Continuing Education for Church, Staff & Clergy
Many of Wesley's educational opportunities are designed to enrich the practice of ministry in churches of any denomination. Those employed by churches may wish to further their education with some of Wesley's specific offerings geared toward professional staff, parish or church administrators, lay leadership, or clergy.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) :
Many professional church staff and clergy are required to obtain CEUs on an ongoing basis throughout their career. The same courses that are available for audit may also be taken for CEUs. Wesley also offers the comprehensive series of courses required for ordination within The United Methodist Church per the 2008 Book of Discipline.
Please note: Courses taken for CEUs will not earn graduate-level credit and cannot be applied toward a Master's degree at Wesley.
Tuition:
$100 per CEUƗ
Ordained clergy, diaconal ministers, or full-time lay denominational employees may enroll in regular semester courses and receive Continuing Education Units.
Ɨ For billing purposes, one semester hour equals 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
How to Apply:
Apply and register as a "New Continuing Education student" with this form: Click here
Returning Continuing Education students, please use WesleyWeb to login and register: https://www.wesleyseminary.edu/my-wesley/.
Questions? Email admissions@wesleyseminary.edu
Wesley offers the comprehensive series of courses required for ordination within the United Methodist Church per the 2008 Book of Discipline. This includes Old and New Testament, Theology, Church History, Evangelism, the Mission of the Church in the World, Preaching and Worship, UM Polity, UM History and UM Doctrine. These courses are routinely offered as part of Wesley's Master's curriculum. Be sure to check the Registrar's Office list of Course Schedules for more information.
Learn more about fulfilling UMC requirements at Wesley here.
For United Methodist students and church professionals seeking certification for specialized ministry through The United Methodist Church, Wesley Theological Seminary is approved to offer courses in Christian education, youth ministry and evangelism.
Required courses in theology, Bible and United Methodist Studies will be offered once a year on a rotating schedule while electives for each specialties will be offered as part of the regular course offerings. Students must be admitted as either a degree candidate or non-degree student through the admissions office.
Additional information is available from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
Please note: Courses taken for UM Certification may be applied as electives toward a masters degree at Wesley for students already enrolled in a program.
Learn more about fulfilling UMC requirements at Wesley here.
For clergy in denominations that do not require a Master of Divinity degree for ordination, the certificate program offers foundational instruction in Bible, history of the Christian church, preaching and worship, teaching and spiritual formation, and other elements of faith. Courses are offered in a convenient weekend format and are held no more than once a month. More information can be found on the Certificate in Christian Studies website.
Interested in Wesley courses and don't need CEUs?
Nearly all of Wesley's courses for masters students may be audited.
The technical status for an auditor is as a "listener," one who is not required to participate in classroom discussions nor complete assignments. Only class attendance is required.
Students must be admitted for study through the admissions office. Registration may be completed via paper form submitted to the registrar's office. Fee schedule and payment information may be found in the Wesley catalog. Course schedules are posted on the registrar's office course schedules page as they become available.
For more detailed information about becoming an auditor at Wesley, visit the Continuing Education micro-site's general registration information page.
Please note: Courses taken for audit will not earn graduate-level credit and cannot be applied toward a masters degree at Wesley.
The Lewis Center for Church Leadership provides clergy and professional laity training on a variety of important issues facing the modern church leader or administrator.
Events, workshops, and instructional DVDs are intended to improve the leadership and administrative skills of participants across a broad range of denominations.
The upcoming event calendar, registration information, and contact form can be found on the Lewis Center website.
The annual Funding Conference each spring features Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr. and Dr. David McAllister-Wilson (Wesley President) among other respected church leaders. DVDs highlighting the content from past conferences are available directly from the Lewis Center as well.
Wesley Ministry Network strengthens the ministries of churches around the world by offering adult educational materials that make accessible the best of contemporary Christian scholarship. Its DVD-based courses address a variety of issues, including the relationship between religion and science and why Christianity makes sense in the 21st century.
Courses are designed for small groups but are also appropriate for pastors seeking self-study opportunities.
WMN now offers many of its courses online, in partnership with the Institute for Discipleship. WMN also recently released courses on Methodist history, doctrine, and evangelism for use in pastor training.
More information about courses can be found on the WMN website and information about online courses can be found at the Be A Disciple site.
