The “Pastoral Leadership School” prepares men and women to do the work of disciple-making in our culture and context.
We are an extension of the ministry of the Crossroads Church under the headship of the Metro District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (cmalliance.org) and in close connection with the Metro School of Leadership and Ministry .
“PLS” takes a holistic approach to preparing men and women for ministry. We aim to prepare the head, heart, and hands of these individuals to respond to the call of God on their lives. Jesus called his disciples saying, “Come and follow me [HEAD], and I will make you [HEART] fishers of men [HANDS].” (Matthew 4:19) He then calls his disciples to be “disciple-makers”- that continue to multiply followers of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20)- and this is the very heart of what we do.
- We prepare HEADS by giving theological training. We’ve partnered with the Metro School of Leadership and Ministry (MSLM) in order to provide education through Ministerial Study Program credits (MSP). These credits count as 30 credits of Bible that are required for licensing with the C&MA. These credits are also recognized at Crown College at 2/3 rate for their undergrad program (totaling 22 college credit hours).
- We prepare HEARTS by helping candidates through spiritual formation and soul care. We believe this is essential for lasting perseverance and leadership in vocational ministry.
- We prepare HANDS by providing students the opportunity to communicate, lead, teach, coach, be coached in various areas of ministry. Students will have oversight and coaching as they develop their skills for more effective ministry.
PLS is designed as a 2-year program over 6 trimesters. It contains 16 required classes and several electives. Most classes are offered in the evening, but some are self-studies with a ministry coach and proctor. Training and teaching are provided by veteran church leaders and pastors related to the Christian & Missionary Alliance.
After applying, you will be contacted about next steps which will include designing an individualized education plan to help you achieve your particular God-given calling and goals.
FULL-TIME STUDENTS: 1-Time registration fee: $60 (includes $35 application to C&MA), plus $100 per class
AUDITING STUDENTS: 1-Time registration fee: $25, plus $50 per class to audit
Classes
MSP 1-101: Calling and Character
MSP 1-102: Hermeneutics and Inductive Bible Study
MSP 1-103: New Testament Theology
MSP 2-104: Old Testament Theology
MSP 2-201: Foundations of Belief 1: Bible, God and Unseen World
MPS 2-302: Life of Christ
MSP 2-202: Foundations of Belief 2: Sin, Savior and the Spirit
MSP 3-303: Evangelism in a Changing Culture
MSP 3-301: History of Christianity
MSP 3-205: Romans
MSP 3-105: Disciplemaking: Growing a Healthy Church
MSP 3-305: Leadership & Authority
SPECIAL COURSES- Metro District, Church Planting and Discipleship
MSP 1-206: Preaching Learning Cohort & Lab
METRO 1-203: Alliance Values & Distinctives- 1 day course
METRO 3-204: Alliance Polity and Pastoral Ethics- 1 day course
METRO 2-304: World Missions
CP-101: Church Planting’ Basic Training
CP-102: Church Planting Core Team Training
D-101: New Official Workers Seminar
HIGHLY ENCOURAGED ELECTIVES
E-101: Changed2Lead (SDI) Training
E-102: Soul Care Conference
E-201: Basic Counseling
E-301: Mental Health Training
Erik has served as a pastor in the Christian & Missionary Alliance since 2003. He has a Bachelors degree in English and Education from The College of New Jersey and a Masters in Christian Ministry from Calvary Baptist Seminary in Lansdale, PA. Erik was previously on pastoral staff at Fellowship Alliance Chapel in Medford, NJ, the Young Adult Director for the Metro District of the C&MA, and the originator of the “Jeremiah Project” movement. He planted Journey Church in Cherry Hill, NJ in 2013, and oversaw leader development at Fervent Church from 2018-2019. In 2019, He became the Lead Pastor of Crossroads Church in Shamong, NJ. Erik is the Academic Director of the Pastoral Leadership School. He and his wife, Lauren, live in Medford, NJ and have two young children.
Weldon, a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Marketing and Finance, has been a part of Hope Chapel since 1997. He changed careers and became a full time Children’s Pastor in 2007. He became lead pastor of Hope Chapel in the C&MA in 2009. In the Fall of 2020, he became the lead pastor of Atlanta Road Alliance Church in Seaford, DE. He has spent some time training leaders internationally but his primary desire is to see people come to know God and grow up to maturity in Him. Weldon has his Masters Degree in Bible from Alliance Theological Seminary.
He and his wife, Yvonne, have two married children, Bryce and Megan, and two grandchildren.
*CREDITS FROM OTHER RECOGNIZED CHRISTIAN ACADEMIC INSTUTITIONS MAY BE TRANSFERABLE
We accept transfer credits from C&MA’s “Basic Training – Life of Christ with Center Leadership Academy C&MA” and “Empower Metro District year 1 & Proclaim year 3.” You must have completed certificate for year 1 Empower.
There will be a processing fee of $45 per class transferred.
The following classes will Transfer in.
• Please Include College Transcripts when Applying to MSP
Basic Training Life of Christ – NO FEE
205- Romans
302- The Life of Christ
Empower Year 1
102 – Inductive Bible Study
103- New Testament Survey
104- Old Testament Survey
Empower Year 3 Proclaim
206- Expository Preaching