God’s call requires women and men, laity and clergy to work together. But after identifying and accepting God’s call, how might a disciple intentionally prepare to carry out the call faithfully and fruitfully?
The Wesleyan Church (TWC) has various educational pathways towards various outcomes: for some, a journey toward missional living might include a licensed or ordained ministry call; for others, the next step might be a pathway leading toward more effective marketplace ministry. Wherever your path leads, here are some Wesleyan pathways to help ALL to be equipped to say “yes” to God call.
Lay ministry
For those seeking to live missionally within a secular vocation, several options are designed to help disciples grow through content, coaching and collaboration.
Kingswood Learn offers free micro courses educating learners in a broad spectrum of disciplines from a Christian perspective. Students can receive certificates or credit for a fee.
FLAMA, Kingswood Extended and Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s (OKWU) CROSS Training offer courses leading to ordination or can further equip someone in specific study areas. Students can take classes in Wesleyan Church history and “Discipline,” theology, pastoral care and other ministry-centric topics while building relationships with colleagues in various vocations.
Wesley Seminary’s Graduate Certificate in Christian Ministry Formation helps students contextualize the gospel into their career, community and calling with an eye toward helping “the engaged church volunteer seeking to enhance their ability to serve within and beyond the church walls.”
Launched by Kentwood Community Church in Michigan, All Nations Bible Institute offers Christian education opportunities for an affordable tuition. In addition to core and ordination classes, they offer a suite of courses to equip students in various leadership areas.
“ALL Christ-followers have a calling on their life. It’s not just for the pastors. The increasing options for lay ministry training is essential for the church’s future as we reach out in our communities, marketplaces and homes,” said Reverend Carla Working, director of TWC’s Clergy Care and Development.
Ordained or licensed ministry
The traditional ordained or licensed ministry pathway would lead a student to attend an accredited Wesleyan higher education institution to complete a bachelor’s degree containing the required core ordination classes. Non-Wesleyan schools may also have classes that suit the ordination curriculum, allowing students to use their degree toward earning a credential while filling the gaps with credits from Wesleyan institutions.
While people from every life stage benefit from Wesleyan higher education, some may find it prohibitive to enroll in a traditional course of study. Therefore, a variety of non-traditional pathways make it possible for prospective ordinands to experience the best of Wesleyan education and formation outside of a degree program.
Some pathways offered include OKWU’s CROSS Training, offering three- to four-week courses with a set schedule, so you can join classmates for a short intensive. Kingswood University’s Kingswood Extended and Learn program has self-paced options or synchronous online classes.
FLAMA is TWC’s non-degreed ordination track for Spanish-speaking ministers. Every district has a FLAMA coordinator and offers onsite and online district classes.
All Nations Bible Institute has in-person licensing classes with an additional cluster of courses on leading self, others, teams, organizations and leading through coaching.
Ministry Training Programs (MTPs) are also available, bringing students through locally-tailored curriculum approved by Education and Clergy Development to meet ministry preparation standards needed for ordination. Fourteen TWC districts have approved MTPs, allowing ordination candidates and local pastors to engage in educational opportunities nearby.
What’s consistent throughout pathways
No matter what pathway ministers seeking credentials might choose, the credentialing process begins with a local church’s blessing. In every congregation, the Local Board of Administration votes on a ministerial candidate’s status before the credentialing process starts. This emphasis on local church partnership continues beyond process admission, as local churches continue to sharpen and support while employing their ministerial candidates in ministry work.
The knowledge base required to be an effective pastor is of tremendous importance for ordination; and at the same time, knowledge is best paired with deepening love for a specific context and specific people to shepherd.
TWC has emphasized this importance by requiring two years of licensed local church ministry before ordination eligibility. “Everyone who goes through our process knows what it’s like to do the real work of ministry,” Rev. Working said.
As our Wesleyan schools, local churches and districts cooperate to dream up future education possibilities so ALL are equipped, Rev. Working encourages churches to be serious about the work of developing the next generation of church leadership.
“We look back to John Wesley. Wesley was an educated pastor who believed in ordained ministry of peaching the Word, administering the sacraments and rightly ordering the church. But one of his geniuses was that he also saw the potential in people: equipping others, not just Wesley doing all the things all the time,” said Rev. Working. “If we do our job right in the credentialing process, our ordained pastors will be trained to equip the laity for service, just as Wesley did.
“I see that as our history — we want to elevate the office of ordained pastor — not as a high status, but as an important calling that’s worth churches and future pastors working together to explore more fully.”