Written by Mark Van Steenwyk : June 18, 2005
Are any of you, my readers, aware of any smaller-sized churches that have a solid approach to leadership training or theological education? I don’t think training and education should always have to be out-sourced.
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I forgot you asked me about this earlier, Mark. At St. Paul Fellowship we were invited to participate in a Sunday night “Leading Edge Discipleship Training School” that was started by Bethel Christian Fellowship and Christ Community Church in St. Paul. Bethel is a “large church” by my standards (300?) but not SO large. By combining our resources, we are able to offer a lot of great classes to our members (classes we could never pull together on our own).
We have a three-year “Discipleship Track” and a three year “Leadership Track.” Not accredited or anything, but good solid biblical education.
Lots of Bible classes, classes on spirituality, and electives. I’m teaching on Tolkien in the fall and Esther/Ruth in the winter, then one of our guys is teaching on “The Theology of Great Hymns” in the spring. By putting together those three classes, we get to offer our people a choice of six classes per quarter.
I guess the point is that partnerships can be a great thing. I know these guys real well, though, and we’ve talked through our differing theological emphases carefully. We all have a “major on the majors” approach to differences, or this would never work.
Pat, are these courses offered only to those in your congregations? I would definitely like to get something started over here. Right now we’re planning to offer one 10 week course this summer on Church History, but we want to offer more. I actually have been to Bethel Christian Fellowship about a half dozen times. Two sets of my wife’s aunts and uncles and their family go there (and one uncle is an elder).
You should ask your uncle about it. I’m the “new guy,” so I’m sort of out of the loop still. I was sure excited when they asked me to join them, though.
Come to think of it, I remember meeting one of your aunts. I think she took my “Amos” class, if I’m not mistaken.
Our chruch has the lead program which is a link up courses from Lincoln Christian college in Ill. All of presant chruch staff has earned their degree from Lincoln, and this makes me a little uncomfortable.
I think its good to outsource your traning. It can help with fresh perspective, and prevent a dominance in leadership ideals. I get a little nervous when everyone is coming from the same training background.