If you are a deacon, elder, preacher or other church leader, our colleges, working in partnership with our regional associations provide a range of training opportunities for local church leaders. Topics covered include reading and using the bible, evangelism and mission, leading worship, preaching, Baptist history and principles, pastoral care. The level of teaching is roughly equivalent to ‘A’ level, though you do not need any prior qualifications.

With most colleges, training is delivered in a modular fashion so you may choose to study as few or as many of the full suite of modules as you wish. Generally, training is offered over a sequence of either Saturdays or weekday evenings. You can undertake optional assessed assignments for each block of teaching if you wish to embed the learning in your own practice.

Further, if you successfully complete a prescribed suite of teaching and assessments, you will have met the theological requirements to become a Recognised Local Minister.      
 

With Bristol Baptist College, teaching is delivered in partnership with either the West of England Baptist Network via their Equipping Missional Disciples programme, or South West Baptist Association in Exeter through their Prepare - Feed - Sustain programme. Each module is delivered over two Saturdays, with up to four modules and hence eight Saturdays per year, on a three-year rolling programme. You can dip in and out and study only those topics you fancy, or you can sign up for a year at a time. Completion of twelve modules over three years will gain a certificate from the college.

With Cardiff Baptist College, teaching is delivered through their Pathways programme in either Cardiff or a church in the region. Teaching takes place on one Saturday per month except for in August. Each module spans two Saturdays. If all modules are taken, you can complete the entire programme in just over two years. You can join the rolling programme at any point or sign up for just those modules of interest to you.   

With Spurgeon’s College, teaching takes place in London, Cambridge or Birmingham, under their Equipped to Minister programme. In London especially you will mix with learners from other denominations. Teaching takes place on the same Saturday each month throughout the year, with each module taking two Saturdays. The entire programme can be completed in two years. You can join the rolling programme at any point or sign up for just those modules of interest to you.

With Regent’s Park College, the The Learning Collective programme offers a monthly evening of training, accessed online or in-venue, over a two-year period. Participants are strongly encouraged to take all the modules and so grow together as a cohort of fellow disciples throughout the two years. The in-venue training takes place in churches in either the Central Baptist Association or the Southern Counties Baptist Association.

 

Northern Baptist College offer a more bespoke set of opportunities for local leaders, which may include studying alongside accredited minister trainees in aspects of their Baptist Leadership Programme. Alternatively, church leaders can join the Latchford Learning Centre in Warrington, a project run in partnership with the North West Baptist Association. This gathers a community of learners together on one Monday each month in order to learn from each other and from visiting tutors.

If you wish to explore more deeply a calling to Christian service and are a theology student or an intern, say, then Bristol Baptist College offer Disciple-Makers. This is a year-long training course in which you join the college’s ministers-in-training for their Wednesday formation programme. You will be part of a pastoral tutor group, share in theological reflection and worship, have access to the college library and receive personal supervision.

If you wish to develop practical skills and insights rather than academic learning, Spurgeon’s College offer over twenty Christian Training Initiative resource packs. They cover topics from essential Christian beliefs right through to mission in rural communities or prison ministry. You can work through the packs in your own order and time, or you can join with others at your church and learn together. Each pack has an optional, short assessment and the college offers three levels of commendation depending on how many pack assignments you complete.

In all cases, for more information, please contact the college nearest you to discuss the training options.