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Executive Certificate in Children’s Ministry

The ECCM exists to strengthen and empower those serving in Children’s Ministry by providing the training, tools and resources for Children’s Pastors to succeed in their ministry of the gospel to children.

In this section you will find:

 

The Student

You desire to enhance your ministry to children through deepening your understanding of scripture, teaching, leadership, and the child, all within the framework of Children’s Ministry.

Many of our students currently serve as Children’s Pastors. Many already hold bachelor’s degrees, but in fields unrelated to children, the church, or theology. All of them seek to glorify God through their ministry to the children, parents and volunteers they serve.

 

The Instructors

All courses are taught by specialists in their field, and each course may be taught by more than one person. Our desire is to ask a Children’s Pastor about pastoral aspects, a theologian about theological issues, an educator about learning and cognition theories, etc.

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The Courses

The Executive Certificate is composed of 4 classes which can be taken at the undergrad or graduate level. Class credit is awarded through Trinity Western University and ACTS Seminary. Completion of the four courses awards the student the Executive Certificate in Children’s Ministry from the Centre for Ministry Excellence. The four classes are:

  • Transformational Teaching in Children’s Ministry (travel to Surrey, BC required for this class ONLY)
  • Children’s Ministry in the Church Context
  • The Spiritual Formation of a Child
  • Dynamics of Leadership and Staffing in Children’s Ministry

For information on our upcoming class, click here.

 

Course Descriptions

Transformational Teaching in Children’s Ministry -This course is intended to equip the student to: understand, appreciate and evaluate the role and character of a Christian teacher; promote the spiritual growth of a child through curriculum design, planning and evaluation; investigate various methods and perspectives of Children’s Ministry educational models. This course is taught in conjunction with the Transform Children’s Ministry Conference and requires travel to Surrey, BC for three days.

Children’s Ministry in the Church Context - This course will look at the perception, role and purpose of children in the context of church from Bible times to present ay. It will assess each era in light of that ages understanding of children and the church. A contemporary theology of the church will then form the basis for understanding the current ministry trends and for evaluating current ministry praxis. (Ministry trends to be discussed are spiritual parenting, family ministry and narrative teaching.)

Spiritual Formation of a Child – This course will explore the nature of spiritual formation in children, giving particular regard to Christian settings. Careful attention will be given to the elements and process of spiritual formation, as well as the potential hazards and obstacles faced in a child’s spiritual journey (includes family systems, media and culture). Students will explore various models of spiritual formation to develop a personal model applicable to their current involvement with children.

Dynamics of Leadership and Staffing in Children’s Ministry – This course is designed to provide the student with a broad understanding of the unique dynamics of Children’s Ministry leadership and staffing. The course seeks to further the leadership formation process of the student by immersing them in Biblical principles of leadership. The areas of leading your volunteer team and staff will be examined, as well as  team dynamics of working with senior and associate pastors.

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Course Delivery

Online Courses  -  These semester-long courses are designed to be taken in the comfort of your home and office. Assignments are usually on a weekly basis and can be quite varied. Interaction between fellow students and the professor is extremely high through online dialogue in a protected forum. Courses offered online:

  • Children’s Ministry in the Church Context
  • The Spiritual Formation of a Child
  • Dynamics of Leadership and Staffing in Children’s Ministry

Modular/Wraparound combination – This class is a combination of modular and wraparound and requires travel to Surrey, BC for three days. Modular: This component allows for in-person instruction, dialogue and interaction. It may involve multiple ministry specialists as instructors. Wraparound: This component of the class involves attending the Transform Children’s Ministry Conference in Surrey, BC. Assignments relate to the in-class and conference components and will be handed in via the online format. This class also has five online forums to be completed at your leisure during the weeks they are due. Course offered:

  • Transformational Teaching in Children’s Ministry, in conjunction with the Transform Children’s Ministry Conference.

 

Is On-Line Learning for You?

If you check ‘Yes’ to many of the statements below, then online learning may be just what you’re looking for:

  • I have ready access to a computer and high speed internet, and am comfortable using the internet and word-processing software (ex. Microsoft Word).
  • I enjoy high levels of interaction and exchange of ideas with the professor and fellow students.
  • In class, sometimes my best answers are thought of just after class.
  • I find that when I write, I like to take the time to organize my thoughts well.
  • I value the freedom to choose day-to-day when I attend class and when I study.
  • I can make 10-12 hours (on average) for study each week.

 

Frequency of Courses

Only one Children’s Ministry course will be offered per semester. This is an intentional decision on our part. We understand that many of our students work full time and have responsibilities within the home. We want our students to get the most out of their learning, allowing time to consider, reflect and study, and complete assignments with excellence, not panic.

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Program Options

The Executive Certificate is unique in that it can be applied as a specialization within a Diploma of Christian Studies, Master of Christian Studies or a Master of Divinity degree at ACTS. ACTS is one of only a couple schools in Canada to offer courses specific to Children’s Ministry, as most schools generalize and broad base their courses into ‘Church Ministry’ or ‘Christian Education.’ This intense focus on children allows your specialization to be truly that – a specialization.

As well, students within the DipCS, MACS or MDV program may choose to take any of one of the four courses as an elective without having to complete the other three.

 

Undergrad or Graduate? Each class can be taken at either the undergrad or graduate level. Deciding which level to take the class at depends on your learning objectives.

Graduate (Masters):

  • If you are completing a MACS, MDV, or diploma at ACTS, take the course at the graduate level.
  • If you are completing a Masters degree at an institution other than ACTS and wish for this course to serve as an elective within your program you must: a) submit the syllabus to your academic institution for approval of transfer credit BEFORE registering for the class; b) once permission has been granted, follow the application and registration steps listed below.
  • If you have completed a bachelors degree in any field, it is advisable to take the course at graduate level. The reasoning: if you ever choose to pursue a Masters degree, this class could potentially serve as an elective within your program, granting the transfer approval of your academic institution.
  • If you have completed two years of undergrad you may be eligible to take the course at graduate level. Contact Liisa Polkki for further information.

Undergrad (Bachelors):

  • If you are completing a bachelors degree and wish for this course to serve as an elective within your program you must: a) submit the syllabus to your academic institution for approval of transfer credit BEFORE registering for the class; b) once permission has been granted, follow the application and registration steps below.
  • If you have no post-secondary education, you will complete the course at the undergrad level.

 

Credit or Not-for-Credit

Important to note is that the Executive Certificate can be awarded in a credit or a not-for-credit manner. If you choose to take the course ‘for-credit’, you can receive transcripts and your course can transfer into graduate or undergraduate degrees pending the approval of the academic institution.

If you choose to take the course ‘not-for-credit,’ this unique offering allows you full participation in the class, and requires that you complete all readings and submit all assignments for Pass/Fail grading. It grants you the Executive Certificate in Children’s Ministry should you complete all four courses in the program. HOWEVER, there are three implications:

  1. No Credit: You will not receive credit for the courses taken.
  2. No Transcript: You can not receive a transcript for the courses you completed.
  3. No Transferability: If you one day choose to complete a graduate or undergraduate degree the classes cannot be transferred into your degree as you have received NO CREDIT for these courses.

A student should only choose this option if they are not interested in pursuing for-credit education, and only wish to receive the Executive Certificate in Children’s Ministry at a not-for-credit level.

Audit: Is not available for these courses.

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Course Costs

The following tuition rates are applicable for the 2011-2012 academic year (May 2011 – April 2012).

  • Graduate:  $322.50/hour. Total cost of $967.50.
  • Undergraduate:  $343/hour. Total cost of $1029.
  • Not-For-Credit:  $234/hour. Total cost of $702.

Payment can be made once course registration has been processed and is complete, either through your personal bank, TWU Student account, or by mailing in a cheque or money order. Payment can also be made by Visa by contacting Karen Anderson. The course must be paid in full BEFORE the first day of class. Course credit is awarded through Trinity Western University.

 

Application and Registration

  • If you are already a TWU, ACTS or CME student, please register for your course online through the Student Portal.
  • If you are a new CME student please follow these steps:
  1. Application: Please fill out the Centre for Ministry Excellence Application Form.
  2. Once your application is processed you will receive a TWU student number and ID. Please activate your new TWU e-mail account as soon as possible.
  3. Registration: Karen Anderson will send you the course registration form, via e-mail, which you will need to fill out and send back to her.
  • Contact Karen Anderson
  • fax – 604.637.3212
  • mail – Karen Anderson, c/o Northwest Baptist Seminary, 7600 Glover Road, Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1

 

Contact

For further information please contact Program Coodinator, Nikki Lanigan - or P: 604.888.7592, TF: 1.888.468.6898. ext. 3863.

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