Clergy Continuing Education
Give
Every donation goes toward our mission and ministries.
Making Disciples, raising up saints, and transforming communities for Christ.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
The Canons of The Episcopal Church (Deacons, Canon III.7.5/Priests, Canon III.9.1) require that clergy in all orders engage in annual continuing education, and that the Bishop keep a record of such ongoing training. The expectation is that priests will complete a minimum of 40 hours/year of ongoing education, especially if you are a full-time cleric in the diocese, and that Deacons will complete 20 hours annually.
Ideas for Clergy Continuing Education
Chaplaincy Training – so many options here.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- CPE units
- Trauma informed chaplaincy work
- Disaster Chaplaincy
- Mental Health First Aid
Classes
- CALL/CDSP: https://cdsp.edu/call/online/
- Bexley/Seabury non-credit/audit: https://www.bexleyseabury.edu/non-credit/
Union (NY): https://utsnyc.edu/academics/lifelong-learning/
Communication/Conflict Resolution
- Fierce Conversations (Diocese of Chicago and virtual)
https://episcopalchicago.org/fierce-conversations/
- Lombard Mennonite Peace Center
https://lmpeacecenter.org/all-events/
- Family Systems Theory (lots of resources out there!)
Living Systems (Vancouver- virtual) https://livingsystems.ca/education/family-systems-training-conferences-and-courses/bowen-theory-in-ministry/
Community Organizing
- Asset-Based Community Development: DePaul Univ near Chicago is the home-base:
https://resources.depaul.edu/abcd-institute/Pages/default.aspx
ERD and TEC used to offer a great church-based training – alas, it is no more.
- Duke https://divinity.duke.edu/academics/certificates/faith-organizing
- Organizing for Mission: Ecumenical organization https://www.organizingformission.org/
- PLTS Organizing for Climate Justice https://www.plts.edu/programs/continuing-education/community_organizing_climate_justice.html
DMin Programs:
- Candler at Emory (Methodist – Atlanta/Hybrid)
(Church Leadership and Community Witness, or Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation) https://candler.emory.edu/academics/degrees/dmin/index.html
- Bexley Seabury (virtual):
(Congregational Development or Preaching)
https://www.bexleyseabury.edu/dmin/
- Duke Divinity (Methodist – Chapel Hill, NC/Hybrid):
https://divinity.duke.edu/academics/dmin
- Iliff School of Theology (Methodist – Denver/Virtual)
(Prophetic Leadership) https://www.iliff.edu/programs-dmin/
- Sewanee (Sewanee, TN/Hybrid):
(Liturgy and Preaching) https://theology.sewanee.edu/doctor-of-ministry/
- Virginia School of Theology (Alexandria, VA/Hybrid)
(Ministry Development, Educational Leadership, and Christian Spirituality)
https://vts.edu/admissions-academics/degrees/the-doctor-of-ministry/
Evangelism and Church Growth
- Learning from London (through Bexley Seabury): https://www.bexleyseabury.edu/lfl/
- TEC evangelism and church growth programs:
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/new-episcopal-communities/
Independent Study – design your own (contact Cn Julie for approval, julie@norcalepiscopal.org)
Interim Ministry Training
There are several out there. Currently the best I’d recommend is Robb Voyle’s work:
The Appreciative Way: http://www.appreciativeway.com/training/search-prog.cfm
Leadership
- Berkeley Divinity School/Leader’s Way (closed for 2023):
https://berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/news/leaders-way
- Best Skills/Best Churches:
https://www.norcalepiscopal.org/site/best-skills-best-churches/
- Coaching (many options – please contact Cn. Julie for more specific info)
- College for Congregational Development (CCD): https://www.cdcollege.org/
- Gathering of Leaders: https://www.thegatheringofleaders.org/
Ministry in Spanish (or languages other than English)
- Immersion programs (so many – we can help you discern)
- Local classes (check your local community college, or google Spanish classes near me)
- Latino Ministry Competency (TEC):
Preaching
- Festival of Homiletics https://festivalofhomiletics.com/ (too late for this year)
- Backstory Preaching https://www.facebook.com/backstorypreaching/
Retreats (a very partial list!)
- Bishop’s Ranch, Healdsburg, CA org Private and structured retreats. Some scholarships.
- Camp Galilee, on east side of Lake Tahoe: https://galileetahoe.org/
- CREDO https://www.cpg.org/active-clergy/learning/credo/). 7-day retreats for active and retired clergy at retreat centers around the country. Paid for in large part by CPG, clergy are eligible 3 years after ordination, and every 10 years thereafter.
- Holden Village, Chelan, WA. Lutheran-based wilderness retreat. https://www.holdenvillage.org/
- Ring Lake Ranch, Dubose, WY. org Methodist roots, bring wide variety of speakers. Programs in evening, daytime: hiking, riding, kayaking, sitting on the porch… Scholarships avail.
- Dorothy’s Rest, near Occidental, CA https://www.stdorothysrest.org/ Individual/group only.
- Trinity Place in West Cornwall, CT https://trinitywallstreet.org/trinity-retreat-center/retreats/in-person-retreats
- Andrew’s House (Diocese of Olympia): https://www.saintandrewshouse.org/
Structured retreats. Also, Bayne Cottage, for private clergy retreats.
