In the midst of chaos, one Biblical truth stands the test of time: the Church will never
cease to exist. However, as we’ve seen throughout history, that does not mean it won’t have its ups and downs. Historically, the Church has undergone quite a few moments where its stability was shaken. From the persecutions of the Roman Empire to the Holy Wars to the modern-day pandemics, the Church, and its clergymen, have always found a way to push forward amidst conflict – and today is no different.
According to researchers at the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, the Church is facing a new crisis at hand. More specifically, a staggering number of pastors leave their community churches because of conflicts and personal decisions to step down, increasing premature departures. As a result, congregations are left wondering what the next step should be. Reports have found that while conflict is good for a church’s personal and congregational growth, it comes with challenges, especially with changes to pastoral leadership. Even the great theologian, John Piper, argued that the church is not a perfect representation of Christ and His unending love. The Church is a gathering of sinners who unfortunately still sin, allowing misunderstandings and departures to occur. Sharp words can cut and attack, and sometimes are impossible to reel back in; even for pastors, who feel the hurt and pain of internal church conflict. And while there are multiple other reasons for pastors to leave their positions, experts agree that pastoral burnout is occurring rapidly, leaving many positions unfilled.
In the Fall of 2023, over half of religious leaders (53%) have seriously considered leaving pastoral ministry at least once since the covid pandemic; nearly 20% more clergy than in 2021. On top of this, close to half (44%) of religious leaders seriously considered leaving their current congregation at least once since 2020. The rapid decline in pastoral leadership has resulted in internal congregation members stepping up to the plate, and leading. This, of course, comes with its own set of challenges including building trust, taking time to better understand the needs of a church and developing a deeper knowledge of theology and ministry.
Knowing these major hurdles, universities like Abilene Christian University have realized the importance of practical ministry and preparing pastors to become great leaders and stewards of the Word for effective ministry.
ACU Online’s Certificate in Practical Ministry is designed to enhance your practical skills in ministry by inviting \ministers to deepen their understanding of theology and ministry for their local church. Aimed specifically to help ministers and pastoral leaders in their roles, this certificate offers you the chance to learn more about who God is, Biblical scripture, key principles to keep in mind when serving as a leader and strategies on how to better care for and manage the various areas of ministries within your church. Whether you’re becoming a ministerial leader in children’s ministry, worship, pastoral care or even administrative, this certificate was developed to help you engage with others who are going through similar changes. In an article detailing the challenges new ministers face, seasoned pastors and church researchers have indicated that becoming a minister requires intensive periods to study and learn about who they are before they can lead others. If you are a new minister, you’ll quickly realize you are a major change agent in your local congregation. You’ll lead differently, preach differently, handle conflict differently, and embrace new challenges differently than others. Through this certificate, you will learn how to become a leader in today’s church climate, no matter the area of ministry you are called to. In courses like Church Leadership and Teaching Scripture to the Contemporary Church, you will be taught how Christians should engage with scripture in today’s evolving world. In the same capacity, you will be uplifted on how to relate with – and lead – others, who hold different views or beliefs within the church respectfully and compassionately. However, through courses like Managing Conflict in Churches and Christian Spiritual Formation, you can rest assured you’ll have the knowledge to protect, learn, listen and serve your congregation during seasons of conflict or change.
ACU’s Graduate School of Theology is passionate about developing and equipping the next generation of ministers and Biblical scholars, no matter where they choose to serve. As part of this vision, this certificate lays the foundation for new ministers to also get an introduction to theological education and hyper-focused ministerial training courses without needing to pursue a master’s degree. Over 24 months, you can take courses like Foundations of the Theology of Ministry and Theological Perspectives on Human Behavior to better understand who God is, and more importantly, how God embodies truth to the church – especially in times of despair or change in pastoral leadership.
Of course, there is also a great deal of value in embodying your studies in your particular area of ministry. Some are called to minister to families while others work best with children. That’s why this certificate is even more important for new ministers because it allows you to focus your efforts on one of six concentrations ranging from, youth and family ministry, children’s, worship, preaching, spiritual formation and church leadership – all valuable components to a growing congregation.
ACU Online understands the growing issues in local churches and communities. Because of this, ACU Online is excited to offer an exclusive scholarship for new ministers wanting to engage in this certificate that propels leaders to fortify ministries as effective, impactful and life-giving. Through this scholarship, students beginning in Spring 2025 will be given an initial 75% discount reducing the tuition price from $499 per credit hour to $125 per credit hour. This exceptional opportunity is just one way ACU Online is aiming to bridge the gap between pastors burning out and congregations feeling left behind. By equipping new ministers and pastoral leaders, the Church can continue to do its good works.
Are you someone who would benefit from an intensive certificate dedicated to theological learning and spiritual formation? Interested in learning more about this new certificate and scholarship? Apply today and speak with one of our admissions advisors for more information.