Congregational Leadership Certificate Program
Core Courses
Baptist Identity (SCM 1111)
Through an exploration of Baptist heritage, you will learn more about what it means to be Baptist. Examine the principles of freedom that are central to Baptists. Investigate Baptist origins, developments, and theological emphases and how they influence current church ministry. Reflect on the Baptist identity in relation to your church theology.
The Church - A System of Relationships (SCM 1112)
We often refer to the church as a family. Discover how accurate that description is. Increase your understanding of the church as a system of relationships. Enhance your understanding of congregational life and ministry, Family Systems Theory, and the function of leadership in a congregation.
Biblical Basis for Ministry (SCM 1211)
Examine your theological ideas of congregation, Church, and leadership. Evaluate your congregational setting in light of the concepts of the biblical basis for ministry, the Priesthood of Believers, and the calling and equipping of the laity for ministry. Explore the working out of your calling in your ministry context. Develop your personal theological statement on the mission of the church.
Theological Reflection (SCM 1311)
Examine the process of theological reflection as a tool for decision-making in your ministry context. Develop theological reflection skills relevant to decision-making and choices made in active ministry. Increase your understanding of your own "embedded" and "deliberative" theology.
Spiritual Formation and Calling (SCM 1411)
Explore how Christians are formed and examine various approaches to prepare persons called to spiritual leadership in the church. Reflect on Biblical stories and your own call journey to develop a better understanding of God’s call in your life and its implications for your future ministry.
Preschool & Children's Ministry
Preschool and Children's Ministry in the Church (SCM 3110)
Learn how to design, implement, and maintain an effective Preschool and Children’s Ministry.
Ministry to the Preschool Child (SCM 3120)
Enhance your understanding of preschool child development. Examine appropriate teaching methodology. Discuss biblical and theological concepts necessary for faith development in children from birth through age 5.
Ministry to the School Aged Child (SCM 3130)
Enhance your understanding of school aged child development. Examine appropriate teaching methodology. Discuss biblical and theological concepts necessary for faith development in children ages 6-12.
Youth Ministry
Understanding the Adolescent World (SCM 4110)
Dig deeply into the developmental needs (physical, spiritual, emotional, social, intellectual) and cultural issues (media, family dynamics, drugs, sexual pressures) of youth. Develop strategies for involving and ministering to parents.
Developing a Balanced Ministry with Youth (SCM 4120)
It’s a partnership between youth, parents, and adult youth workers. Develop a plan to enhance the partnership balance within the youth ministry.
Adolescent Substance Abuse (SCM 4130)
Get the basics about adolescent substance abuse. Understand your position to observe, influence, and educate youth before substance abuse results. Learn how to connect youth experiencing substance abuse issues with appropriate community resources.
Small Group Leadership
Faith Development (SCM 5110 )
Examine stages of faith development. Learn how to develop small groups that meet the faith needs of individuals in various stages of the spiritual journey.
Small Group Dynamics (SCM 5120)
Enhance your understanding of the dynamics at work within small groups: formation, cohesion, conflict, power, roles, goals, and stages of group development. Learn how to create group environments conducive to spiritual development.
Teaching the Small Group Study (SCM 5130)
Explore various techniques and approaches to teaching small groups. Examine learning issues specific to adults.
Music & Worship Leadership
Congregational Singing (SCM 7110)
Examine the role of the congregation as the primary choir in the congregation. Deepen your understanding of why we sing. Explore our heritage of hymns and learn to use the hymnal as a resource.
Music in the Life of the Congregation (SCM 7120)
Develop your theology of worship. Explore the role of music in the corporate worship experience. Examine how worship leaders function in worship. Survey traditional, contemporary, and blended styles of music and worship. Identify the role music plays in faith formation, fellowship, and Christian mission.
Leading the Choir (SCM 7130)
Gain a basic knowledge of choir rehearsal management. Learn how to build good choral sound. Identify sources for selecting and securing choral music. Learn techniques to create anthems from the hymnal.
Pastoral Ministry Leadership
Introduction to Preaching (SCM 8110)
Learn the foundational elements of preaching. Develop a process for preparing and delivering sermons. Increase your awareness of different types of sermons. Explore helpful resources for sermon preparation and delivery.
The Effective Church Leader (SCM 8120)
Explore the principles and practices of congregational leadership and management. Understand the role of the congregational leader in relation to the function of leadership, administration, problem analysis, and decision making.
Social Dynamics in Ministry (SCM 8130)
Learn how to find and use demographic resources to gain an understanding of the community where you wish to begin a new work or add to an existing work. Identify resources that can help you interpret and use the data found. Develop a ministry plan that identifies who, what, where, when, and how a ministry can best be approached in the selected area or community.
Online Focused Studies Courses
The Church Year and the Lectionary – In Our Worship and Study (SCM 3219)
Learn about the Lectionary listing of scriptural text reading. Discover the beauty of using the Church Year calendar and following the Revised Common Lectionary in worship and study. Examine how to use the Lectionary in order to connect you and your congregation with other Christians locally and globally. Explore ways to enrich the life of your congregation through the use of the Lectionary readings in worship through preaching, liturgy and hymnody, and in study as a method of reading the Bible over the repeated cycle of three years
Hidden Lives of Congregations: Understanding Congregational Dynamics (SCM 3222)
Identify and understand the hidden life dynamics that influence all aspects of a congregation's life. Examine the nature of a congregation and the function of leaders in that context.
Ministering to Individuals with HIV/AIDS (SCM 3202)
Burdened for those with HIV/AIDS? Learn how you can minister more effectively to individuals with HIV/AIDS. This course will help you better understand the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual impacts of this disease, and what you can do to help. You will learn facts about HIV/AIDS, learn to recognize the faces of HIV/AIDS in congregations and communities, examine the Biblical model for ministering to those with HIV/AIDS, explore the unique role of the church in ministering to those with HIV/AIDS, understand issues of confidentiality in ministering to those with HIV/AIDS, and learn how to get started in ministering to those with HIV/AIDS.
Jeremiah (SCM 3223)
You think you've had a bad day? Consider the 40-year ministry of Jeremiah, the Prophet, a.k.a. “the weeping prophet”, “the prophet of judgment”, and “the prophet of hope”. Discover where your life and Jeremiah's life intersect.
Events
Listening for God in our Lives: A Contemplative Retreat for Advent (SCM 3221)
In preparation for the Season of Advent, this retreat is designed to offer participants a place for rest, reflection and prayer organized around the theme of listening for God in our lives as they are, and not as we wish they were. Through personal reflection, daily prayers, reflection on scripture and conversation with one another, we will together seek to attend to the presence of God in our lives. As the prophet Isaiah put it: “Incline your ear, and come to me; listen so that you may live.” (Isaiah 55:3)
Unlocking Social Ministry (SCM 3224)
Explore the biblical basis for meeting human needs and social justice advocacy. Learn about varied ministry models, how to conduct community and congregational assessments, and how to educate and mobilize congregations towards community involvement. Explore a framework for developing ministry that moves from providing relief to enabling lasting change. Learning activities will include: lecture, group discussion and case studies.