the church’s mission in the 21st century. Sweet has spent his academic life as Provost, Dean, Vice-President of Graduate Studies, President, and Chancellor of seminaries and universities. He now just works with doctoral students in the US and around the world.
One of the most sought-after speakers in North America, Sweet has been voted more than once by his peers as “One of the 50 Most Influential Christians in America” and was once selected by the top non-English Christian website as a “Top 10 Influential Global Christian.” His podcast “Napkin Scribbles” is widely quoted, as is his homiletics resource, preachthestory.com. For the past three years, he has posted a weekly lectionary-based LenTalk on semiotics and Scripture to his YouTube Channel.
Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr. serves as the Senior Pastor of Cathedral International, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, through which he has provided leadership in the exponential growth of the church over the last 41 years, as a multi-faceted, relevant ministry. Cited by the American Baptist Churches (USA) as a model for church growth, Cathedral International has expanded to serve the needs of four locations in New Jersey: Cathedral International in Perth Amboy, Cathedral International in Asbury Park, Cathedral International in South Plainfield, and Iglesia Catedral in Perth Amboy. Dr. Hilliard is also the Founder, and CEO of the Cathedral Community Development Corporation (CCDC).
Dr. Hilliard has taught at Boston University School of Theology, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and Drew Theological Seminary, where he has also served as a Professor with The Hilliard Sweet Fellowes. Currently, Dr. Hilliard teams with The Rev. Dr. Christopher Michael Jones at The United Theological Seminary Dayton, Ohio for the Hilliard-Jones Doctoral Cohort. Dr. Hilliard is the recent recipient of The DeForest Soaries “Legends of the Chase Award”; The Habitat for Humanity Foundation Builders Award, and the McDonald's Gospelfest Dr. Emily Cissy Houston Lifetime Achievement Award.
This Doctoral degree is an accredited degree of advanced study delivered in an accelerated format.
TUITION & FEES APPLY TODAY REQUEST INFORMATION
New for 2025
Decoding the Divine Fellows Cohort
Study with Len Sweet
Len helps students see the sacred in unexpected places.
His new book "Decoding the Divine" continues this mission, exploring how divine symbols are woven into our daily lives, from our morning coffee to our Sunday sermons. Through yoking church, culture, and semiotics-the study of signs and symbols - he reveals patterns that deepen our understanding of faith and culture, or as one reviewer put it, "Len's unparalleled ability to interweave the Scriptures, theology, and church history produces a tapestry of insights that is nothing short of revelatory."
Join Len Sweet's Decoding the Divine Fellows Cohort at Northwind Seminary.
This cohort offers intimate learning with one of today's most insightful theological voices with three options:
Doctor in Theology and Ministry
Doctor of Theology
Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Develop a richer love of The Story and a deeper understanding of faith's intersection with culture. Learn to read the "signs of the times" with greater clarity. Study with a mentor who bridges traditional and contemporary Christianity. Join a community of forward-thinking ministry colleagues.
Doctor in Theology & Ministry
36 Credits
An accredited degree delivered
in an accelerated format.
Course of Study
YEAR ONE:
Starting Well Experience
Foundations of Semiotics
Contextualization of Semiotics
Readings in Semiotics I
YEAR TWO:
Readings in Semiotics II
Readings in Semiotics III
Dissertation & Defense
Continuing Well Experience
Prerequisite: Master's Degree
Semiotics|PATH program provides a path for those engaged in ministry to complete a Master's Degree concurrently in the first year of the DThM Degree. REQUEST a proposal.
ADVANCE: @ Orcas Island, WA
Students will participate in an intensive learning experience during either Year One or Year Two. There is an Advance Fee, and travel expenses are the student's responsibility.
Students who graduate will receive a
CPCA Commission certified degree from NTS.
Doctor of Theology
42 Credits
An accredited degree delivered
in an accelerated format.
Course of Study
YEAR ONE:
Starting Well Experience
Foundations of Semiotics
Contextualization of Semiotics
Readings in Semiotics I
YEAR TWO:
Readings in Semiotics II
Readings in Semiotics III
Comprehensive Exam
Dissertation
Defense
Continuing Well Experience
Prerequisite: Master's Degree from an accredited institution.
ADVANCE: @ Orcas Island, WA
Students will participate in an intensive learning experience during either Year One or Year Two. There is an Advance Fee, and travel expenses are the student's responsibility.
NTS Courses have been mapped onto Kairos University degree requirements.
Students who graduate will receive an ATS-accredited degree from Kairos University.
Students in this degree apply to NTS and are officially enrolled and admitted to both institutions.
Defense Advance with Len Sweet on Orcas Island
Publish Your Doctoral Project
During the Project Experience, students will complete a Manuscript as their Doctoral Treatise Paper.
During the Defense Advance, students defend their Manuscript to their fellow students and visiting faculty.
Following a successful Defense, students will have the opportunity to publish their peer-reviewed Manuscripts.
Program Outcomes
With a focus on rich theological reflection on ministry practice, the Doctor of Theology will help you develop and deepen your knowledge of theological content, be more fully formed in Christian character, and generate new understandings of the craft of ministry. Through the program, you will develop and demonstrate proficiency in its eight outcomes: Starting Well, Specialized Inquiry: Literature and History, Specialized Inquiry: Concepts and Models, Specialized Inquiry: Practices and Methods, Integration: Macro Context, Integration: Micro Context, Generative Learning, and Continuing Well.
Dissertation
As part of the Doctor of Theology program, you will be invited to generate for dissemination high-level scholarly research within a specialized theological field of inquiry toward the improvement of ministry praxis. You will work alongside a mentor team crafted around your specialized field of inquiry, and your entire learning experience may be individualized and contextualized as much as possible toward exploring your degree concentration and research focus.
Customized Learning Experiences
Learning experiences in Kairos are built around an invitation for students to explore some aspect of their vocation, Christian thought and practice, or the human experience. As a Doctor of Theology student, you will be able to engage in individualized and guided learning experiences that encourage deep theological reflection on ministry practice within your context and tradition.