Certified Lay Minister Program
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The Academy of Christian Training and Service is recognized by American Baptists nationally as an accepted model of study for persons desiring to be certified as lay ministers. Graduates of the Certified Lay Minister preparation program can be certified by one’s local American Baptist church, after being recommended by their church’s association. After certification, you may pastor a church, be an associate, youth, or interim pastor, do supply preaching, and/or generally work in your own church in a more educated and experienced way. Graduates may register with the American Baptist Personnel Services, which can facilitate the possibility of being called to a church ministry position. If called as a pastor, you will have the necessary recognition to perform weddings, and with the affirmation of the local church, may dedicate children, baptize, officiate at the Lord’s Supper, and conduct funerals. A certified lay minister usually has the opportunity to do whatever an ordained person can and should be well-equipped to conduct quality ministry in the name of Christ.
The CLM Program track requires successful completion of all 10 ACTS academic courses, a 2-year mentorship component with an assigned ABC pastor (not the student’s own) designed to offer practical, hands-on pastoral experiences, and the composition of your certification paper. Please note that the Academy does not certify persons for ministry. Completion of studies does not guarantee a student will be certified or placed in a pastoral position in a church. Please see page entitled “A Word About Certification and Placement” in the New Student Handbook for further details on this subject. |
Diploma in Christian Studies Program
The Diploma in Christian Studies is offered to students who do not feel called to certified lay ministry, but who complete all of the course work satisfactorily. Christian Studies students will not participate in the supervised ministry/ mentorship program.
If a Christian Studies student wishes to transfer into the Certified Lay Minister Preparation program at a later time, this person must meet the additional enrollment criteria for that program at that time. All applicable fees for the new program will then apply at the rate published at the time of transfer. An additional administrative fee for program transfer may also be charged
If a Christian Studies student wishes to transfer into the Certified Lay Minister Preparation program at a later time, this person must meet the additional enrollment criteria for that program at that time. All applicable fees for the new program will then apply at the rate published at the time of transfer. An additional administrative fee for program transfer may also be charged
Personal Enrichment
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ACTS seeks to encourage and foster life-long habits of continuing learning and education. This is very important for lay persons as well as professional church leaders. Lay people and professional church leaders, either active or retired, may elect to take courses to enrich their personal lives and ministry. The Personal Enrichment track allows students to take courses he or she is most interested in, without completing the entire 10-course program. If a personal enrichment student later wishes to transfer to a diploma program, he/she must meet the enrollment criteria for that program at that time. All applicable fees for the new program will apply at the rate published at the time of transfer.
Continuing Education Units for professional church leaders will be offered, accredited through ABCOPAD. Fees will vary depending on the course being offered. From time to time, special continuing education events for church leaders will be offered. |
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Auditing A Class
For those who would like to attend a class of personal interest, but don’t want to commit to the rigors of the full course, auditing is permitted. Attendance would be at the student’s desire and discretion. Auditing students would have the privilege of participating in class discussions and receiving handouts of class material from the instructors. However, they are not required to do homework or write term papers. No grades or credits are awarded. Cost for Auditing a Class is 1/2 of the current full tuition.
