About

Our New Program for Developing Shepherd Leaders

Pastoral leaders (ministers and elders) are called to shepherd God’s flock that is under their care (1 Peter 5:2). They do this as a team by leading the church in its life and mission, praying with and for God’s people, proclaiming the gospel while teaching the whole counsel of God, and modelling a living and mature faith in Christ.

Serving God’s people as a Shepherd Leader is a noble task (1 Tim. 3:1). But it can also be a difficult, especially when Shepherd Leaders lack basic training.

In past years, Christ College has offered training for elders in church and presbytery settings across New South Wales and the ACT. To build upon this training, and to make it more accessible to churches in regional areas, the Christ College Faculty have developed a new online Shepherd Leader Training program.

This program is available for new and existing elders, aspiring elders, and those wishing to serve in other church leadership roles.

Modules

The Faculty are developing eight modules that will run over the course of two years. These modules will include a variety of multimedia resources to assist shepherd leaders in their learning. The description for each module will be updated closer to its respective term date.

Module A: Elders in Christ's Church (ENROLMENT AVAILABLE FOR TERM 1, 2020)

Term 1, 2020 Dates: 27 January – 10 April 2020)

This Module provides a biblical introduction to the role of elders in God’s mission through the church.It focusses on the biblical basis for eldership, the biblical qualifications required of elders, and the primary biblical functions of elders in the life and mission of the church.

Watch our Module A Video Sample

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, participants will:

Know and understand:

  • The biblical basis for eldership
  • Some biblical arguments for the Presbyterian form of church government
  • The primary biblical qualifications required of elders
  • The main biblical tasks assigned to elders and their role in the church’s mission

    • Be able to:

  • Defend the biblical basis for the Presbyterian form of church government
  • Play a part in assessing the suitability of individuals to serve as an elder or in other church leadership roles
  • Distinguish eldership functions from other forms of Christian service

    • Be in a position to:

  • Affirm, with understanding, the PCA ordination vow that “the Presbyterian form of church government is founded on the Word of God and agreeable thereto”
  • Function effectively in a team of elders, co-operating with a minister or ministers in overseeing a congregation of God’s people

    • Want more details? Download the sample module outline in the Resources section at the bottom of the page.


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    Graduate Attributes Addressed in This Module

    Graduate Attribute Descriptor
    Love God in Christ Be devoted to reading the Scriptures and prayer
    Know Self in Christ Be thankful for their talents, personality, gifts and calling
    Develop healthy relationships, beginning with own family
    Lead God’s Church Under Christ Develop and communicate a vision derived from God’s mission
    Preach and Teach Christ from the Scriptures Work as part of a shared leadership based on PCA polity
     

    Module B: God's Word and the Gospel
    Term 2, 2020 Dates: 27 April – 3 July 2020
    Graduate Attributes Addressed in This Module

    Graduate Attribute Descriptor
    Love God in Christ Be devoted to reading the Scriptures and prayer
    Exemplify ‘Christ for all of life’
    Know God in Christ Know God (Trinity, Christology, Pneumatology)
    Understand biblical theology and how it leads to an understanding of the gospel and Christian living
    Lead God’s Church Under Christ Lead public worship
     

    Module C: Truths We Confess
    Graduate Attributes Addressed in This Module

    Graduate Attribute Descriptor
    Love God in Christ Grow in personal worship of God
    Know God in Christ Know God (Trinity, Christology, Pneumatology)
    Understand how Reformed theology informs PCA standards
    Lead God’s Church Under Christ Lead public worship
     

    Module D: Living for Christ in Australia Today
    Graduate Attributes Addressed in This Module

    Graduate Attribute Descriptor
    Love God in Christ Exemplify ‘Christ for all of life’
    Know God in Christ Understand biblical theology and how it leads to an understanding of the gospel and Christian living
    Know Self in Christ Identify as a growing child of God
    Develop healthy relationships, beginning with own family
    Lead God’s Church Under Christ Empower and equip church members
     

    Module E: Caring for God's People
    Graduate Attributes Addressed in This Module

    Graduate Attribute Descriptor
    Know Self in Christ Identify as a growing child of God
    Be thankful for their talents, personality, gifts and calling
    Care for People Like Christ Care for all kinds of people to present them mature in Christ
    Serve others with love
    Be an active host in the church and home
     

    Module F: Leading God's People
    Graduate Attributes Addressed in This Module

    Graduate Attribute Descriptor
    Care for People Like Christ Care for all kinds of people to present them mature in Christ
    Serve others with love
    Be an active host in the church and home
    Lead God’s Church Under Christ Develop and communicate a vision derived from God’s mission
    Work as part of a shared leadership based on PCA polity
     

    Module G: Teaching God's People
    Graduate Attributes Addressed in This Module

    Graduate Attribute Descriptor
    Know God in Christ Understand how Reformed theology informs PCA standards
    Lead God’s Church Under Christ Empower and equip church members
    Preach and Teach Christ from the Scriptures Preach and/or teach Christologically from the Bible in a range of contexts
    Present and defend the gospel to non-Christians
     

    Module H: The Church in God's Mission
    Graduate Attributes Addressed in This Module

    Graduate Attribute Descriptor
    Love God in Christ Grow in personal worship of God
    Preach and Teach Christ from the Scriptures Preach and/or teach Christologically from the Bible in a range of contexts
    Present and defend the gospel to non-Christians
    Expect the Holy Spirit to change people through a redemptive approach to the Bible
     

    Apply

    Thinking about participating in the Shepherd Leadership Training program? Read the details below and click the Apply Now button to be redirected to the Application form.

    Study Pathways

    Synchronous (Follow Along With Our Module Term Schedule)

    Details Advantages
    Beginning 2020

    Four school terms a year for two years

    10 hours per unit    		 Receive support and feedback from Christ College staff as you progress through each module alongside them

    Work logically through the material

    Asynchronous (Choose Your Own Module Per Term; Available from Term 2, 2020)

    Details Advantages
    Beginning 2020

    10 hours per unit    		 Choose which modules are more pertinent to address

    Work at your own pace

    Cost

    $60 per individual per module OR
    $50 per individual per module (for groups of 3 or more)
    Students will be invoiced after successful enrolment into the program. Please note that the Shepherd Leader Training modules are not eligible for FEE-HELP as they are internal units.

    Apply Now

    We are now taking registrations for Term 1, 2020 (Module 1: Elders in Christ’s Church; 27 January – 10 April). Fill in the Expression of Interest below, and one of our team will let you know about the next steps for enrolment. Please note that each individual in a group must submit an individual form.

    Click here to Apply Now

    FAQs

    Is this training just for elders?
    Whilst it is primary aimed at new and existing elders, this program is also for those thinking about what it means to be a shepherd leader in a church context.
     

    Can I do this program by myself?
    Yes, you can – but some assessments may require you to work with those in your local church. We think that this program is best done in a group setting.
     

    What are the costs for the program?
    For each module, the cost is $60 per individual, or $50 per individual in a group of 3+ people. Please contact us if you are planning to apply as a group.
     

    Are there any assessments?
    Yes. We’re calling them ‘ministry artifacts’ – assessments that are grounded in your local church context. The module lecturer will be commenting on the ministry artifacts, but no numerical mark will be given.
     

    If you have any other questions about the Shepherd Leader Training program, e-mail our Program Coordinator, Jonathan Pratt at jpratt@christcollege.edu.au.