Overview & Introduction: These Apprentice Certification requirements are provided for Mentoring Pastors/Apprentice Preachers to conduct the Seminary Apprenticeship un-registered, if they so choose to do. However, it is recommended to register in order to receive the current version of the Apprenticeship Certification cards; and assistance with training materials; and the official certificate of completion upon the conclusion of the 3-yr Seminary Apprenticeship program. To register as participants in the Seminary Apprenticeship program, see the registration instructions on the ‘Home‘ page.

Preaching: The only way to develop a strong practice of preaching is through preaching. The Mentoring Pastor must strive to allow the Apprentice Preacher to preach once a month and review with the preacher ways to improve.

Preached this month (Y/N)

Conducted Debrief or After Discussion (Y/N)

Mentoring Sessions: The goal and intent of the Seminary Apprenticeship program is for the Mentoring Pastor to have regular one-on-one conversations with the Apprentice Preacher, imparting wisdom through everyday interactions.

Mentoring Session this month (Y/N)

Introduction: Below is a list of potential discussion topics for the 1-on-1 Mentoring Sessions. The Mentoring Pastor may not feel adequate in discussing a particular topic, at which point another Mentoring Pastor could be recruited to discuss topic.

A. Discussion Topics – The Art of Preaching:

– Understanding the Worship Service – Role of the speaker

– Understanding Worship Service- Role of the Audience

– Understanding Worship Service – Impacts of the environment to the worship service & participants

– Protection & Usage of the Voice – deferring environment & differing voice, basic vocal cord care

– Difference between preaching and teaching – Effective use of both is necessary in the ministry

– Effective use of Sermon Outlines & Necessity of managing your preaching time

– Researching methods for Sermons Topics & ideas

B. Discussion Topics – Various Services: Use of ministry manuals to build & prepare for …

– Child Dedications Service

– Church Building and/or Home Dedication Events

– Baptism & Lord’s Supper Service

– Conducting Weddings & Wedding counseling for couples

– Funerals & Ministry to the Family – especially in the unexpected loss of a family member

– Procedures for seeking a pastor & Ordination Service

C. Discussion Topics – Church Administration:

– Church (Bible, The people) vs Church (Law, Building & Business)

– Church Elders (Bible) vs Church Officers (law) – Role Deacons, secretary

– Basics of financial reports – Necessity of them, How to read one, How to manage church finances, not the same as personal finances.

– Basics of a church business meeting

– Robert’s rules of order & basics

D. Discussion Topics – Church Legalities:

– Financial Risks to Pastorate & Risks of Accusation of Embezzlement

– Church Insurance & risk of at-fault for members & nonmembers to injuries

– Pastoral risks of accusation from young children and vulnerable women – Ministry practices to protect yourself

– Church as a Nonprofit – pros & cons

– Social Media – pros & cons

E. Discussion Topics – Ministering to the Minister:

– Qualification of the Pastorate & Risks/Actions for Disqualification

– Pastor’s Family & Crisis events that impacts on the Ministry

– Pastoring and raising teenagers – Balance of Pastoral time during adolescence & teen years

– Managing loneliness and Pastoral feelings – Depression, failure, fatigue, betrayal

– Understanding Ministry Burnout, Pastoring is a marathon, not a sprint

– Pastor’s Confidant for dealing with problems & sins, use of a Pastoral Counselor/Mentor

– Pastors who are introverts and extroverts- meeting your needs, healthy pastoral habits

F. Discussion Topics – Ministering to the Minister’s Family: (Consider discussing these topics with the Apprentice Preacher and his wife.)

– Ministering to the Pastor’s wives & children

– Understanding the Pastors family’s feelings of jealousy issues with time and attention

– Understanding confidential news – some things can’t be shared with your wife for their spiritual health

– Role of Pastor wives in Ministry

– Sacrifice of Pastor wives to give time for the pastoral study & Ministry

– Pastor wives support of the Pastor in a host of ministry conflicts

G. Discussion Topics – Ministerial Conflicts:

– Pastoral Relations – Pastor to Pastor and Resolving conflicts between Pastors & churches

– Pastoral Relations – Pastor to Members and Resolving conflicts inside the church membership

– Managing Church Member relations with children and conflicts between parents & parenting styles

– Managing Church relations during a building project or remodel project

– Church Associations – pros & cons. A Pastor maybe called to pastor a church that does or doesn’t participate in an Association.

– Establishing healthy Ministry habits to maintain spiritual health while working a secular job

H. Discussion Topics – Pastoral Counseling:

– Role of professional Christian Counseling -vs- Pastoral Counseling:

– Marital Counseling – pre & post wedding

– Parental Counseling – spouse to spouse, parents to children, loss of child

– Divorce Counseling – Impacts membership, Ministry to each of the separated spouses

– Military Members Counseling – wrestling with service to country & concept of murder, dealing with post-traumatic experiences in the church body, Ministry to service members during military deployment

– Convicts Counseling- wrestling with guilt of their crime, post-traumatic stress disorder from the prison experience, impacts, and integration into the church body

– Ministry of the Mentally ill & former Drug Addiction – ministering to the person, facilitating church ministry to a person

– Ministry of the Elderly – wrestling with the mental decline impacts on family/church and ministering to families dealing with elderly parents and elderly care