Landmark Seminary Apprenticeship

Mission Statement:

The goal and intent of this Seminary Apprenticeship Program is to equip inexperienced preachers looking to enter in the pastoral ministry with tools to serve successfully, as long as they remain submissive unto the Lord.

 

Program Concept:

Historically, the primary mechanism for equipping pastors for the ministry has been the classical Seminary school following a formal University education. However, in modern America, traditional white-collar education is becoming too expensive to afford; young adults cannot physically afford the time for classical education or simply face increasing resistance towards classical education institutions. Thus, this shift in American culture has led to a number of preachers being called to pastor a church without any formal education and/or classical seminary tools customary to Pastors. An assessment of this shift in American culture has led to the necessity of augmenting classical education with on-the-job training.

 

In secular education, two types of educational systems are tailored towards two groups of adult learners. Those who thrive in a classroom-type education continue to university to learn the technical aspects of their occupation (white-collar). In contrast, those who thrive in hands-on experiences learn a formal trade in an Apprenticeship program (blue-collar).

 

The roots of the modern Apprenticeship program have been handed down for generations, with a history as long as traditional academics. A non-skilled person would find a skilled craftsman and work for them for several years, learning their trade, such as masonry, carpentry, printing, and religious work. Even in the Bible, we find examples of experienced preachers taking and mentoring younger preachers: Jesus to the disciples, Barnabas to Paul, Paul to Timothy, and so on.

 

The purpose of the Seminary Apprenticeship program is to leverage the journeyman and apprentice relationship as the Mentoring Pastor and Apprentice Preacher. The majority of the training/education will come from the Apprentice Preacher’s local church Pastor (Mentoring Pastor), and the seminary school provides the overall structural guidance to certify an Apprentice Preacher as having the opportunity to be equipped with tools of the ministry.

 

Exceptions: The Seminary Apprenticeship can be tailored to existing Pastors without Seminary training, provided they can find a Pastor willing to serve as their Mentoring Pastor and this proposal is accepted by the Education Board as meeting the intent of the Seminary Apprenticeship program.

 

Training Structure:

In modern secular apprenticeship programs, the apprentice must undergo a certain number of hours of on-the-job training, typically equivalent to 3 working years or more, depending on their trade craft. In addition to on-the-job training, they are required to take a certain number of technical and academic training courses to augment their understanding of their tradecraft.

 

In the Bible, we witness Paul spending three years in the Wilderness from the Damascus event to the beginning of his ministry. To borrow from this biblical example, the Seminary Apprentice program will be structured around three 3-year apprenticeships under a mentoring pastor.

 

On The Job Training:

 

In the Seminary Apprenticeship program, the on-the-job training hours will be the responsibility of the Mentoring Pastors. The Seminary School will simply track hours to completion. Additionally, in Baptist denominations, Baptists can be fiercely independent and can have a broad spectrum of doctrinal views. The Mentoring Pastor will be responsible for the doctrinal education of the Apprentice Preacher and will certify to the school that the doctrinal education is complete. The Seminary School will work with the Mentoring Pastor to facilitate a structure, if assistance is needed. Still, it will have no authority to dictate or govern the doctrinal views of the mentoring pastor. The Seminary School reserves the right to refuse admission to candidates or expel students from the program, if necessary.

 

The Seminary School will formally track the on-the-job training through the use of two certification documents.

 

Upon entering the program, candidates will be issued an On-the-Job Training card, which will contain a series of activities that the Mentoring Pastor and Apprentice Preacher will complete over three years.

 

For example:

-           Doctrinal/Discipleship Completed

-           Facilitate a Church Business Meeting

-           Lead a Church Lord's Supper

-           Conduct a hospital visit

 

Additionally, the Apprentice Preacher will submit a monthly certification of attendance, which will track their training hours and monthly activities.

 

For example:

-           90% attendance to all church services monthly

-           Preach & conduct and after assessment once per month

-           Monthly 1-on-1 mentoring session

 

Online Classroom Training:

 

In addition to the overall training structure, the school will be responsible for providing technical training that is traditionally not considered doctrinal education, but standard tools for the pastoral ministry.

 

Sample of Classes:

- Introduction to Hebrew & Hebrew Language Tools

• • Basic Grammar

• • Use Lexicon & Concordance

• • Impacts to Sermon/Doctrinal Studies

- Introduction to Greek & Greek Language Tools

• • Basic Grammar

• • Use Lexicon & Concordance

• • Impacts to Sermon/Doctrinal Studies

- The Art of Preaching

• • Understanding the Worship Service

• • Protection & Usage of the Voice

• • Outline Management

• • Historical Sermon Notes Organization

- Practical Ministry:

• • Dedications

• • Ordinations

• • Weddings & Wedding counseling

• • Funerals & Ministry to the Family

- Ministry Experiences:

• • Establishing a Mission

• • Ministry Challenges of a newly formed congregation

• • Ministry Challenges of older members' congregations

- Ministry to the Minister

• • Family Crisis & Impacts to the Ministry

• • Understanding Ministry Burnout

• • Establishing healthy Ministry habits

 

These Training Modules will be provided on every Thursday of the academic year, Late August through Early May. The preferred attendance method is to attend live training sessions with the instructor; however, Apprentice Preachers can make up missed classes by watching the recorded session. The Seminary School will track attendance in all required courses, but certification will be provided by the Mentoring Pastor, who serves as the primary lead in the Apprentice Preacher’s education.

 

The academic year will consist of four 8-week modules, each taught by a voluntary instructor with a reputation for being well-versed or experienced in the subject of the training module, as determined by the Seminary School's governance. The modules will be taught in a three-year cycle, so that candidates entering the Seminary Apprentice program will start at the beginning of any module. They will continue until they have completed the three-year cycle.

 

School Governance:

The school will be established as a corporation to maintain its autonomy from any individual or organization, thereby ensuring its long-term stability. This will require some startup costs to develop a business license, obtain non-profit status, complete incorporation paperwork, and draft bylaws. Once established, the school should be able to operate on a minimum budget for website maintenance, online video classroom services, and bank account fees.

 

Four officers will govern the school: one administrator and a three-person Education Board.

 

Administrator – The Administrator will have full authority to execute the Seminary Apprentice program as outlined in the governing documents. The Administrator is accountable to the Education Board, which reserves the right to remove them, if necessary. Due to the foreseeable workload of the Administrator's responsibilities, the Administrator will serve a 4-year term. For the incorporation paperwork, the Administrator will serve as the president of the non-profit organization.

 

Education Board: The Education Chairs will have full decision-making authority over the Seminary Apprentice program and can change any aspects of the program’s governing documents, as needed. The Education Board will oversee and monitor the quality of the school and its participants. The first Education Board chairs will serve with 4-, 5-, & 6-year commitments, followed by 5-year terms thereafter. The Education Board should utilize resignations and extensions so that no two positions are vacant at any given time. The two remaining veteran chairs should educate/train the incoming chair on the intent and history of the school.

 

Perpetuity: The intent of the 4-person officers and term assignments is so that no two positions are vacant at any given time. There is no limit to the number of terms a person can serve, as long as the petition is approved by formal vote. In the event of the unexpected vacancy of the Administrator, the senior Education Board will serve as the acting Administrator until a replacement is appointed. If there is an unexpected vacancy of any Education Board Chair, then the Administrator can vote on behalf of the vacant Education Board Chair.

 

Treasurer Position: As long as the school meets the intent of minimal operating costs, the Administrator should be well-equipped to provide an annual financial report. However, if the school elects to deduct tuition from apprentice preachers or expenses exceed the estimated $100/month, the corporation will need to establish a Treasury position to maintain the integrity of the Seminary School's finances.

 

Next Steps: