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Jon Hauerwas, pastor of Skidaway Community Church, received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga on Saturday, May 17.

The Rev. Dr. Jon Hauerwas is also winner of the George and Sally Telford Award, an honor given to an outstanding graduate who shows exceptional ability for congregational leadership with an emphasis on social justice issues and vision for the church.

Why a Doctor of Ministry?

Unlike a Ph.D. which focuses heavily on academic research and scholarship with an emphasis on the theoretical, the D.Min. degree is more practical in its approach to Christian teachings with direct applications to the unique context of the community the pastor serves. “While theory remains important, congregations are ultimately seeking guidance regarding the relevance of Christ and the church in their day-to-day lives,” says Hauerwas. “As Christian disciples, we endeavor to blend sound scholarship with intentional Christian practices which prepare us to better love and serve both God and neighbor.”

Blessed to Be a Blessing

Hauerwas achieved this blend of scholarly research and real-world application in his Final Project for completion of the Doctor of Ministry degree: “Blessed to Be a Blessing: Self-Giving as a Christian Discipleship Practice.” The central thesis of this project is that living in commitment to the Christian practice of self-giving, disciples of Jesus Christ grow in spiritual maturity in pursuit of transcending self-interest. This research concludes that Jesus’ followers, by embodying self-giving as a Christian discipleship practice, not only deepen their faith but also transform their faith communities into places of self-giving love.

Labor of Love

In reflection of his achievement, Hauerwas stated that he could not have completed this rigorous and all-consuming academic pursuit without the support of family, friends, and so many in his life. He is especially grateful to his wife Kara for her unwavering support and encouragement throughout the journey. He and Kara celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on May 28 and share two sons, Will and Nate.

In addition to his family, several church members made the trip to Decatur to see Hauerwas receive his title of Rev. Dr. in person, although none, including Hauerwas himself, anticipated the additional honor of being named winner of the George and Sally Telford Award for congregational leadership. While delighted, long-time member Karen Evans who has worked closely with Hauerwas since his arrival at Skidaway Community Church in 2021, was not surprised. “I have recognized these scholarly and leadership characteristics and so many more,” commented Evans. “Unpretentiousness, empathy and compassion, gentleness, appreciation, supportiveness, resilience, resourcefulness, responsiveness – Jon truly reflects the face of Jesus in all he does. I am blessed to call him Pastor!”

Skidaway Community Church is a welcoming and inclusive, mission-minded community of faith located on beautiful Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia. For more information, visit skidcc.org.