Congregations or organized ministries, called by God to the role of Teaching Church, partner with Western Theological Seminary in preparing leaders to serve the Church of Jesus Christ. In this ministry, mentors and ministries provide the vital experience, constructive feedback, and prayerful support that can form a person's identity as "pastor."
The Teaching Church commits to developing a new minister by insuring that a broad range of ministry is experienced and by providing a mentor who will walk with the seminarian through the learning process. In return, a seminary student makes a commitment of approximately 10 hours per week of ministry at the Teaching Church.
The Responsibilities of the Teaching Church
- To provide remuneration for the student.
- To supervise, evaluate, and support the student in his or her specific learning needs through a mentor and site team.
- To continue to grow in this ministry through the mentor's participation in ongoing training opportunities.
If your congregation would like to learn more about becoming a Teaching Church, please contact Dr. Matt Floding, Dean of Students at Western Theological Seminary at 1-800-392-8554 or matt@westernsem.edu