Prospective Students

Ministry Formation Program Goals

The Ministry Formation component of the EPMC program seeks to achieve the following three Program Goals:

  1. Pastoral Identity

    In the context of supervised congregational ministry, students will grow in their (a) personal spiritual formation, (b) understanding and confirmation of call to ministry, and (c) theological reflection upon ministry, pastoral identity, and the church.

  2. Ministry Practice Competencies

    The 21 ministry practices competencies listed below serve as a guide for congregation, supervisor and student as they assess the student's strengths and weaknesses, set goals and provide ministry leadership opportunities for the student, and evaluate the student's readiness for ministry.

    1. Evangelism, Discipleship, Teaching

      1. Tell the story of God's grace at work in his or her life in a lively and engaging way.
      2. Join with other Christians in intentionally communicating the gospel message to those outside the church with the goal of enfolding new believers.
      3. Demonstrate the ability to disciple believers as they grow into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
      4. Engage in age-appropriate teaching that is biblical, authentic, contextual, and life-changing.

    2. Service, Social Justice, Cultural Engagement

      1. Engage in a variety of community and church service ministries.
      2. Participate in ministries of the church that promote social justice.
      3. Enter into cross-cultural experiences in a way that deepens one's appreciation for the contextual nature of all ministry.

    3. Worship, Preaching

      1. Prepare and lead worship effectively.
      2. Collaborate with others in the process of preparing for, leading, and evaluating worship.
      3. Preach sermons that are biblically faithful, authentic, contextually sensitive, and life-changing.

    4. Community Life, Fellowship

      1. Engage in ministries which foster connection and care within a local congregation.
      2. Model a life of hospitality within a community, welcoming people and paying attention to their needs in ways that impart God's grace and blessing.
      3. Confess wrongs in an appropriate way and ask for the forgiveness of those you have injured.
      4. Demonstrate the ability to address difficulties constructively and mediate conflict within Christian community.

    5. Pastoral Care, Counseling

      1. Demonstrate the capacity for empathy by listening to others carefully, discerning their needs, and responding in appropriate ways.
      2. Guide and counsel people within the bounds of one's expertise as pastor, referring them to other professionals as necessary.
      3. Use Scripture and prayer appropriately in pastoral care.
      4. Offer pastoral care to various people (young, old, and ethnically diverse) in a variety of life situations-in their homes, in jails, in hospitals, etc.

    6. Administration, Leadership

      1. Engage in ministry in ways that reflect a biblical understanding of leadership in the church.
      2. Understand the dynamics of a healthy congregation in relation to its leaders and staff, and learn what to do when that relationship encounters difficulty.
      3. Know how to lead and administer effectively within the church, following through on commitments and developing and promoting the leadership abilities of others.

  3. Accountability

    In the context of specific structures of accountability provided by mentor and/or supervising pastor, and congregational leaders or committees specifically charged with supervisory responsibility, students will demonstrate their ability to (1) honestly assess their own strengths and weaknesses; (2) graciously receive feedback from mentor, supervising pastor and/or congregation, and respond appropriately; (3) work effectively within given structures of authority and accountability; and (4) set realistic formation goals and achieve them.