Guided Learning
for Denominational Bodies
Bring leaders from your constituent congregations together for guided learning in governance, financial stewardship, governing-body leadership, and pastoral discernment. Church Training Center offers four book-based programs that denominational bodies can commission for groups of congregational leaders.
Four Learning Programs for Congregational Leaders
For Church Leaders
Embracing Our Call
In Embracing Our Call, church governing-body members and other leaders explore governance as a ministry of entrusted responsibility. Participants consider how Calling and discernment inform decisions, how fiduciary duties and stewardship support congregational mission, and how shared authority, relationships, accountability, and trust shape leadership.
Included book: Embracing Our Call
For Those Overseeing Church Finances
The Ministry of Money
In The Ministry of Money, treasurers, finance team members, pastors, and governing leaders learn to interpret their congregation’s financial condition and exercise responsible oversight. The program explores financial reporting, budgeting, internal controls, restricted funds, fiduciary responsibility, and financial stewardship in relation to the church’s Calling.
Included book: The Ministry of Money
For Governing Body Chairs
Rooted in the Call
In Rooted in the Call, chairpersons, moderators, and similar leaders study their responsibility as Mission Keepers. They explore agenda design, prayerful listening, meaningful dialogue, mission-aligned policies and practices, relationships with pastors, leading through change, succession, and sustainable personal rhythms of leadership.
Included book: Rooted in the Call
For Pastors
Guiding the Vision
In Guiding the Vision, pastors and pastoral leaders practice reading congregational life with care: noticing patterns, attending to capacity, and relating Calling, Structure, Alignment, and Integrity. They also explore receptivity, sustainable rhythms of leadership, the use of budgets and meeting structures to carry vision, and the pastor–chair partnership.
Included book: Guiding the Vision
Choose Your Learning Pathway
Each program offers a Comprehensive course or a shorter Foundations course with an optional continuation. Your denominational body can select the format that best serves its participants and learning goals.
Comprehensive
One continuous course exploring the program’s full curriculum through guided study, dialogue, and reflection.
Foundations
Begin with Part A as a complete shorter course. Part B offers an optional continuation commissioned separately.
Embracing Our Call
Comprehensive
9 weeks
Foundations A
5 weeks
Optional Part B
5 weeks
The Ministry of Money
Comprehensive
9 weeks
Foundations A
4 weeks
Optional Part B
5 weeks
Rooted in the Call
Comprehensive
8 weeks
Foundations A
4 weeks
Optional Part B
4 weeks
Guiding the Vision
Comprehensive
8 weeks
Foundations A
4 weeks
Optional Part B
4 weeks
Comprehensive and Foundations follow their own curriculum sequences, so their total durations may differ. Foundations Part B is optional and is not included automatically.
Learning Together Across Congregations
Participants learn alongside people serving in other congregations within their denomination. Keith Clark-Hoyos facilitates conversations that connect each program’s subject matter with the responsibilities and experiences participants bring from their own ministry settings.
Weekly Facilitated Sessions
Each program meets for one hour weekly by Zoom. Sessions include centering, guided dialogue, and shared reflection, with room for questions drawn from participants’ ministries.
Reading & Reflection
Each participant receives the book for the selected program. Weekly readings and discussion prompts invite preparation before gatherings and continued reflection and conversation between sessions.
Private Learning Community
Each commissioned group has a private space in the Effective Church Leadership Community for its syllabus, Zoom access, group discussions, and session recordings.
Bring Guided Learning to Your Congregations
Church Training Center works with conferences, regions, dioceses, presbyteries, and other denominational bodies to arrange Guided Learning for leaders across their congregations. We begin with a conversation about the participants you wish to serve, the learning pathway, and practical arrangements before preparing an individualized quote.
How Commissioning Works
Discuss the Learning Plan
Together, we identify the leadership group, program, and Comprehensive or Foundations pathway.
Share Participant Information
Your denominational body invites participants from its congregations and provides their registration information to Church Training Center.
We Coordinate the Learning
Church Training Center handles onboarding, books, private community access, Zoom arrangements, facilitation, and session recordings.