Institute for Church Leadership
The Institute for Church Leadership (ICL) offers a series of courses in Bible, theology, spiritual formation, the mission of the Kingdom, church history and more. See our scope and sequence below. Anyone can benefit from these opportunities for spiritual enrichment and leadership development. You need not be a part of a local EC Church. The EC Church is pleased to offer ICL classes as a resource for building the Kingdom of God.
These non-credit courses are open to all without any educational prerequisites. They are not seminary level courses and do not earn credit from any seminary. The courses comprise the required training for those seeking the Local Elder's License or Lay Preacher's Certification in the Evangelical Congregational Church and may be applicable to pastoral credentials for other denominations as well.
| Term | Formative Course | Informative Course |
| Fall 1 | Intro to Ministry | Hermeneutics |
| Spring 1 | Pastoral Leadership | OT Survey |
| Fall 2 | Personal Spiritual Formation | NT Survey |
| Spring 2 | Preaching | Theology 1 |
| Fall 3 | Healthy Worship and Mnistry | Theology 2 |
| Spring 3 | Developing a Contextual Missional Mindset | Church History |
For all students and auditors: ICL courses no longer require a subscription but will be on a "pay as you learn" system. ICL students and auditors will pay a one-time fee per class of $250 and $50, respectively. If you are taking a course as part of your training towards credentialing, you must register as a student.
For more information about the ICL or for instructions about auditing classes, please complete our contact form.
Upcoming Fall 2026 Courses:
New Testament Survey: Tuesdays, September 1 - October 6
Course Description: In this course the student will explore the central meaning and message of the New Testament, showing how Jesus fulfills Old Testament expectations. Attention will be given to the background, setting structure, and major themes of the New Testament as a whole. The course will serve as a general introduction to this part of Scripture and provide a list of suggested resources for further study as the course unfolds.
Instructor: Rev. Tim Valentino
Personal Spiritual Formation: Tuesdays, October 20 – November 24
Course Description:
Spiritual formation is the process of opening ourselves to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into the likeness of Christ. It is purposely living our lives in a way that deepens our relationship with God. Together we will look at this beautiful journey we have been called to. We will find out how a rule of life (rhythms) can be a framework that keeps us ever growing into what God has created us to be. We will also be discussing spiritual practices that the Holy Spirit can use to breathe new life into our relationship with the Father and sustain us when times are difficult.
Instructor: Glenda Dunbar
