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 & Ministry | 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.
You are not required to Login to register and pay for an ICL course.
For more information about the ICL or for instructions about auditing classes, please complete our contact form.
Upcoming Fall 2025 Courses:
Introduction to Ministry: Tuesdays, September 9 – October 14, from 6:30 to 9 PM
Facilitator: Bishop Randy Sizemore along with additional instructors
This course will utilize a number of guest instructors to introduce students to several of the spiritual, practical and professional topics that modern pastors need to execute well for a healthy and effective life-long congregational ministry. Students will explore key topics such as the biblical role of the pastor as shepherd; cultivating healthy habits for life-long ministry; developing professional, practical and pastoral skills; pastoral counseling basics; pastoral ethics and conflict-resolution skills.
Hermeneutics: Tuesdays, October 28 – November 18 and December 2, from 6:30 to 9 PM
Facilitator: Addison Roberts
In this course, students will learn and practice a method of Bible study that focuses on uncovering the author’s intended meaning of a biblical passage. They will also develop skills in presenting that meaning in a way that teaches, edifies and highlights the relevance of Scripture for life today. Along the way, we will explore the key skills, tools and principles essential for sound biblical interpretation.