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Course Catalog

Future Church Leadership   

Ministry is changing, and the questions leaders face today are different from those that shaped previous generations. Belonging feels elusive, loneliness is widespread, and mental health and burnout are no longer peripheral concerns. Leaders need fresh tools and imagination to navigate these realities with wisdom and hope.

The Future Church Leadership Certificate is a non-credit program designed to equip leaders and faith communities for this shifting ministry landscape. Through four courses, participants gain practical strategies and theological insight to address today’s challenges and take their next step in building communities marked by care, resilience, and meaningful connection. Through reflection and application, you’ll create a personalized toolkit to begin addressing these challenges for yourself, your community, and those you serve.

 

There are two options for enrolling in the first course, “Future Church Leadership Certificate: Belonging:”

Option 1: If you are a church leader and are interested in learning more about how these courses can help a group of your members prepare for leadership challenges within your faith community, and would like to register as a private group, please contact Nathan Gibbs at Nathan_Gibbs@baylor.edu.

Option 2: If you would like to enroll in the course individually, you can register by clicking the registration link below.
  • Future Church Leadership Certificate: Belonging
  • Fee: $350.00
  • Instructor: Dustin Benac

    This course explores the theological, social, and practical dimensions of belonging within Christian communities. Participants will analyze key texts, identify initial steps for fostering belonging in congregations and related faith-based settings, and examine common barriers alongside strategies for overcoming them. Through reflection and application, students will develop a personalized toolkit to promote belonging for themselves, in their communities, and for the people they serve.

    Rooted in contextual research and proven ministry practice, this course offers valuable insights for both church and nonprofit leaders seeking to cultivate spaces and structures of belonging. Designed with Christian communities in mind, it encourages group participation to deepen learning, foster collaboration, and support the shared work of building communities marked by faith, formation, and meaningful connection.

    This certificate is designed for those who serve faithfully from the second, third, or fourth seats in their ministry contexts. These leaders may not be the ones preaching in the pulpit or setting the vision for ministry, but they are the ones who make ministry possible week after week. From elders, to deacons, to Sunday school leaders, to nonprofit professionals, they carry the weight of care, coordination, and creativity in ways that often go unseen. Purposefully designed with teams in mind, this certificate will equip teams and leaders with the tools to take the next step in their ministries.
 

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