Baptist Seminary Apprenticeship

Mission Statement:

The goal and intent of this Baptist Seminary Apprenticeship Program is to provide a structured framework for Mentoring Pastors to codify and credit their efforts of training an inexperienced Preacher for the pastoral ministry as an alternative to classroom-based Seminary schools.

Program's Value:

Mentoring Pastors - There is great value in issuing a Certificate of Completion for any completed training. What this structured format does is to quantify the time and work that Mentoring Pastors do in order to support the issuing of a Certificate of Completion to an Apprentice Preacher. Additionally, the structured format acts as a reminder of discussion topics of the ministry, and it acts as a tracking tool to ensure progress of an Apprentice Preacher.

Untrained Pastors & Preachers - The fundamental nature of life, is that we don't know what we don't know. If you are serving already in a pastorate -or- if you are not serving under a Mentoring Pastor, then you can still work through the Seminary Apprenticeship material yourself as a guide to the things you need to learn. Take your education into your own hands and find ways to learn what you need to learn.

Need for a Pastor's Apprentice Program:

Historically, the primary mechanism for equipping pastors for the ministry has been the classical Seminary school following a formal University education. However, in modern America, traditional white-collar education is becoming too expensive to afford; young adults cannot physically afford the time for classical education --or-- simply face increasing resistance towards classical education institutions. Thus, this shift in American culture has led to a number of preachers being called to pastor a church without any formal education and/or classical seminary tools customary to pastors. An assessment of this shift in American culture has led to the necessity of augmenting classical education with on-the-job training.

In secular education, two types of educational systems are tailored towards two groups of adult learners. Those who thrive in a classroom-type education continue to university to learn the technical aspects of their occupation (white-collar). In contrast, those who thrive in hands-on experiences learn a formal trade in an Apprenticeship program (blue-collar).

The roots of the modern Apprenticeship program have been handed down for generations, with a history as long as traditional academics. A non-skilled person would find a skilled craftsman and work for them for several years, learning their trade, such as masonry, carpentry, printing, and religious work. Even in the Bible, we find examples of experienced preachers taking and mentoring younger preachers: Elijah to Elisha, Jesus to the disciples, Barnabas to Paul, Paul to Timothy, and so on.

The purpose of the Seminary Apprenticeship program is to leverage the journeyman and apprentice relationship as the Mentoring Pastor and Apprentice Preacher. The majority of the training/education will come from the preacher’s local church pastor (Mentoring Pastor), and the Seminary Apprenticeship provides the overall structural guidance for the Mentoring Pastor to train and certify an Apprentice Preacher as having the opportunity to be equipped with tools of the ministry.

The Seminary Apprenticeship can be tailored to existing Pastors without Seminary training, provided they can find a Pastor willing to serve as their Mentoring Pastor and meets the intent of the Seminary Apprenticeship program structure.

Generic Apprenticeship Requirements:

In modern secular apprenticeship programs, the apprentice must undergo a certain number of hours of on-the-job training, typically equivalent to 3 working years or more, depending on their trade craft. In addition to on-the-job training, they are required to take a certain number of technical and academic training courses to augment their understanding of their tradecraft.

L&I - Outline of Requirements for Sponsoring Apprenticeship Programs:

(Adapted from www.LNI.WA.Gov)

All apprenticeship programs need a sponsor [Administrator]. Sponsors [Administrator] can include employers, unions, employer associations, and other relevant entities. Sponsors oversee every aspect of a registered apprenticeship program, from development to actual administration.

Program standards clearly outline how a program will operate, as well as the expectations of both the program and the apprentices. Program standards specify:

• The length of training: Apprenticeships typically range from two to five years in length, depending on the occupation, with a minimum of hours of on-the-job training (OJT) [Monthly & 3-yr Certification Cards].
• Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI): A minimum number of RSI hours of relevant education is required for each year of the apprenticeship [Training Modules]. This can include online courses, classroom instruction, or courses at a local college, among others.
• Wage progression: [Not Applicable]
• An outline of the skills of the occupation: Program standards [Monthly & 3-yr Certification Cards] define the specific work skills required to complete the program and the approximate number of hours it takes to learn each skill.

Program standards also list the minimum qualifications, ratio of apprentices to journey-level professionals [Mentoring Pastors], disciplinary procedures, sponsor [Administrator] responsibilities, committees responsibilities, etc.

It is also the responsibility of the sponsor [Administrator] to:

• Oversee on-the-job training and monitor attendance at related training classes.
• Recommend award of the certificate of completion when an apprentice has satisfactorily completed the required coursework and on-the-job training.

Baptist Seminary Apprenticeship:

A generic apprenticeship program would require apprentices to undergo a certain number of hours of on-the-job training or OJT (Monthly & 3yr Certification Cards) depending on their trade craft. In addition to on-the-job training, they are required to take a certain number of technical and academic training courses or RSI (Training Modules) to augment their understanding of their tradecraft.

In the Bible, we witness Paul spending three years in the Wilderness from the Damascus event to the beginning of his ministry. To borrow from this biblical example, the Seminary Apprenticeship will be structured around three 3-year apprenticeships under a Mentoring Pastor

Part 1: On The Job (OJT) Training:

In the Seminary Apprenticeship program, the On-The-Job training hours and Doctrinal training will be the responsibility of the Mentoring Pastors. The Seminary Apprenticeship is simply providing the formal structure to track hours and completions. [Monthly & 3-yr Certification Cards]

A. Doctrinal Training:

In Baptist denominations, Baptists can be fiercely independent and can have a broad spectrum of doctrinal views. The Mentoring Pastor will be responsible for developing a structure or outline of the doctrinal education to instruct the Apprentice Preacher. The Seminary Apprenticeship will work with the Mentoring Pastor to facilitate building a structure, if assistance is needed. The Seminary Apprenticeship will not dictate or govern the doctrinal views of the Mentoring Pastor.

Doctrine Examples:

• Sin & Salvation
• Baptism & Lord Supper
• Church & Church Authority

B. Practical Activities:

Upon entering the program, the Apprentice Preacher will be issued the current version of the 3yr Certification card, which will contain a series of activities and discussions for the Mentoring Pastor and Apprentice Preacher will complete over three years. This signature document will be the basis for certifying the Seminary Apprenticeship was completed.

Activity Examples:

-           Facilitate a Church Business Meeting

-           Lead a Church Lord's Supper

-           Conduct visitation with Mentoring Pastor

C. OJT Training Hours:  

Upon entering the program, the Apprentice Preacher will be issued the current version of the Monthly Certification card, which will track the 36-month apprenticeship and provide guidance to practical ministry discussion topics for the Mentoring Pastor and Apprentice Preacher will complete over three years. This signature document will be the basis for certifying the Seminary Apprenticeship was completed.

-           Preach & Debrief once per month

-           Monthly conduct a 1-on-1 mentoring session

Mentoring Discussion Topic Examples:

• • Worship & Non-worship Services

• • Church Administration & Legalities

• • Ministry & Conflicts

• • Ministering to the Minister & Minister’s Family

• • Pastoral Counseling

The Apprentice Preacher and Mentoring Pastor will formally track their progress with the two certifications cards. Upon completion of the 36-months and practical activities the Mentoring Pastor can issue a Certificate of Completion to the Apprentice Preacher.

Part 2: Non-Doctrinal Training Modules (RSI):

In addition to the overall training structure above, the Apprentice Preacher will be responsible for taking several technical trainings that is traditionally not considered doctrinal education, but standard tools for the pastoral ministry. [Training Modules]

Sample of Classes:

- Introduction to Hebrew & Hebrew Language Tools

• • Basic Grammar

• • Use Lexicon & Concordance

• • Impacts to Sermon/Doctrinal Studies

- Introduction to Greek & Greek Language Tools

• • Basic Grammar

• • Use Lexicon & Concordance

• • Impacts to Sermon/Doctrinal Studies

- Christian Counseling

• • What is Christian Counseling

• • Basic Do’s and Don’ts

• • Marital Counseling

These technical training sessions are conducted by various online resources and may require some costs by the Apprentice Preacher and/or Mentoring Pastors to complete the technical training courses. All the courses will be self-paced and completed by the Apprentice Preacher’s schedule over the course of 3-year apprenticeship. Variation to these courses is at the Mentoring Pastor’s discretion to add, change or remove any formal technical training classes as the Mentoring Pastors sees relevant to do so.

Registration:

There is great value in issuing a certificate of completion for training. What this structured format does is to quantify the time and work that Mentoring Pastor does in order to support the issuing of a Certificate of Completion to the Apprentice Preacher.

However, the Seminary Apprenticeship Program freely provides all its materials to execute the Pastoral Apprenticeship with or without registering with the Seminary Apprenticeship program. The Mentoring Pastor & Apprentice Preacher can execute the intent of the Seminary Apprenticeship without registering their participation, but there are clear advantages for registering.

Advantages: Registering your participation in the Seminary Apprenticeship (1) allows for accountability to complete the 36-month apprenticeship, because we all live complex lives and nothing happens without deadlines. A third-party participant provides accountability to keep the formality of training the Apprentice moving forward. (2) Provides an opportunity for the Mentoring Pastor to provide feedback to change or update materials to keep the Seminary Apprenticeship current & relevant to an ever change ministry landscape in modern times. (3) Provides the ability to keep courses and links current for future participants. (4) Upon completion the Apprentice Preacher will receive a certificate of completion that is consistent with all other Seminary Apprenticeship participants.

Registration Submittals: To register for the Seminary Apprenticeship program, please gather and submit the following documents to the Administrator.

- The Preacher with the Seminary Apprenticeship must complete the Mentoring - Apprentice Covenantal agreement.

- The Apprentice Preacher must provide a written essay that describes or testifies to the Preacher's salvation experience, Baptism, and call to the ministry.

Note: The purpose of the written essay is NOT intended for the Seminary Apprenticeship to legitimize the Apprentice Preacher’s salvation experience or call to the ministry, but the writing activity is to provoke the Apprentice Preacher to come face-to-face with the reality of their own call to the ministry and therefore necessity of their commitment to be trained to conduct the work of the ministry by the Mentoring Pastor.