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Pillars Leadership College official seal: an open Bible and globe with the motto Equip, Empower, TransformPillars Leadership College

Ministerial Formation · Ecclesiastical Governance

Ordination & Ministerial Formation Course

Formation for ministers, prepared alongside a governed ordination process in which training, assessment, ministerial review and the ordination decision remain separate.

COMING SOONAPPLICATIONS NOT OPEN

This programme is in preparation. Applications are not open, no fees exist, and no cohort, enrolment or award has been created.

Purpose

This course is being prepared so that ministerial formation at PLC is structured, examined and accountable.

Completing training does not ordain anyone. Ordination is an ecclesiastical decision taken by the proper church authority under an approved policy.

Curriculum architecture in preparation

Draft — subject to academic and regulatory review

  • Biblical foundations of ministry
  • Christian doctrine
  • Church history
  • Ministerial ethics
  • Pastoral care
  • Preaching and teaching
  • Evangelism and missions
  • Church administration
  • Leadership
  • Safeguarding
  • Financial integrity
  • Marriage and family boundaries in ministry
  • Counselling boundaries
  • Church discipline
  • Conflict resolution
  • Ministerial accountability
  • Legal and governance awareness
  • Digital ministry conduct
  • Public communication
  • Character formation
  • Practical ministry
  • Ministerial assessment

Ministerial formation pathways

These are ministerial formation pathways, not academic degrees or qualifications. Recognition of any ministerial title is an ecclesiastical decision, never a consequence of paying tuition.

  • Pastor

    Congregational care, preaching, discipleship and the ordering of church life.

  • Evangelist

    Proclamation, mission, outreach and the pastoral handover of new believers.

  • Prophet

    Discernment, prophetic ethics, accountability and pastoral responsibility.

  • Teacher

    Scripture, doctrine, Christian education and sound instruction.

  • Apostle

    Ministry planting, oversight, governance and institutional development.

  • Bishop

    Episcopal oversight, discipline, governance and the care of ministers.

How an ordination decision would be reached

  1. 1. Application

    A candidate applies to the formation course when applications are opened by the College.

  2. 2. Training

    Structured ministerial formation, taught and recorded.

  3. 3. Assessment

    Academic and practical assessment of the candidate's formation.

  4. 4. Character and reference review

    Independent references and character review by the reviewing office.

  5. 5. Practical ministry evidence

    Evidence of actual ministry practice under oversight.

  6. 6. Interview and panel review

    A panel examines the candidate's readiness.

  7. 7. Institutional / ecclesiastical decision

    Approved, deferred, or not approved. There is no automatic ordination.

  • • Tuition never guarantees ordination, a ministerial title, a bishopric, apostolic recognition, prophetic recognition or any ecclesiastical office.
  • • Training, assessment, ministerial review and the ordination decision are recorded separately.
  • • Only the approved church authority may take an ordination decision, under an approved ecclesiastical policy.

What the College is not saying

  • • Training, assessment, ministerial review and the ordination decision are four separate stages.
  • • No payment of any kind can secure ordination, a ministerial title, a bishopric, or apostolic or prophetic recognition.
  • • Specialist modules may later be required for particular formation pathways.