What does this program offer that I can’t get elsewhere?

Our program is designed to supplement, not replace, traditional academic preparation for pastoral ministry. You will spend two years with us, learning patterns of successful ministry in an intensive, hands-on apprenticeship that can occur after or during your time in school.

Why should you invest precious time and resources in a program that expands your preparation process? Because our program will transform how you minister for the rest of your life! What you learn at LifeJourney will significantly increase the likelihood that you will be successful in ministry.

We want to be clear: we are under no illusion that we are the perfect church — far from it. We still have much to learn. But because we are a learning community, open to innovation, genuinely striving to become more authentic and effective, you can learn from both our successes and failures.

Here’s what we can offer that you are unlikely to get elsewhere:

You will be intensively and directly mentored by a gifted senior pastor and ministerial staff. You will learn how to lead a successful Church at a very practical level.

You will become a dynamic preacher. Why be a good preacher when you could be exceptional? You will be guided by our senior pastor, an unusually gifted preacher who will help you hone your skills. You will learn how to give content-rich, highly-engaging sermons every week. See examples at LifeJourneyChurch.cc/listen.

You will become an effective organizational leader. This is where so many pastors struggle. Seminaries do not equip pastors to manage complex organizations, which is what Churches are! In our program, you will consult with senior staff as they solve problems in an actual Church setting, read and discuss key leadership books with your cohort and pastoral staff, work through case studies, and engage in skill-building leadership projects within the Church setting.

You will observe and absorb a Progressive Evangelical style of ministry. You will see what it looks like, at an operational level, for a Church to combine a deep love for the Bible with a deep love for scholarship and independent thought. You will see how a Church can unite both Evangelical and Progressive Christians together in enthusiastic ministry. You will be able to adapt and apply that model of ministry to your future congregations.

You will become part of a tightly-knit, life-long peer support network. Our commitment to you won’t end when you complete your training. We’ll be there to support and learn from one another for the long haul! We’ll even help you find wonderful places to minister.

You will gain a presumption of fitness for ordination in the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) upon successful completion of our program. Once ordained, you’ll be eligible to serve in any Metropolitan Community Church.

Next: About LifeJourney Church