Leadership Training Academy

 

Leadership Training Academy

There is a need in our churches for theological and pastoral training for lay leaders, associate ministers, and lay pastors who do not have the opportunity to pursue traditional seminary training. The investment of time and finances that a traditional seminary degree requires stands as a barrier to the training that would benefit these leaders and their churches. A flexible Leadership Training program would help provide some of the theological and pastoral training that could benefit our churches in the future through quality lay pastors and lay leaders.

Click HERE to apply.

NEXT COURSE:

“Extraordinary Mission through Ordinary Administration: The Church’s Relationship to Laws, Neighbors, Committees, and Money”

(Saturdays – September 12 & 26 and November 7 & 14) Rev. Dr. Stephen Hawkins, pastor of First Baptist Church of West Allis

This course explores church administration as an act of faithful leadership, examining the four essential relationships every congregation must navigate well: (1) the legal frameworks that govern church life, (2) the neighborhood communities the church is called to serve, (3) the councils, boards, and committees responsible for sound decision-making, and (4) the financial practices that sustain and reflect the church’s integrity. When the unglamorous work of administration is done faithfully, it quietly sets the church free to do what it was always meant to do — pursue its mission with energy, focus, and joy.

Click HERE to apply.

More on LTA: A New Effort

ABC of Wisconsin is pleased to offer the Leadership Training Academy. The Leadership Training Academy provides opportunities to our congregations:

  • training for Lay Pastors;
  • skill development for lay leaders in congregations;
  • personal enrichment and in-depth study;
  • growth in discipleship;

Certificates and Courses:

LEVEL 1 – Enrichment Certificate

  1. Biblical Interpretation
  2. Hebrew Scriptures
  3. New Testament
  4. Worship Design and Leadership
  5. Spiritual Formation*

LEVEL 2 –Leadership Certificate

  1. Church History*
  2. Media for Ministry*
  3. Preaching
  4. Baptist History and Polity

LEVEL 3 –Pastoral Certificate

  1. Church Administration*
  2. Theology*
  3. Ministry Ethics
  4. Church Rituals (Baptism, Communion, Weddings, Funerals)

Some of the courses* could also be used for Continuing Education Units (CEU*).

Course Structure

  • Total of approximately 12 hours of class time
    • Generally 3 class sessions per course / 4 hours per class session (Saturdays 8:30 am – 12:30 pm) / though we may experiment with other arrangements of those 12 contact hours
  • Pre-work could be required (reading/assignment prior to first session)
  • Hybrid courses – allowing sessions to be recorded on Zoom
  • To receive the credit, students would be required to be “present” for 2 of the 3 sessions AND to view the missed session
  • Inexpensive: each course tuition is only $100 for members of ABC/WI churches; non-ABC/WI students = $125

Click HERE to apply.

Past courses:

“Baptist History and Polity” ~ Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell

(click for more details)

(April 7, 14, & 28 and May 5, 12, & 26 – 6:30-8:30)

Baptist History and Polity is a required course for ordination and ordination recognition in the American Baptist Churches. Nonetheless, this is also a wonderful class for lay leaders to attend and learn more about our Baptist History, our movement as part of the greater Christian story and our historic Baptist Principles.
This course will share an overview of the
WHAT–our history of the Baptist Movement;
the WHY–our Baptist distinctives and principles;
and our HOW–Baptist Polity and the Local Church.
This course was hosted by several congregations who also shared their histories. Check out this video of the histories: CHURCH HISTORIES.

“New Testament” ~ Rev. Dr. John A. Jones IV

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Saturdays – 8:30-12:30 ~ April 12 & 26 & May 10, 2025

This course will examine the emergence of the Christian canon, the genres of literature contained therein, and the schools or authors behind the books that make up the New Testament. The course will provide learners with a solid foundation for understanding the New Testament and its role in shaping Christian beliefs and practices.

Your instructor will be John Jones, Associate Regional Minister-Education for ABC of Wisconsin. He’ll bring his years of experience teaching at institutions around SE Wisconsin to bear on this most important topic.

Click above for more details. Click below to register.

“Preaching” ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Childs, Jr.

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Saturdays – 8:30-12:30 ~ October 5 & 19 & November 16, 2024

This course will help students to understand the importance of “Preaching” in communal worship and to begin to find their own preaching voice.

The course will follow the general template of WHAT – WHY – HOW: all about preaching.

Your instructor will be Rev. Dr. Martin Childs, Jr. Dr. Childs has been pastor of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church for more than 20 years. He received the Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in Elementary Education, the Master of Divinity Degree and the Doctor of Ministry from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Before entering the ministry, he was an Elementary School Teacher in the Milwaukee Public School System.

 

 

“Biblical Interpretation” ~ Rev. Dr. Demetrius Williams

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Saturdays ~ July 20, August 3 & 24, 2024

Biblical Interpretation is obviously important for Christians, but how do we do it well, together, and with integrity. We’ll examine the WHAT, WHY & HOW of Biblical Interpretation in this informative course.

Taught by Rev. Dr. Demetrius Williams, pastor of Community Baptist Church of Greater Milwaukee. He has served as pastor of Churches in Dorchester, MA and New Orleans, LA. As a bi-vocational pastor, he is also an Associate professor in the Global Studies Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, offering instruction in the Comparative Literature program (and serves as its coordinator) and Religious Studies.

This will be a “hybrid” course, giving students the option of attending in person (at Community Baptist Church) or attending electronically through Zoom.

 

“Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament” ~ Rev. Dr. May May Latt

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Saturdays – 8:30-12:30 ~ March 2, 16 & April 6, 2024

This will be an opportunity to study the Hebrew Scriptures – the scriptures that Jesus used – in greater depth. We’ll examine the WHAT – WHY – HOW of the Old Testament, particularly as it can inform our faith and ministry.

This course will be taught by Rev. Dr. May May Latt. Pastor May May is pastor of Milwaukee Myanmar Christian Church. She also works for ATLA, a research database specializing in religion and theology. Her scholarly focus has been the Hebrew Prophets, especially Isaiah.

 

 

“Worship Design and Leadership” ~  Dr. Mary Schecher

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Saturdays – 8:30-12:30 ~ January 13 & 27 & February 10, 2024

This course will examine the purpose of worship and explore the variety of means for accomplishing it. It will also provide practical tips for designing and leading a worshipful experiences.

The course will follow the general template of WHAT – WHY – HOW: all about worship.

Your instructor will be Dr. Mary Schecher, BM, MM, MLIS, DWS. Mary is the Director of Music Ministry at First Baptist Church-West Allis. She earned a Doctorate in Worship Studies. Her background includes time serving in churches of various denominations, providing a broad exposure to different worship traditions and styles. She has presented workshops and trainings for professional organizations and has served as a worship leader for American Baptist gatherings at the state and national level. She is presently teaching at Central Baptist Seminary in the areas of creativity and worship leadership.

Click HERE to apply.

[Applications due at least 1 week in advance of the first class session.]

Email for more information: john.jones@abcofwi.org