Continuing Education

Growing in faith is vital for everyone in God’s Kingdom, whether you’re a pastor, teacher, or church member.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
II Peter 3:18

We’re committed to helping—with workshops, seminars, conferences, and courses you can use for lifelong learning. We structure them to bring worship, learning, and fellowship together to stimulate your intellect, enhance your ministry skills, and renew your spirit. We design them for relevance to a broad ecumenical audience. Many happen right here at Calvin Theological Seminary, many others in a city or town near you, and some may take you to Europe or Mexico. We are pleased to collaborate on many of these events with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.

So consider your choices and encourage others to join us.

NEW! Check out our new online resources for continuing education!

Calendar Events

Mar 2010
Mar 24-26 West End CRC Edmonton, Alberta	SEMINAR The Theology and Practice of Pastoral Ministry The central thesis of this course is that strong pastoral identity is the key to sustaining pastoral excellence. Today's church has witnessed a breakdown of consensus regarding the role of the pastor. This course is a study of the theology and practice of pastoral ministry with a view to creatively and critically engaging changing views of the church and its ministry in our contemporary culture, and enhancing the practice of pastoral ministry. The course will integrate this theological understanding of pastoral ministry with the basic practices of pastoral ministry: worship, preaching, teaching, evangelism, pastoral care, and congregational leadership. Led by Duane Kelderman and Kathy Smith, Calvin Theological Seminary. Co-sponsored by the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program of the Christian Reformed Church. Details and Registration
Apr 2010
Apr 15-17 Calvin College Grand Rapids, MI	CONFERENCE Festival of Faith and Writing The Festival of Faith and Writing is a biennial gathering where readers and writers come together to discuss, celebrate, and explore the ways in which faith is represented in literature and how it plays out in our world today. Speakers include: Debbie Blue, Eugene Peterson, Tim Stafford, Luci Shaw, Ed Dobson, and many others. Sponsored by Calvin College with the support of the Center for Excellence in Preaching. Information and Registration
Apr 28 Grand Rapids, MI - Prince Conference Center 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM	CONFERENCE 4th Annual Christians and Money Conference Pastors and church leaders who attend will walk away with practical ideas and new resources to grow good stewards within their congregations. This event will be live broadcast to: Chicago, IL; Wyckoff, NJ; Orange City, IA; Chino, CA. Co-sponsored by CRCNA, Calvin Theological Seminary and Barnabas Foundation. For more info: www.barnabasfoundation.com/conference
May 2010
May 24-Jun 4 Calvin Theological Seminary The Upper Room	COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - HOWARD VANDERWELL *Planning Intergenerational Worship* Most churches today wrestle with the issue of Intergenerational Worship. Is it possible? What methodology should be used? Which values should guide us? What are the risks of different approaches? Many are experimenting with very diverse approaches. In this course we’ll explore the issues involved, different perspectives on intergenerational, and participate collaboratively in efforts to design worship that will reach all generations. Our work will be built on the assumption that all generations are equally valuable, and all generations have their own unique needs in the formation of their faith. Details and Registration
May 24-Jun 5 Calvin Theological Seminary 240W	COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - DOUG KAMSTRA *Prayer Ministry* Examines the biblical, historical and theological foundations of prayer as it relates to personal spiritual growth and congregational ministry, and evaluates contemporary understandings and practices of prayer ministry. Details and Registration
Jun 2010
Jun 7-11 Calvin Theological Seminary The Upper Room	COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS The Theology and Practice of Pastoral Ministry The central thesis of this course is that strong pastoral identity is the key to sustaining pastoral excellence. Today's church has witnessed a breakdown of consensus regarding the role of the pastor. This course is a study of the theology and practice of pastoral ministry with a view to creatively and critically engaging changing views of the church and its ministry in our contemporary culture, and enhancing the practice of pastoral ministry. The course will integrate this theological understanding of pastoral ministry with the basic practices of pastoral ministry: worship, preaching, teaching, evangelism, pastoral care, and congregational leadership. Led by Duane Kelderman and Kathy Smith, Calvin Theological Seminary. Co-sponsored by the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program of the Christian Reformed Church. Details and Registration
Jun 15-17 Calvin College Grand Rapids, MI	CONFERENCE Reformed Mission in an Age of World Christianity The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC), the two largest global networks of Reformed Christian churches expect to unite into one ecumenical body and form the new World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). It will support a global network of 80 million Reformed Christians. The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) is the host denomination for this one-time uniting assembly on the campus of Calvin College, June 18-28, 2010. "Reformed Mission in an Age of World Christianity" is a pre-assembly conference open to the public - more information will be coming soon. Co-sponsored by the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship, the WCRC assembly planners, and the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education. Details and Registration
Jun 21-25 Snow Mountain Ranch Colorado	SEMINAR Imaginative Reading for Creative Preaching Neal Plantinga's hugely popular and successful seminar, Imaginative Reading for Creative Preaching, is being offered at Snow Mountain to provide participating pastors a deeply enriching seminar in the mornings while bringing their families along to enjoy the afternoons together. Generous financial support will be given to all pastors and their families. Space is limited so apply now - applications due by November 1, 2009. Details and application