Minister Specialization Roles

Christian Leaders Alliance has five core minister classifications, opening the door to many minister specialization roles. The five minister specializations are Christian Officiant (Wedding Officiant), Commended (Lay) Minister, Coaching Minister, Licensed Minister, and Ordained Minister.

Once you finish one of these core programs, the Christian Leaders Alliance will recognize you as one of these minister classifications. You can add minister specialization roles to your credentials.

For instance, let’s say you finished the licensed minister program and are recognized as a licensed minister. Now you want to specialize in youth ministry.  You will not need to gather additional endorsements since you already gathered them in your core licensed minister program. You will only need to take the additional minister specialization courses for youth ministry.

With this example, what does that mean for your minister credentials? 

You are a licensed minister with a “Youth Specialization.” You may designate your specialization in a way that fits your needs. Here are some possible suggestions.

You could be considered one of the following:

• Licensed Minister with a youth specialization
• Licensed Youth Minister
• Youth Minister

What is the philosophy of this ministry training and credentialing program?

There are core minister competencies that all ministers share in common. The core program addresses those issues. You may desire to serve in a specific area as you discern your calling. The minister specialization roles can give you more ministry skills and expertise in those specific areas.

What minister specialization roles are offered? 

Kingdom 

The Kingdom Minister specialization fits those doing their ministry outside a local church. This specialization helps you impact your community. This specialization may fit you as a homeschool parent, a blogger, a life coach, or a coaching minister.

Courses:

• MinistryBiz Skills Class (1 Cr)
• How to be an Ambassador of Jesus Christ (0 Cr)
• Fellowship and Hospitality Ministry (0 Cr)
• Kingdom Ministers Program Course (0 Cr)
• How to be a Productive Board Member (0 Cr)
• How to Start a Ministry Board (0 Cr)

Roles Available:

• Kingdom Christian Officiant (Wedding Officiant is the primary role)
• Commended Kingdom Minister
• Licensed Kingdom Minister
• Ordained Kingdom Minister

Bible Study

The Bible Study specialization will enhance your knowledge of the Biblical text. This specialization fits every core minister program. This specialization grounds you in the Word of God. If you are a recent convert to Christianity and called to ministry, this specialization is a must.

Courses:

• Old Testament Survey (3 Cr)
• New Testament Survey (3 Cr)

Possible Roles:

• Commended Bible Minister
• Licensed Bible Minister
• Ordained Bible Minister

Advanced Bible Study

The Advanced Bible Study specialization deepens your knowledge of scriptures and gives you more confidence as you interpret the meaning of the Bible for today. If you are teaching or preaching, this specialization would be very helpful.

Courses:

• Old Testament Survey (3 Cr)
• New Testament Survey (3 Cr)
• Biblical Interpretation I: Old Testament (4 cr)
• Biblical Interpretation II: New Testament (4 cr)

Possible Roles:

• Commended Bible Teacher
• Licensed Bible Minister
• Ordained Bible Minister

Prayer

The Prayer specialization gives you in-depth training on the power and practice of prayer. This is an idea fit for all core minister roles.

Courses:

Pastoral Care

The Pastoral Care specialization opens the door for you to minister to people as they seek to include God in their lives and problems. This specialization and the roles associated with it give you valuable insights into pastoring Christians and non-Christians. This role is suited for a local pastor, small group leader, or women’s or men’s leader.

Courses:

• Pastoral Care and Marriage (3 cr)
• Prayer (3 cr)
• Church and Ministry (3 cr)

Possible Roles:

• Lay Pastor
• Licensed Pastor
• Ordained Pastor

Youth/Single Adult

The youth specialization focuses your study on youth ministry. This specialization prepares or supports you for youth ministry. This area of study will be beneficial for coaching ministers, licensed ministers, or ordained ministers.

Courses:

• Youth Ministry (3 cr)
• Youth Discipleship Ministry & Movement (3 credits)
• Matchmaker Ministry (1  Credit)

Possible Roles:

• Youth Minister or Pastor
• Licensed Youth Minister
• Ordained Youth Minister or Pastor

Senior Adult

The Senior Adult specialization is ideal for retired volunteer ministers who are called to minister to senior adults. This specialization would also be perfect for ministers who are called to serve senior adults.

Courses:

• Senior Adult Ministry (2 cr)

Possible Roles:

• Senior Adult Minister or Pastor
• Licensed or Ordained Senior Adult Minister

Women’s Ministry

This Women’s Ministry specialization is ideal for many churches as they reach women.  This specialization gives you expertise in women’s ministry.

Courses:

• Women’s Ministry (3 Cr)
• Women and Leadership in Early Christianity (3 cr)
• God’s Design for Sex – Mini-Course
• Becoming a Virtuous Woman of God – Mini-Course
• The Care and Decluttering of the Soul – Mini-course

Possible Roles:

• Coaching Minister with Women’s Ministery Specialization
• Women’s Minister or Pastor
• Licensed or Ordained Women’s Minister or Pastor

Men’s Ministry

The Men’s Ministry specialization will help you minister to men more effectively. This specialization focuses on topics that will make you more effective if you are called to men’s ministry.

Courses:

• Multiplying Disciples (2 Cr)
• The Care and Decluttering of the Soul – Mini-course
• How to Develop a Great Attitude – Mini-Course
• Nine Ways to Build People Up – Mini-Course
• God’s Design for Sex – Mini-Course
• Victory Over Sexual Sin – Mini-Course
• Growing as a Man of God – Mini-Course

Possible Roles:

• Coaching Minister with Men’s Coaching Specialization
• Commended Men’s Minister
• Licensed or Ordained Men’s Minister

Matchmaking

As single adults are looking for their Christian life partner, the Matchmaking specialization equips you to serve those looking for a Christian spouse. Matchmaking is a growing opportunity for serving Christians in finding their life partner.

Courses:

• Matchmaking Ministry (1 Cr)
• Dating Discernment – Mini-Course
• Dating Discernment for Women – Mini-Course

Possible Roles:

• Matchmaker Minister or Pastor
• Licensed or Ordained Matchmaker Minister or Pastor

Sex Education

The sex education specialization gives you the intellectual and ministry tools to help Christians thrive in this area of their life. This is a specialty that would be relevant for anyone serving in ministry.

Courses:

• Sex Education and Conversations (4 Cr)
• The Care and Decluttering of the Soul – Mini-Course
• Forgiveness – Mini-Course

Possible Roles:

• Sex Education Coaching Minister
• Sex Education Speciality for a Wedding Officiant
• Licensed or Ordained Sex Education and Conversation minister or pastor

Marriage

The Marriage specialization will give you valuable insights into how to serve married couples. The Christian worldview of lifelong monogamy is supported in this cluster of courses.

Courses:

• Pastoral Care (3 Cr)
• Marriage Ministry (4 Cr)
• Sex Education and Conversations (4 Cr)
• Indestructible Marriages – Mini-Course

Possible Roles:

• Marriage or Sex Education Coaching Minister
• Marriage Sex Education Speciality for a Wedding Officiant
• Licensed or Ordained Mariage or Sex Education Minister or Pastor

MinistryBiz

The MinistryBiz specialization will help you develop a MinistryBiz in your community. There are many possible MinistryBiz options. MinistryBiz is an intentional way of doing ministry as a bi-vocational minister.

Courses:

• MinistryBiz (1 Cr)
• Management by the Book (3 Cr)
• Christian Leaders Enterprise (3 Cr)

Possible Roles:

• Christian Officiants
• Coaching Ministers
• Licensed or Ordained  Ministers or Pastors

Navigating Conflict

The Navigating Conflict specialization helps people see the role of Christ in all conflicts. You will be trained in ministry skills that turn conflict into opportunities for blessing.

Courses:

• Peace Smart Relationship (3 cr)
• Anger Management (1 cr)
• Forgiveness – Mini-Course

Possible Roles:

• Christian Officiants who can officiate healing interventions
• Coaching Ministers specializing in navigating conflict
• Licensed or Ordained Ministers or Pastors in navigating conflict

Associate Chaplaincy

This Associate Chaplaincy specialization is open to all classifications. This Associate Chaplaincy specialization pairs with the Christian Leaders Institute Chaplaincy Certificate. This specialization role would be ideal for volunteer chaplain ministers.

Courses:

• Chaplaincy Certificate

Possible Roles:

• Christian Officiants
• Licensed or Ordained Ministers or Pastors

Chaplaincy

The Chaplaincy specialization includes a great deal of training. Many who take this specialization will want to pursue the Chaplaincy Bachelor’s degree through the Christian Leaders College.

Courses:

• Advanced Chaplaincy Diploma

Possible Roles:

• Christian Officiants
• Licensed or Ordained Ministers or Pastors

Commissioned Minister

The Commission Minister specialization fills the requirement for commissioned pastors found in many denominational programs for licensed or ordained ministers. Check with denominational leaders if you are part of a traditional Protestant denomination.

Courses:

• Commissioned Pastoral Diploma

Possible Roles:

• Licensed or Ordained Commissioned Ministers
• Ordained Ministers or Pastors in a non-denominational church

Senior Minister

The Senior Minister specialization gives you comprehensive training to be hired or assume the position of a senior minister in a local church. This senior minister training will teach you how to pastor, preach, and run a church. Much attention is on thinking and theory-making skills, which are essential in leading a local church.

Courses:

• Leadership (3 Cr)
• Preaching, Preparation, & Presentation (3 credits)
• Christian Apologetics (3 Cr)
• History of World Christianity (4 Cr)
• Church and Ministry (3 Cr)
• Ministry Foundations (3 Cr)
• Hermeneutics and Exegesis (3 Cr)
• New Testament Survey (3 Cr)
• Old Testament Survey (3 Cr)
• Pastoral Care and Marriage (3 Cr)
• Theology I (4 Cr)
• Theology II (4 Cr)
• Biblical Interpretation I (4 Cr)
• Biblical Interpretation II (4 Cr)
• Introduction to Philosophy (3 Cr)
• Christian Philosophy (3 Cr)
• Comparative Religions (2 Cr)
• Peace Smart Relationships (3 Cr)
• How to be a Productive Board Member (0 Cr)
• How to Start a Ministry Board (0 Cr)

Possible Roles:

• Licensed or Ordained Senior Minister or Pastor

Minister of the Word

The Minister of the Word specialization pairs with the training expected in most traditional bachelor degree minister training programs. This program is ideal for someone getting a Divinity or Leadership Degree from the Christian Leaders College.

Courses:

• Minister of the Word Diploma

Possible Roles:

• Licensed or Ordained Senior Minister or Pastor
• Licensed or Ordained Minster or Pastor

Visitation

The Visitation specialization gives you the skills to be a visitation minister in a local church or local ministry. This can be a great volunteer or part-time ministry opportunity.

Courses:

• Prayer
• People Smart in Ministry (3 Credit)
• Pastoral Care and Marriage (3 Credits)

Possible Roles:

• Visitation Officiant
• Licensed or Ordained Visitation Minister or Pastor

Church Planting

The Church Planting specialization equips you to plant a new church. You will be the founding minister or be part of the church planting team. This area of study will create confidence that you know the excellent church planting practices.

Courses:

• Church Planting – (Marketing) (4 Cr)
• Leadership (3 Cr)
• Preaching, Preparation, & Presentation (3 credits)

Possible Roles:

• Christian Officiant on a church planting team
• Licensed or Ordained Senior Church Planting Minister or Pastor
• Licensed or Ordained Minster or Pastor

Church Revitalization

The Church Revitalization specialization is ideal for an existing church minister or pastor who is refreshing a legacy church that is declining.

Courses:

• Church Revitalization (3 credits)

Possible Roles:

• Christian Officiant serving on a team to revitalize an existing church
• Licensed or Ordained Senior Minister or Pastor of a legacy church
• Licensed or Ordained Minster or Pastor who brings renewal

House Church or Small Group

The House Church or Small Group specialization teaches you how to start and run a house church in your community or a small group in your church. This specialization is suited for you if you are called to be on a house church or small group team.

Courses:

• Developing House Churches (3 Cr)
• Fellowship and Hospitality (0 Cr)
• Multiplying Disciples(2 Cr)

Possible Roles:

• Christian Officiant on a House Church or Small Group Team
• Licensed or Ordained Small Group Minister or Pastor
• Licensed or Ordained House Church Planting Minister or Pastor

Administration

The Administration specialization is for those called to serve in a local church or ministry administrative area. Many times these are paid positions within churches or ministries.

Courses:

• Leadership (3 Cr)
• Leadership Theories (3 Cr)
• Old Testament Survey (3 Cr)
• New Testament Survey (3 Cr)
• How to be a Productive Board Member (0 Cr)
• How to Start a Ministry Board (0 Cr)
• Management by the Book (0 Cr)
• People Smart for Ministry (3 Cr)

Possible Roles:

• Commended Executive Minister or Pastor
• Licensed Or ordained Executive Minister or Pastor

Preaching

The Preaching specialization will help you if you are called to preach in a local church or on a street corner. This specialization would be excellent continuing education for many of the possible roles available.

Courses:

• Preaching, Preparation, & Presentation (3 credits)
• History of World Christianity (4 Cr)
• Hermeneutics and Exegesis (3 Cr)
• Old Testament Survey (3 Cr)
• New Testament Survey (3 Cr)

Possible Roles:

• Commended, Licensed, or Ordained Preaching Minister or Pastor
• Outreach Minister or Pastor

Evangelism

The Evangelism specialization focuses on giving you more skills to spread Christianity. This specialization is suited for someone called to oversee a church evangelism program or someone called to be an evangelist.

Courses:

• Christian Apologetics (3 Cr)
• Evangelism – Presenting Grace (3 Cr)
• Comparative Religions (2 Cr)
• Practical Apologetics With Dr. Tim Keller – Mini-Course

Possible Roles:

• Commended, Licensed, or Ordained Evangelist
• Outreach Minister or Pastor

All Abilities

The All Abilities specialization gives you insights on how to include people of all abilities in the life of the church and kingdom.

Courses:

• Disability Smart (3 credits)
• Discipling Neurodiverse Children

Possible Roles:

• All Abilities Coaching Minister or Pastor
• Commended, Licensed, or Ordained All Abilities Minister or Pastor

Academic Worldview 

The Academic Worldview specialization is for those who seek to evaluate and dialogue about the key ideas and discussions in our culture and how these affect us all. This specialization is ideal for mentoring others. It will give you a great foundation if you are called to run for political office. If you are a blogger or writer, this would be excellent training. This specialization would function well as a continuing education program for almost any minister role.

Courses:

• Academic Literacy (1 Cr)
• Introduction to Philosophy (3 Cr)
• Ethics
• Christian Philosophy (3 Cr)
• Comparative Religions (2 Cr)
• Philosophy of Religion (3 Cr)
• Sexual Ethics (3 Credits)
• Christian Discernment Skills (0 cr)

Possible Roles:

• Blogging Minister or Pastor
• Commended, Licensed, or  Ordained Social Media Minister or Pastor