Certificate in Congregational Leadership (CCL)
Program Structure
The Certificate in Congregational Leadership (CCL) Program uses online learning to provide a comprehensive approach to developing leadership excellence in the local church. It is designed to accommodate the busy schedule of the bi-vocational pastor and Certified Lay Minister (CLM).
The program consists of seven online courses, four required and three electives. Learners must complete the four required courses and at least one elective course for certificate completion. Courses are structured so all the work can be done independently.
Basic courses require approximately 10 hours of work. The Capstone course is a 28-day course requiring 30 hours of work. There are four, one-hour online sessions in which learners cover course material together.
Core Courses
Online Core offerings (required for certificate) are listed with an asterisk. At least one elective (no asterisk) course must be chosen from the other online offerings for Certificate completion.
The Certificate in Congregational Leadership (CCL) Program uses online learning to provide a comprehensive approach to developing leadership excellence in the local church. It is designed to accommodate the busy schedule of the bi-vocational pastor and Certified Lay Minister (CLM).
The program consists of seven online courses, four required and three electives. Learners must complete the four required courses and at least one elective course for certificate completion. Courses are structured so all the work can be done independently.
Basic courses require approximately 10 hours of work. The Capstone course is a 28-day course requiring 30 hours of work. There are four, one-hour online sessions in which learners cover course material together.
Core Courses
Online Core offerings (required for certificate) are listed with an asterisk. At least one elective (no asterisk) course must be chosen from the other online offerings for Certificate completion.
church administration*
This course will cover understanding your own style, the rhythm of the church year, annual reporting and preparing for charge conference, dealing with resistance, and leading change. Students will gain a broad understanding of how they can more effectively get things done in the local church.
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is required for the Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
“I was able to put some into practice right away on my first day back to the office after completion of the class. I have my first Admin Board meeting tomorrow and this class has helped me prepared for the it.”
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is required for the Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
“I was able to put some into practice right away on my first day back to the office after completion of the class. I have my first Admin Board meeting tomorrow and this class has helped me prepared for the it.”
sacraments*
“The sacraments were explained in simple terms that I understood. I learned more from this class then I did through licensing school, Course of Study, and other workshops about the sacraments put together.”
“I thought I had a good understanding of the Sacraments unit I took this online course! There were things I learned to help me become more effective in serving the Sacraments.”
This course provides a clear understanding of the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. It includes practical guidance for interpreting the sacraments to others, as well as how to address difficult situations in the parish. Topics to be covered include God’s initiative and human response in baptism, how to deal with someone who wants to be re-baptized, understanding one’s own role in the sacraments, and making communion more meaningful.
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is required for the Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
“I thought I had a good understanding of the Sacraments unit I took this online course! There were things I learned to help me become more effective in serving the Sacraments.”
This course provides a clear understanding of the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. It includes practical guidance for interpreting the sacraments to others, as well as how to address difficult situations in the parish. Topics to be covered include God’s initiative and human response in baptism, how to deal with someone who wants to be re-baptized, understanding one’s own role in the sacraments, and making communion more meaningful.
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is required for the Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
pastoral care
This course emphasizes the importance of pastoral care in the small church. It will address the expectations of congregants, how to manage the demands, the ministry of presence and the relationship of pastoral care to leadership. It will also introduce ways to involve laity in congregational care.
Topics to be covered include, what good pastoral care looks like, the relationship between caring opportunities and spiritual growth, the importance of reflective listening, and our role in maintaining the privacy of those we serve.
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is a Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program elective. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
“The content was excellent, relevant, and applicable to my current role. I trust that I will be more effective in the ministry of pastoral care as a result of this training.”
“This course has been very helpful to me…knowing the boundaries for patients, and congregational boundaries. Also knowing that one needs to take care of themselves as a Pastor, continue spending time with God daily, as well as the time for my family and not short change them, and then the congregation, this is so that one doesn’t become burn out.”
Topics to be covered include, what good pastoral care looks like, the relationship between caring opportunities and spiritual growth, the importance of reflective listening, and our role in maintaining the privacy of those we serve.
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is a Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program elective. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
“The content was excellent, relevant, and applicable to my current role. I trust that I will be more effective in the ministry of pastoral care as a result of this training.”
“This course has been very helpful to me…knowing the boundaries for patients, and congregational boundaries. Also knowing that one needs to take care of themselves as a Pastor, continue spending time with God daily, as well as the time for my family and not short change them, and then the congregation, this is so that one doesn’t become burn out.”
wesleyan theology*
This course covers Wesleyan Theology in terms that are practical and relevant for the average church member. The three-fold aspects of prevenient, justifying and sanctifying grace will be explained in terms that show how they operate throughout the Christian journey.
The course will also explain the concepts of entire sanctification and Arminianism and why they still matter today. Topics to be covered include the relationship between prevenient, justifying and sanctifying grace; how grace works, both before and after justification; applying the Wesleyan Quadrilateral to one’s spiritual and vocational life as well as the life of the church; and clarifying entire sanctification and its importance in the Christian journey.
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is required for the Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
“This class clarified our Wesleyan theology in a very precise and understandable way and will make it even easier for me to articulate who we are theologically to members and non-members alike. Excellent content. Relevant and applicable to ministry.”
The course will also explain the concepts of entire sanctification and Arminianism and why they still matter today. Topics to be covered include the relationship between prevenient, justifying and sanctifying grace; how grace works, both before and after justification; applying the Wesleyan Quadrilateral to one’s spiritual and vocational life as well as the life of the church; and clarifying entire sanctification and its importance in the Christian journey.
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is required for the Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
“This class clarified our Wesleyan theology in a very precise and understandable way and will make it even easier for me to articulate who we are theologically to members and non-members alike. Excellent content. Relevant and applicable to ministry.”
Time management
This course provides practical guidance for managing the many demands of congregational leadership. It will cover different approaches to increasing productivity to help the student find the methods that will work best in their own setting.
Topics to be covered include the basics of the Getting Things Done approach by David Allen, how to clear one’s mind of things to do to reduce anxiety and increase focus, the importance of rituals, and the importance of First Things First from Stephen Covey.
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is a Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program elective. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
“I strongly recommend this training for anyone who needs a time management strategy. The ideas are helpful for organizing short term and long term goals. The instructor was able to show how to implement the training materials immediately to obtain quick and beneficial personal change and positive outcomes.”
“This was one of the most useful courses I have ever taken! Thanks so much…”
Topics to be covered include the basics of the Getting Things Done approach by David Allen, how to clear one’s mind of things to do to reduce anxiety and increase focus, the importance of rituals, and the importance of First Things First from Stephen Covey.
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is a Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program elective. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
“I strongly recommend this training for anyone who needs a time management strategy. The ideas are helpful for organizing short term and long term goals. The instructor was able to show how to implement the training materials immediately to obtain quick and beneficial personal change and positive outcomes.”
“This was one of the most useful courses I have ever taken! Thanks so much…”
UM History & doctrine
This course will cover the development of The United Methodist Church in America, as well as its doctrinal roots in both the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren traditions. The approach will be to understand the basics of our faith, both as it connects to the core of Christianity, as well as the uniqueness of United Methodism.
Topics to be covered include the life and ministry of John and Charles Wesley, how the Methodist Societies in England functioned, early Methodism in America, Methodist and EUB doctrine, and mergers and splits in American Methodism.
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is a Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program elective. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
“I learned so much, I have an excellent grasp of our history and doctrine that I didn't have before. I know I can use this in our confirmation classes, or new member classes at my local church.”
“The history of the Methodists and the movement of the Wesley brothers is very interesting and needs to be known by the people leading the church.”
Topics to be covered include the life and ministry of John and Charles Wesley, how the Methodist Societies in England functioned, early Methodism in America, Methodist and EUB doctrine, and mergers and splits in American Methodism.
This is a self-guided course that will take approximately 10 hours to complete. It is a Certificate in Congregational Leadership Program elective. Successful completion results in 1.0 CEU’s.
This course is offered by the Center for Vital Leadership and is FREE to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.
“I learned so much, I have an excellent grasp of our history and doctrine that I didn't have before. I know I can use this in our confirmation classes, or new member classes at my local church.”
“The history of the Methodists and the movement of the Wesley brothers is very interesting and needs to be known by the people leading the church.”
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To access the core courses, you will need an Assembly account. If you do not have one you can register directly on the site.
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Capstone Course (required for Certificate Completion)
The Non-Anxious Leader: Family Systems Basics
While this program is designed for Part-Time Local Pastors and Certified Lay Ministers who have completed the CLM process and are assigned to a ministry setting, any person, lay or clergy, may participate in any or all of its components and receive a Certificate of Congregational Leadership by completing the requirements.
United Methodists are a learning people. The CCL Program is designed as supplemental learning to help church leaders grow in their effectiveness. It does not provide any credentials, such as Licensed Local Pastor or satisfy any requirements for Lay Servant Re-certification.
The CCL Program is open to all. Those that do not wish to pursue a Certificate in Congregational Leadership may disregard the course requirements.
The Non-Anxious Leader: Family Systems Basics
While this program is designed for Part-Time Local Pastors and Certified Lay Ministers who have completed the CLM process and are assigned to a ministry setting, any person, lay or clergy, may participate in any or all of its components and receive a Certificate of Congregational Leadership by completing the requirements.
United Methodists are a learning people. The CCL Program is designed as supplemental learning to help church leaders grow in their effectiveness. It does not provide any credentials, such as Licensed Local Pastor or satisfy any requirements for Lay Servant Re-certification.
The CCL Program is open to all. Those that do not wish to pursue a Certificate in Congregational Leadership may disregard the course requirements.