Certificate/Advanced Certificate in Church Leadership
PLTS is delighted to announce the Fall 2026 launch of a new certificate in church leadership essentials, designed for lay leaders and those involved in Synodically Authorized Ministry.
Certificate in Church Leadership: 3 courses; Advanced Certificate in Church Leadership:
5 courses
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8-week courses requiring 2-3 hours per week for all activities/assignments
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Online; primarily asynchronous
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1-2 Synchronous sessions per course (including a Theological Roundtable on a timely course-related issue; open to the public)
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No prerequisites required (i.e. undergraduate degree)
Courses offered:
- Sunday Morning Essentials (Worship, Hospitality, Leadership)
- Lutheran Foundations (History and Theology)
- Biblical Foundations and Interpretation
- Financial Care
- Spiritual Care
Features:
Rooted in bold commitments to:
- Cultivate spiritual depth
- Bring ancient Christian wisdom to bear on our “now”
- Storytelling as a theological practice
- Contextualized learning
- Learning in Communities of Practice
- Student’s local community of faith and nearby colleagues
- Affinity groups/cohorts within and between courses
- Past course participants and mentor-practicioners
- Designed in consultation with experts in dynamic online learning (Wisewire)
- Emphasis on learner agency and flexibility
- Engages practitioners, mentors, and Theological Roundtables to augment learning
Leadership:
- Certificate Co-ordinators: Rev. Katy Grindberg and Deacon Erin Power, along with Rev. Dr. Sheryl Johnson (Director of Non-Degree Programs, PLTS)
- Instructors include PLTS faculty members (including Rev. Dr. Kirsi Stjerna, Rev. Katy
Grindberg, and Rev. Dr. Sheryl Johnson) and ELCA Pastors/Deacons
Cost
(Proposed, not finalized):
- $350/course
- $1000/3-course certificate (choose any 3 of the 5 courses offered; $333/class)
- $1500/5-course certificate (complete all 5 courses; $300/class)